BI teacher launches elementary after-school art program

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, October 29, 2025

Ordway Elementary School teacher Lishu Rodriguez recently launched a new after-school art program for students to have additional hands-on opportunities.

“Students can just walk into the art room after school and they will be picked up at 4:30 p.m. or 5:00 p.m., so parents do not have to worry about drop off and pick up,” she said.

Each camp meets once a week and runs for four weeks, with each one having a different theme students work on throughout the course. Rodriguez will provide art supplies and guidance in a safe and welcoming environment. Rodriguez said part of the artistic process is often about trying new things, failing and practicing.

“So it’s really like an open studio where I give them the materials and general skills and safety guidelines, and they just kind of run with it,” she said.

Camps will have a cap of 24 students, broken down by age group, and will be led by Rodriguez, a nationally board-certified arts educator, and fellow substitute art teacher Emily Lohman. Courses started Sept. 22 for 3rd/ 4th graders and Sept. 24 for 1st/ 2nd graders. Rodriguez recommends families follow the age groupings when registering their students.

The course breakdown is as follows:

3rd and 4th graders

September: Paper

October: wire

November: textile

1st and 2nd graders

September: painting

October: drawing

November: sculpture

Rodriguez said that when her hours were reduced following the 2025-26 Bainbridge Island School District budget being approved in May, it provided her the opportunity to be creative. She described the situation as a perfect opportunity to explore other ideas while still teaching at BISD. She will also rent space from the district to host the courses, which will also generate revenue for the district.

“My teaching principle is, or the driving force, is really nurturing creativity in students, which has been identified as a 21st Century skill that’s most necessary. So in doing that, I just provide students the opportunity and give them general skills,” she said.

For instance, for a project using wires, Rodriguez will teach students how to use pliers safely while also showing them different techniques and helping them brainstorm ideas.

“After that, it’s really a playground for them. And part of that is like experimenting, exploring, envisioning,” she said.

Rodriguez plans to launch winter courses later this year, and doesn’t intend for the after-school art programs to replace art courses students have during the school day. Instead, she envisions them as additional opportunities for students to work in-depth on various projects.

“Our art program for the school district does an incredible job of nurturing creativity and providing students (with the opportunity to create) authentic art. I think the after-school camps just add to that existing program to give more time for students who are interested in exploring art even more,” she said. “ I think it complements our existing art program and doesn’t necessarily replace it,” she said.

In the future, Rodriguez would like to expand the program to other schools and students on BI.

“My goal was to offer students opportunities to explore the art world and art-making processes beyond the classroom, and the way that I’m doing it is also to serve our Bainbridge families, where students can go into the after-school art camps directly after school”, she said.

Rodriguez said the program serves multiple objectives, including job opportunities for educators and providing after-school activities for students.

Regarding inspiration for starting the program, Rodriguez said she has previously taught summer art camps at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, where families have asked for more opportunities for their kids to engage in art.

“I really want to bring back that engagement with our hands and create what happens to our brain when we’re creating things, not just constantly visualizing and telling (artificial intelligence) what to create, but creating things with our hands and playing and experimenting,” she said.

To learn more about the program and to register for classes, visit www.bainbridgeartexplorers.com/monday-camp