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.
Episodes
13 episodes
"Who IS My Favorite Teacher? A Special Edition Teacher Appreciation Episode!"
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 Ev...
"Arts Educators Bring Great Assets to the Table: How Leadership with An Arts Lens is a Superpower" with Kiera Crite
Join Kami Lunsford, TAA Director of Educational Programs and Events, and Kiera Crite, elementary music teacher from Franklin, TN, as they explore the great assets arts educators bring to school leadership, and how leading through an arts len...
"Making Magic On Purpose: How the Arts Create Lasting Impact"
Close out the first semester with Kami as she chats with Chris Taylor, TAA Visual Art facilitator, about the real magic that happens in arts education classes every day in this episode - "Making Magic On Purpose: How the Arts Make a Lasting Imp...
"Rooted in Relationships: How Collaboration Can Foster Student & Community Investment" With Paula Medlin
Grab a cup of coffee and join Kami as she talks with Paula Medlin, the Trio Track Coordinator for the TAA Summer Institute. They'll discuss how it really is "all about relationships" when it comes to making an impact in the arts classroom and s...
“The Importance of Arts to the Middle School Mind: Creating Space for Belonging”
Join Kami as she interviews special guest Kathy Coffey, a TAA Alumni Association member and TAA Ambassador, about the wild and wonderful world of middle school. They reflect on the tumultuous time for students and how arts education give...
"The Fun is in the Work: How Theatre Education Promotes Citizenship & Personal Growth"
Join Kami as she interviews special guest Pollyanna Parker about all the many resources she has learned from TAA year-round programs over the years and how they shaped her career as a theatre educator. This time of reflection will surely refres...
“Art Can Build Confidence: Helping Students Realize Their Power to Respond as an Individual” with Emily McEneely
Join us as Emily McEneely shares how arts education classes are a big opportunity to build community and confidence and how this can be important for both students and teachers. She gives tips on how to make your department more valued and reco...
"1% Better Every Day: How to Create "Buy-In" With Students & Administration" with Kerry Vaughn
Join Kami Lunsford as she talks shop with Kerry Vaughn who has some tips for cultivating a relationship with your administration and staff, some must-have resources and tools for the middle school band room, and wisdom about getting our student...
"What We Do Is Magic: How Connectivity Can Be Self Care For Arts Educators & Their Students" with Erica Holmes Darr
Erica Holmes Darr encourages us to "take a breath" and explore how building community can make meaningful change in our creative spaces! Erica is a passionate and dedicated music educator who began her teaching career in 2003 after earning...
"The Acceptance Piece: How Art Education Can Change Their World" with David Reynolds
David Reynolds, TAA Art Facilitator, shares how art gives kids "life tools" that can help them create a better world. He also gives some really great advice for new & pre-service teachers! David has taught for twelve years and is ...
"The Power of Creative Choice is Priceless" with Darlene Tanner, TAA Alumni Association West TN Regional Rep
Darlene Tanner, one of our West TN Regional Representatives for the TAA Alumni Association, encourages us to unlock the power of choice in fine arts classes! She is a visual art educator who teaches K-5th Grades at University School of Ja...
"Celebrating Failure with Your Students" with Michelle Tripp, TAA Alumni Association Middle TN Regional Rep
Michelle Tripp, TAA Alumni Association Middle TN Regional Representative, reflects on the power of theatre education and shares some fruitful finds that make performances easier for directors in 2022! Michelle grew up in the Middle Tennessee ar...
"Letting Go to Grow" with William Bodley, TAA Alumni Association West TN Regional Rep
William Bodley, Jr., TAA Alumni Association West TN Regional Representative, reflects on the 2021-2022 school year, and shares with us what strategies he's keeping and which ones he's letting go. William has served as the band director at Tread...
