2025 NAEA National Convention

April Malphurs grew up in a small town in Western New York State. Building upon her undergraduate art degree, she student taught in Manhattan and received her master’s degree in art education in 1993.   She took two classes in the 90s that have had a huge impact on her teaching: an anti-racism class and a class titled, “An Arts Approach to Multi-culturalism.”  Influenced by those classes and by being a mother of two multi-racial daughters, she is dedicated to ensuring that all of her students see themselves reflected in the curriculum and that the art she shares also broadens her students’ worldview.  As an artist, April primarily focuses on sculpture, using blown glass and flameworked beads to create her work.  April moved to Saint Peter, Minnesota in 2003 where she practices her art and has taught in public schools, through community education, art centers, and her own online classes. She currently teaches art teachers pursuing master's degrees through the Art of Education University, including a course on Cultural Competency in the Art Room. April has also will be giving three presentations in March 2022 at the National Art Educators Association Convention in NYC, with one focusing on Diversity and Equity in Art Education. Last summer, April was also asked to teach the sPARK mobile art studio aimed at bringing art to BIPOC children in their own communities.