Bobbi Grandon is a 6th grade teacher at Green Forest Middle School in Green Forest, Arkansas and has been receiving support from Thea Foundation since 2023. A literacy specialist, she works with a diverse group of students with a diverse group of needs.
How Thea Foundation Supports Student Growth Through Art
Mrs. Grandon states that “As a teacher, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a student come to life through art.” A particular student, who is usually very shy, really shines during classroom art projects. “She finishes one project and is excited to start the next. It’s amazing to watch her confidence grow, and I truly believe the connection we’ve made through art is vital to her development.”
The Thea Foundation is honored to play a role in supporting Mrs. Grandon’s classroom. Trough Thea’s Art Closet, we are able to make her art projects possible. Without DonorsChoose and the support of donors, these creative opportunities wouldn’t exist. But beyond funding, the art projects provide students with much more than just a chance to create. The materials and methods used give them a way to express themselves, build confidence, and communicate in unique ways—especially in a class where many different languages are spoken.
“Art also helps my students grow in other areas. Through group projects, they learn how to collaborate with others, building important teamwork and communication skills in a relaxed, pressure-free setting. It’s a life skill they’ll carry with them,” said Grandon.
Ideas for Future Growth
Grandon feels that although the support from Thea Foundation has already made a huge difference, there are a few other ways to take her projects even further:
“First, I’d love guidance on how to better integrate art into math lessons. While I’m comfortable connecting art with subjects like Social Studies and Language Arts, I’m not as experienced with combining art and math. With Thea’s help, I could mentor my colleagues in this area and create even more engaging lessons for our students.
Another exciting idea is creating a middle school art exhibit at our school. A colleague suggested this, and I think it would be a great opportunity for our students to showcase their work. However, we would need additional funding to make this happen. Thea Foundation could help us bring this vision to life.
Lastly, with larger projects, we’ve run into a storage issue. We simply don’t have enough space to store materials for big projects. Extra storage would make a big difference in helping us manage these larger art activities.”
You can help us help Mrs. Grandon by making a gift today at theafoundation.org/support.
Thank You, Thea Foundation and Supporters
The Thea Foundation has truly transformed my classroom. Their support goes beyond just providing supplies—it helps my students find their voice, build confidence, and learn important life skills. I’m grateful for everything they’ve done, and I look forward to what we can accomplish together in the future.
Thank you, Thea Foundation, for making such a big impact in our classroom!