2026 Conference Workshops

Workshop opportunities include hands on, lecture, and round-table discussion format in addition to engaging keynote sessions and time to connect with colleagues. Attendance verification and CTLE credit are available for up to 15 CTLE hours.

Over 85 workshops are offered with no advance selection necessary; a small selection of ticketed Extended Hands-On Studio workshops are avaialble for an additional fee. Please read workshop descriptions and materials requirements/recommendations carefully prior to registering for Ticketed Workshops. Preregistered and ticketed events are not refundable. 

2026 Workshop Descriptions  
General Schedule Workshops are either 50 minutes or 110 minutes. Cancellations sometimes happen due to circumstances beyond our control. Workshops are subject to change without notice.  

General session are open to all participants; some workshops have a materials fee up to $5 to participate fully in the workshop, as indicated in the description. Please plan ahead to have cash on hand if there is a materials fee. 

Please read workshop descriptions and materials requirements/recommendations carefully prior to registering for Ticketed Workshops. To preregister for a ticketed event, select the desired workshop option(s) on the Preregistered Workshops section in the Conference Registration Form. Preregistered and ticketed events are non-refundable. 

Kinusaiga: Painting with Fabric
Explore the art of Kinusaiga, a traditional Japanese no-sew art form. In this workshop, participants will learn how to create art by tucking fabric into pre-cut grooves on a foam surface—no sewing required.Participants will be guided step-by-step through the process, from transferring a design and selecting fabrics to building a finished piece with rich color and dimension.
Jenny Brown M, H, C
Location: Room 111
Friday AM 10-12:50

Intuitive Painting
When was the last time you treated yourself to some time with your art making? “Intuitive painting is an opportunity to explore the inner self through the creative process in a safe, critic free environment.” ‘...Intuitive painting is becoming aware of your own unique creative process whilst releasing attachment to meaning, control, expertise or final product.’ Gather with us for time dedicated to YOU. You’ll be led by a guided meditation through the steps of freeing your hands, mind, and soul with paint. We will round out the experience with a reflection and some closing thoughts.Join us and free your hands, mind, and soul through paint...
Michelle Schroeder M, H, C 
Location: Room 112
Friday AM 10-12:50

Pressing On: Relief Collagraphs from Upcycled Materials
Feeling the need to use your hands to find your heart-space? Craving authenticity and a creative community? Explore collagraphs from upcycled materials and immerse yourself in an addictive, meditative printmaking process. We will make and print several small plates via hand printing and a small press. We’ll start with visual design principles, explore narrative strategies, and embrace the wabi-sabi moments. Along the way, we will expand this experience & identify strategies to illustrate ideas around Emotional Intelligence and cultivate Advocacy (for self and others) to take back to your studio and/or classroom.
Gina Palmer E, M, H, C 
Location: Room 111
Friday PM 2-4:50

Cost Effective Dry Point Etching with Plexiglass
If you’re interested in digital illustration and curious about the unknown, this workshop explores Procreate and essential digital tools used by artists. Participants should bring their own device and have a basic understanding of Procreate. We’ll begin with a quick refresher on the interface and key features, then dive into creative application. Guided step-by-step, you’ll design and illustrate your own cryptid-themed postcard, building confidence in digital techniques while creating a unique, imaginative piece to share or print.
Nick Napierala M, H
Location: Room 112
Friday PM 2-4:50

Tetra Pak Printmaking
Tetra Pak printmaking is a sustainable and approachable art form that repurposes Tetra Pak cartons into "plates" for creating professional-quality intaglio prints. This low-tech method mimics traditional metal-plate etching without the need for harsh chemicals. Participants will learn to transform recycled packaging into versatile printing plates. By scratching, scoring, and peeling the foil-lined layers of a Tetra Pak carton, you can create intricate lines and rich tonal textures. Come with ideas or images to work from to create your plate. Each participant will leave with at least two prints of an image you create in the session. All materials provided. You bring the inspiration and imagination. We'll focus on developing your own artistic practice as well as classroom implementation.
Cindy Henry MS, HS 
Location: Room 111
Saturday AM 10-12:50

Hola Mola! Sewing a Kuna Indian Mola Inspired Design on Burlap
This workshop adapts the traditional multi-layered, reverse-appliqué Mola textile art of the Kuna people of Panama into a budget-friendly, highly tactile project. By swapping layered cotton fabric for loose-weave burlap and thread for vibrant yarn, students can explore key elements of design while developing fine motor and fiber manipulation skills by sewing embroidery stitches and designs.
Monica Czernecki E, M
Location: Room 112
Saturday AM 10-12:50

Gelli Plate Transfers Made Easy!
Discover the creative possibilities of image transfer printmaking using a Gelli plate, inkjet images, and charcoal. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn the complete image transfer process from start to finish, including preparing your images, selecting the right materials, and successfully pulling detailed transfers.Throughout the session, I will demonstrate each step, share practical tips for achieving consistent results, and explain the techniques that make this process both accessible and highly versatile. We'll also explore ways to experiment with layering, texture, and composition, giving you the confidence to develop your own unique visual style.Whether you're new to Gelli printing or looking to expand your printmaking practice, this workshop will provide a solid foundation and plenty of inspiration for continued exploration. By the end of the class, you'll leave with completed image transfers, a clear understanding of the process, and the skills to continue experimenting with this exciting and expressive printmaking technique on your own.
Veronica Kruger E. M, HS, C
Location: Room 111
Saturday PM 2-4:50

Mapping Memory Through Fiber: Stitching Places, Stories, and Identity
Participants will create a mixed-media textile map inspired by a meaningful place, memory, or journey. Using fabric, fabric medium, Inktense pencils, NuPastels, embroidery thread, and collage, attendees will layer imagery, symbols, words, and stitching to tell a personal story. Through guided prompts and hands-on exploration, participants will discover how mapping can become a powerful tool for reflection, identity, and storytelling. Educators will leave with a finished artwork, new fiber arts techniques, and a lesson that can be adapted for a variety of grade levels.
Lisa Federici E, M, HS, C, A
Location: Room 112
Saturday PM 2-4:50

Hey, Wall! Storytelling, Collaboration & Community
Join New York Times bestselling author Susan Verde for an interactive exploration of Hey, Wall, illustrated by John Parra, and discover how one picture book can become the starting point for meaningful, community-centered project-based learning.

Susan will share the story behind the book, her writing process, and the creative collaboration between author and illustrator. Participants will then create their own mini murals and explore ways to bring the experience to students through visual art, literacy, history, research, recycled and accessible materials, local artists, and public art. Educators will also consider how the experience can be differentiated across grade levels, abilities, materials, and learning goals, and how it can grow from a classroom activity into a schoolwide, districtwide, or community initiative. Participants will leave with practical ideas for student-created murals, collaborative mural books, local artist partnerships, family and community showcases, and authentic opportunities for students to tell the stories of their communities through art.
Susan Verdi and Allie-Alejandra Joyner
Saturday AM 10-12:50
Saturday PM 2-4:50
Limit 20 per session
$40 Ticket is non-refundable

New York Times bestselling author, Susan Verde grew up in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City. Ultimately, she moved to the Hamptons where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s in reading remediation and become an elementary school teacher for many years. 

Now, Susan is an author capturing and celebrating the unique experience of children. Her titles include, The Museum, The Water Princess, Rock ‘N’ Roll Soul and Hey, Wall a Story of Art and Community and Unstoppable Me. Her instant #1 New York Times bestseller I Am Human: A Book of Empathy is part of a bestselling series including I Am Yoga and I Am Peace and the New York Times bestseller I Am Love: A Book of Compassion. Her recent books are Tortoise and Hare and The Tossy-Turny Princess, the latest in the Feel-Good Fairytale series, as well as another in the I Am series, Who I Am: Words I Tell Myself and there are many more to come. Susan’s books continue to inspire children, educators, yoga practitioners and mindful humans alike, helping to cultivate empathy and kindness in all of us.

In addition to writing Susan teaches yoga and mindfulness to kids of all ages.

Susan is currently living by the ocean in East Hampton, New York doing her best as a mother of 3 amazing humans and her menagerie of pets. 

is the Founder and CEO of Create Curiously and former Director of Innovative Solutions at FableVision Learning, a Peter H. Reynolds company. An educator, curriculum designer, and innovation leader with 20+ years of experience in education, Allie has worked across elementary teaching, literacy intervention, instructional technology, professional learning, curriculum development, and educational innovation.

Through Create Curiously, she collaborates with authors, educators, schools, and organizations to design meaningful learning experiences that connect curiosity, creativity, literacy, art, and student agency. Her work centers on helping educators create environments where students are encouraged to think deeply, ask meaningful questions, express themselves authentically, and make connections across ideas and experiences.

For the 2026 NYSATA Preconference, Allie designed Creating from the Inside Out in collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Susan Verde. The experience brings together the perspectives of an educator and an author to explore mindfulness, storytelling, curiosity, creativity, and practical approaches educators can bring into their own learning communities.