Deb Bickford, a 27-year veteran of the Westbrook art department, is proud of the open-studio atmosphere seen daily on the third floor of Westbrook High School.

According to Bickford, students are respectful and helpful, but most of all, work hard on projects in a space that promotes responsibility.

But, the program didn’t get to where it is today without guidance. Bickford was recently named the Maine Art Education Association’s Secondary Art Educator of the Year. She was nominated by Westbrook’s art department director, Sarah Swain.

Bickford is also the new president-elect of the Maine Art Education Association, a statewide group that works under a national model. She estimated that the association has had a Maine chapter for more than 50 years.

Bickford began her teaching career in Wells, where she taught for only one year, after which she applied for a position at Westbrook Middle School. She’s been with the department ever since. She plans to teach for six more years, when she’ll be 65.

The American Journal spoke with Bickford this week about her award, the Westbrook art department, and changes in art education.

Q: Tell me about the Maine Art Education Association. What are the priorities?

A: It’s a statewide professional art educators group that follows the lead of the National Art Education Association. We hold monthly meetings, and support art education in the state by doing things like running member exhibitions. One was held at Maine College of Art this fall. Those are ongoing, and we also sponsor and run Youth Art Month, with a statewide exhibition at the Portland Museum of Art. It’s prestigious because it’s in a museum, but also because teachers can only pick one piece from all the students. It’s hard. The association also hosts professional development conferences.

Q: How has art education in public schools changed?

A: Even though we have these national organizations and really strong art programs in the state, we also have arts programs that are behind. You can see huge discrepancies from school to school based on a variety of factors. This is the only (or one of the only) schools in the state that has a district-wide art director and music director. We’ve been lucky to hold onto that, and it makes a difference in the quality of the education overall. It’s another voice and support who can speak for us. I feel really lucky because I’ve never really taught in a place where I didn’t feel supported. It’s been very supported. The strength behind good art programs is not often really understood.

Q: Have budgets affected your approach to programming?

A: I don’t change much what I do. When budgets are squeezed, people are spread thin, but the kids aren’t hurt. I never remember being without in the school system in terms of supplies. We adapt to what we have. This school still has a darkroom (for developing photos), which is more than many public schools have.

Q: What art programs are you most proud of here?

A: When there are two or three classes in this unit, there are kids everywhere, and they are working in an open space where they can come and go between rooms. We … require them to be working if they’re in here. It’s not a hangout space, but I love it because it’s more like a collegial atmosphere. I come in sometimes and I don’t have to say anything, and the kids are already working. We have kids come in during lunch, after school and during study hall to work.

Q: How did you feel about the award?

A: When Sarah (Swain) nominated me, it was really a surprise. Sarah hasn’t been here that long, and for her to notice how awesome it is around here and to take the initiative to do that, I was really touched. It was a lot of work, and for her to take the initiative was sort of like a validation, because I’ve been doing this for a really long time. I don’t feel like I’m much different now than 10 years ago, and for an outsider to come in and say, ‘Holy cow, this is awesome’ – that was awesome.

Q: What are some goals you still have for the department?

A: Tons of things. One of the things I’m trying to get moved along is doing something with the lockers (in the art wing.) Hardly any of them are used, and I would like to paint the walls and put up track lighting to use the walls like a gallery space. We could maybe even put some furniture out there where kids could study art. We also need a digital media room.

Q: What’s coming up?

A: The Woman’s Club Art Show is coming up. It’s a national organization, and Westbrook’s chapter is the biggest one in the state. Not all of the clubs participate in this art show, but I’d like to get the idea out there to more art departments in the state.

Deb Bickford, a veteran Westbrook art teacher, was recently named the Maine Art Education Association’s Secondary Art Educator of the Year. She is proud of the system utilized by the art department and the support it receives from school administration.    Staff photo by Andrew Rice

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