News Details

October 2026

For sixth-grade art students at Stout Field Elementary, a blank page can be an invitation—to draw, experiment, explore an idea or simply see where creativity takes them.

For Stout Field art teacher Kelly Sheler, providing each of her students with a personal sketchbook was a way to give them a space of their own while helping them develop important skills that extend beyond the art room. With support from the Wayne Township Education Foundation and funding through DonorsChoose, Kelly has been able to provide durable, personalized sketchbooks for her students to use throughout the school year.

“I wanted my sixth graders to have a place that felt like their own, where they could practice drawing and explore ideas throughout the year,” Kelly said.

The inspiration came from fellow art teachers who shared how successful sketchbooks had been in their classrooms. Kelly saw an opportunity to incorporate them into her own sixth-grade art classes—not only as a place for students to develop their artistic skills, but also as a way to encourage responsibility and ownership.

Students begin each art class with a drawing prompt in their sketchbooks, but the creativity doesn’t stop there. Many students choose to draw during their own time, filling page after page with ideas and subjects that interest them.

“The students love them!” Kelly said. “They’re always eager to show me their latest independent creations, and I love seeing the subjects and ideas they choose for themselves.”

In fact, some students have already filled so many pages that they have needed additional paper.

Over the course of the school year, the sketchbooks will become a record of each student’s artistic journey—from their earliest drawings to the work they create months later. But Kelly believes they will capture something even more meaningful down the road: a glimpse of who these students were as sixth graders.

“These sketchbooks will tell the story of each student’s artistic growth,” she said. “I think it will be fun for them to look back one day and see both how much they grew and who they were at this age.”

For Kelly, projects like this demonstrate the impact of WTEF’s support. 

“So often, WTEF has helped turn an idea I’m excited about into a real opportunity for my students,” she said. “I’m grateful for the support they give our classrooms.”

ABOUT THE WAYNE TOWNSHIP EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Wayne Township Education Foundation (WTEF) provides community leadership to enrich, engage, and stimulate teaching and learning in the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township. WTEF accomplishes this by supporting school programs and resources, while recognizing excellence among students and staff. To learn more about WTEF, call 317-988-7966, visit wtef.wayne.k12.in.us, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter @WayneTwpEdFound.