School for Art Leaders
Committed to supporting art educators in their quest to excel as leaders, NAEA has designed a 21st century flagship program: School for Art Leaders at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.
About the Program
Since 1947, art educators representing all states, regions, and work contexts have provided volunteer leadership service that has shaped the field of art education and positioned the National Art Education Association (NAEA) as the premier professional community for art educators. Committed to supporting art educators in their quest to excel as leaders, NAEA has designed a 21st-century flagship program: School for Art Leaders. Utilizing experiential action learning modules and in-depth conversations with expert leaders, this program provides participants with needed learning experiences and skills to successfully lead in any environment.
The program design is geared specifically for art educators and is based on the work and recommendations of the NAEA Leadership Development Task Force. Seven different leadership models provide a strong basis for the content of the work, with specific individual and group exercises woven throughout the experience.
- The NAEA Art Educator Competency Model (developed by the Leadership Development Task Force)
- Thurber–Zimmerman Empowerment/Leadership Model
- Mindful leadership
- Total leadership
- Emotional intelligence
- Storytelling
- Strategies to support equity, diversity, and inclusion in leadership
Those selected for each annual class will contribute to the development of an extraordinary community cohort committed to leadership excellence. Upon successful completion, participants become members of the national School for Art Leaders network and are positioned to excel as leaders in education, the arts, and advocacy.
Questions? E-mail Laura Grundler, Director of Learning and Program Development at lgrundler@arteducators.org
Be a part of the SAL Class of 2026!
Are you ready to grow as an arts leader? Applications for the next iteration of the NAEA School for Art Leaders are open now through October 1, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity!
Application Information
Art education professionals who are new to leadership as well as those who have a range of leadership experience and are looking to enhance their skills are encouraged to apply. Successful applicants will:
- Have 5 years or more of professional practice and currently working as an art educator (school/school district, museum, college/university, local or state agency, community organization, or other work context).
- Commit to fully participating in the 10-month program, including possible inclusion in a longitudinal study on leadership impact in art education upon completion of the program.
- Have organizational support from a state association and/or your school/institution.
- NAEA expects that program graduates will actively apply their leadership skills in ways that will enhance their institutions and/or NAEA and its affiliates, and contribute a positive impact on the field of art education.
There is no application fee. If accepted, a program fee of $900 for members and $1,100 for non-members must be submitted by June 1. The program fee includes access to all courses and related materials, including the onsite intensive program at Crystal Bridges. Travel and housing are additional and at the expense of the participant. NAEA works to secure competitive and optional housing rates.
The purpose of the School for Art Leaders at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to provide an experience that both inspires and prepares art educators to become active leaders of positive change in the field of art education.
A cohort of no more than 25 participants annually will form a learning community throughout this 10-month program. Participants will meet in a kickoff orientation in preparation for a 5-day intensive experience, taking place at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. Following the intensive experience, participants will continue to learn and support one another through application of leadership experiments and debriefing sessions through coaching and mentoring for the next 9 months.
View the 2026 SAL Program Calendar.
Applications are now open! Click here to begin your application.
NAEA uses the Submittable platform for application materials. If you do not yet have a Submittable account, you can create one for free when beginning your application. Your login for Submittable is not the same as your login for your NAEA member profile. After beginning an application, you can save and return to it anytime before the submission deadline.
NAEA and the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (SCPS) at Pratt have partnered to provide NAEA members with the opportunity to earn continuing education units (CEUs). This collaboration provides a structured pathway for members to enhance their professional journey by earning and tracking CEUs through NAEA’s professional development offerings. Please scroll to the bottom of this page for complete details about earning CEUs for SAL.
Fund your SAL Experience
Leaders in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Scholarship
This scholarship is intended to support participants who are interested in growing their leadership capacity and skills, while also engaging in the work of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I).
Scholarships include the cost of SAL program fees; accommodations at the 21C Museum Hotel in Bentonville, AR; and an air travel allowance (up to $600).
To apply for a scholarship, use the “request form” feature connected to your initial SAL application and follow the steps below:
- First, submit your application for the School for Arts Leaders Program.
- Next, log back into your Submittable account. Navigate to your submitted SAL application by clicking on “Submissions.”
- Click on your School for Arts Leaders application.
- On the next screen, click the “Forms” tab.
- Scroll down to the “Request Forms” section. Locate the “SAL Scholarship Form” and click the “Open” button.
- On the next screen, complete the required information and click “Submit.” You will receive a confirmation email for your scholarship application.
Candidates will need to complete the scholarship application following the submission of their application for the NAEA School for Art Leaders program.
Candidates should also have a demonstrated commitment to ED&I in arts education, a desire to build ED&I into their daily practice, and a commitment to reflective practice in ED&I work.
Two scholarship recipients will be chosen from applicants selected to participate in SAL, who have submitted a scholarship application as well. No financial information will be requested, but the selection process will prioritize candidates from underrepresented groups, regions, and divisions.
Continuing Education Units
Pratt SCPS is the authorized provider of CEUs for NAEA. Pratt CEUs recognize the learner’s successful completion of NAEA courses. Pratt adheres to the industry standard of awarding 1 CEU for every 10 instructional hours. CEUs awarded result in an official transcript and digital credentials (via Credly) from Pratt Institute, which can be shared on professional networking sites such as LinkedIn, as well as included in résumés, portfolios, and annual evaluations.
Please email Laura Grundler, NAEA Director of Learning and Program Development, at lgrundler@arteducators.org to apply for CEUs.
Learn about Pratt’s SCPS Academic Policies.
SAL Courses
- NAEA500: Transformative Leadership (in person) – 4 CEUs
- NAEA501: Transformative Leadership (online) – 4 CEUs
- Cost: $440 per module plus $5 nonrefundable program fee*
- Total CEUs – 8
- $880 for both modules plus $5 nonrefundable program fee*
- Total CEUs – 8
- Cost: $440 per module plus $5 nonrefundable program fee*
Deadline to apply for CEUs: May 15, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions about CEUs
CEUs are a measure of continuing education that learners can use to quantify the time that a professional development program has required them to invest.
Each CEU equates to 10 hours of instructional time. Instructional time is an estimate of how much time a student would spend doing mandatory learning activities. It may include the following:
- Engaging in live interaction with instructors
- Engaging in assigned asynchronous discussions
- Working on assigned exercises, assignments, and homework
- Watching assigned videos or completing assigned readings
- Other assigned learning activities
NAEA provides professional development activities for members. Members can then choose to apply for CEUs through Pratt. CEUs are recognized by most school districts as a testament to high-quality professional development, essential for licensure, assessment, and compensation. Through NAEA professional development activities, you can earn CEUs from Pratt Institute. These credits are recorded on an official Pratt transcript that accompanies you throughout your career.
Continuous learning is vital for professionals aspiring to advance in their field. Upon successful completion of a program or course, students can apply for CEUs to receive an official transcript from Pratt Institute. CEUs quantify the time and effort invested in one’s education. CEUs serve as a valuable signal to colleagues, employers, and potential employers, showcasing the commitment to ongoing professional development and the dedication to enhancing one’s skills and knowledge.
You decide how many professional development activities you wish to pursue.
1 CEU is earned per 10 hours of learning in a 12-month period.
Example: 10 hours = 1 CEU, 30 hours = 3 CEUs, 40 hours = 4 CEUs
To qualify for CEUs, students must accumulate a total of 10, 30, or 40 hours of NAEA learning within a 12-month period.
Please email Laura Grundler, NAEA Director of Learning and Program Development, at lgrundler@arteducators.org to apply for CEUs.
The fee is $110 (per CEU) + $5 nonrefundable program fee applied per transaction.
Please email Laura Grundler, NAEA Director of Learning and Program Development, at lgrundler@arteducators.org to learn about the process to obtain a Pratt transcript.
Email SCPS at scps-credit@pratt.edu.