Meet Your Host
Bryson Tarbet, M.M.Ed
Bryson Tarbet (he/him/his) is the founder of the Elementary Art Summit™ and the driving force behind bringing content-specific professional development to elementary arts teachers nationwide.
Bryson's journey into the art education space began through his work with the Elementary Music Summit®, where he witnessed over 32,000 elementary music teachers access the kind of practical, community-driven PD that had long been missing from their careers. Seeing that transformation firsthand, he knew one thing was clear: elementary art teachers deserved the same.
With a deep belief that every specialist educator deserves a professional home — a space to grow, connect, and feel seen — Bryson created the Elementary Art Summit to bridge that gap. His background building community and professional development experiences for educators gives him a unique understanding of what teachers actually need: real tools, real conversations, and a real community that gets it.
Caren Barber
Unplugged Education: No Batteries Required
Caren Barber is the Visual Arts Specialist at Rankin Elementary School. A product of the Tupelo Public School District, she has spent the last 15 years teaching elementary art and previously spent 9 years teaching kindergarten and 3rd grade, for a total of 24 years teaching within the Tupelo Public School District. During that time, she has led in multiple capacities within the district, furthered the cause of arts integration, written numerous grants, and taught a variety of arts related classes within the immediate community. She was the 2023 Mississippi Elementary Art Teacher of the Year and most recently became a National Board Certified teacher in Early and Middle Childhood Art. Her favorite people are James Barber, her husband of 24 years, and her sons Carson (newly Army Active Duty) and Caden Barber (rising Senior) who is also the Golden Wave Battalion Commander of the THS JROTC program.
Jose G Hernandez Reyes
Soft Sculpture Plushies
Jose Hernandez Reyes (he/him) is both an artist and an art educator. He is passionate about helping students discover their creative potential and develop their artistic skills. As an educator, he strives to create an environment where students feel encouraged to explore, experiment, and express themselves through art.
He lives in the Rio Grande Valley, located at the southernmost tip of Texas. The region is rich in cultural diversity, shaped by a unique blend of Mexican and American traditions. This cultural heritage has greatly influenced both his artistic perspective and his approach to teaching.
His experience in education began early in his professional career and has taken many forms over the years. He started by teaching art classes at his local museum, where he instructed students in subjects such as papier-mâché, drawing, and painting. He later expanded his teaching experience by working in numerous summer art programs and camps, helping young artists develop their creativity and technical skills.
Most recently, he became a certified art teacher in the state of Texas. For the past four years, he has taught art at the secondary level, working with diverse groups of students, and fostering their artistic growth. Through both his teaching and artistic practice, he remains committed to inspiring creativity, encouraging self-expression, and demonstrating the value of the arts in education and everyday life.
Amanda Koonlaba
Sunny & Tropical Color Diffusion Collage
Amanda Koonlaba, Ed. S. is an award-winning educator, founder of Party in the Art Room and co-founder of Creativity First, and a driving force behind arts-integrated learning. Amanda's influence spans from local classrooms to international stages as a presenter, instructional coach, and curriculum innovator.
With a passion for weaving creativity into educational frameworks, she has dedicated her career to supporting teachers in implementing arts integration. As an expert in instructional leadership, Amanda is committed to shaping programs that empower educators, build community, and enhance the educational experience for all learners.
Janel Luker
Printmaking for Primary
Janel Luker has taught elementary Art for 25 years. She has spent the past 20 years at her current school, and before that she started an Art Elementary program for a rural district on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio. She also taught for 2 years in Boston, where she also worked for a graphic design company. She currently lives in Columbus with her two teenage daughters. She enjoys live music, yoga, working out, and spending time with friends.
Shelby Mooneyham
Rolling With the Punches: Art Teacher Style
Shelby Mooneyham (she/her) is the Mary Poppins of the art room! Starting from pre-K all the way to 5th, she has been an art educator for five years, and in those five years she has learned how to create, adjust, and be flexible with whatever is thrown her way. She has learned how to cope with the ever changing world of education, and how to show self love and care through her own personal art. She brings in her own personal accounts, along with what she's learned from others through the years. She is constantly evolving and pushing herself into new things. Doing it all with paint on her face, a hot cup of coffee ready to go, and a smile for her kids. Art education is a passion for her, not just a job. She can't save the world, but she can spread joy through art and be the light in a child's day.