TAA Talks
The TAA Talks podcasts seek to amplify the voices of the Tennessee Arts Academy community. Since 1986, the Tennessee Arts Academy has been America’s longest-running premier summer program for arts-based professional development in art, music, theatre and dance, and arts leadership. The Academy is held annually for six days in July on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Eligible participants include K–12 arts specialists, classroom teachers, and administrators from all 95 Tennessee counties. Spaces are also available for out-of-state participants, artists, college professors and pre-service teachers. The mission of the Tennessee Arts Academy is to provide exceptional quality professional development that includes training and access to cutting edge methodologies and resources, as well as support and encouragement through community and renewal. For more information you can visit the website at www.tnartsacademy.org or call the TAA office at 615-988-6250. The Tennessee Arts Academy Alumni Association was established by the Tennessee Arts Academy Foundation in 2009. The Tennessee Arts Academy Foundation is a 501c3 organization whose mission is to aid and assist in the Tennessee Arts Academy's growth and expansion.
TAA Talks
"Who IS My Favorite Teacher? A Special Edition Teacher Appreciation Episode!"
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TAA is celebrating the power of great teaching with a special edition of the TAA Talks Podcast in honor of the 2026 TAA Foundation Teacher Appreciation Donation Sensation. Host Kami Lunsford, TAA Director of Educational Programs and Events, ponders the question Who IS my favorite teacher? Rather than tackling the impossible alone, this episode leans into the reflections from arts educators whose lives were shaped by teachers who saw their potential, nurtured their creativity, and changed their paths forever. These personal tributes highlight the lasting impact of arts education and the mentors who make it meaningful.
This episode is dedicated to the TAA Foundation Board of Directors—many of whom were teachers or began their careers in the classroom—whose ongoing commitment helps sustain and grow the kind of inspiration found in arts education classrooms every day. Featured guests include Virginia Nix, a visual art teacher at Kenrose Elementary School in Brentwood, TN; Kim Warnette, Visual Art STEAM Studio Lab Director at Rozelle Elementary School for Performing Arts in Memphis, TN; Roland Wilson, retired choral director and current PhD candidate at the University of Memphis; and SaraLyn Archibald, theatre and communications teacher at Arlington High School in Arlington, TN. Each brings a unique perspective and a powerful story of gratitude. Listeners will be reminded that while it may be impossible to choose just one favorite teacher, it’s never too late to say thank you.