Debrah Christine Sickler-Voigt

Biography

Debrah (Debbie) C. Sickler-Voigt, Ph.D. has a passion for teaching and learning that is contagious! As a professor of art education, author, and consultant, she emphasizes a “Yes, We Can” approach. She provides educators at all levels of experience, students, and others interested in art and education a sense of empowerment as they learn innovative methods for teaching, learning, creating, managing, and assessing art. Her research and creative scholarship provide pathways for success in today’s diversified classroom and community settings. Sicker-Voigt developed her textbook, Teaching and Learning in Art Education: Cultivating Students’ Potential from Pre-K Through High School, (published by Routledge) as an accessible tool to teach others individualize approaches to bridging contemporary theories with best practices.

Inspirations and Real World Teaching Experience
With over 20 years of teaching experience, Sickler-Voigt’s artistic inspiration began in childhood during which she created art with her grandmother. Her family supported her passion for art, which led to her ultimate desire to share her knowledge with others. Prior to teaching in higher education, she taught in K-12 schools with large populations of children with at-risk tendencies, students with special needs, and English language learners. She designed afterschool programs for gifted and talented youth with at-risk tendencies.

Professional Skills
Sickler-Voigt teaches professional skills to students and assists experienced educators in building upon and improving their existing practices. At MTSU, she earned the distinction of being promoted to the rank of full professor. Sickler-Voigt has served as senior editor of the National Art Education Association’s popular Assessment White Papers for Art Education given her expertise in teaching assessment literacy in the visual arts. In addition to writing her Routledge textbook, she has published the results of her research in the Journal of Art Education, Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education, Journal of Social Theory in Art Education, and Focus on Inclusive Education. She contributed to the textbook Art Education for Social Justice. Her national and international community service projects unite intergenerational populations through creating theme-based artworks that serve the needs of community participants.

Sickler-Voigt has received awards for her development of instructional technology resources and comprehensive teaching methods—including the Outstanding Art Educator in Higher Education Award by the Tennessee Art Education Association. Her service to the profession includes serving as an inaugural editorial board member for the Journal of Art for Life and reviewing publications for the National Art Education Association’s Publications and Materials Committee.

International Service
With the belief that we are all participants within our global community, Sickler-Voigt takes steps to develop and participate in international partnerships. She has the privilege of serving as a Foreign Panel Juror for the International Children’s Exhibition of Fine Arts in Lidice, Czech Republic. She has presented her research at the International Society for Education Through Art’s world congress in Vancouver. A strong advocate for community art education, Sickler-Voigt developed International Kids’ Guernica Project murals exhibited in Bali, Indonesia and Brenderup, Denmark. She developed a Scandinavian Study Abroad program through which she and her university students taught comprehensive art lessons to children in Scandinavian schools and also taught in Scandinavian museums. She has formed partnerships with the Northern Norway’s Rucksack Program/Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter and participated in a residency at Kunstnerhuset Lofoten in the Arctic Circle (Svolvaer, Norway).

Learn from Debrah C. Sickler-Voigt!
Sickler-Voigt is driven to utilize her professional knowledge and expertise to prepare teachers and students for active participation in our global society. Please feel free to contact her with your questions, request consultation services, and book speaking engagements.

Education

Ph.D.; The Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL; 2002

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

best practices in art education, curriculum (choice-based, STEAM, standards-based, art methods), assessment (qualitative and quantitative), community art education, teaching methodologies, teacher professional development, cultivating teacher and student success, lifelong learning, teacher creativity, teaching with contemporary artists, and qualitative research methods

Personal Interests

Spending time with family, pets, and friends inspires me greatly. Through my travels I have had opportunities to meet fellow educators, students, artists, arts professionals, and everyday people. I appreciate sharing ideas and learning from others. As an artist, I most often paint and create mixed media journals.

Websites

• Academia.edu: Debrah Sickler-Voigt

• Debrah C. Sickler-Voigt's website

• Instructional Resources: Teaching & Learning in Art Education

• PowerPoints: Teaching & Learning in Art Education

Books

Articles

Videos