Educator
Teaching Pedagogy
As an art educator, my goal is to empower both teachers and students to awaken to their innate creativity and brilliance. John Dewey wrote, “Art is not the possession of the few who are recognized writers, painters, musicians; it is the authentic expression of any and all individuality.” I believe everyone can express personal meaning through artmaking and recognize its deep connection to the world.
Art fosters higher-order thinking skills like analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, enhancing academic success. As Elliot Eisner reminds us, “The arts are ways of knowing, thinking, and communicating.” Through arts integration, students engage with other subjects creatively, deepening understanding.
Beyond academics, art nurtures self-expression, resilience, and confidence, fostering personal growth for both students and teachers. In my teaching, creativity is not just encouraged—it’s essential to learning and well-being.
Triada Samaras 2025
As an art educator, my goal is to empower both teachers and students to awaken to their innate creativity and brilliance. John Dewey wrote, “Art is not the possession of the few who are recognized writers, painters, musicians; it is the authentic expression of any and all individuality.” I believe everyone can express personal meaning through artmaking and recognize its deep connection to the world.
Art fosters higher-order thinking skills like analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, enhancing academic success. As Elliot Eisner reminds us, “The arts are ways of knowing, thinking, and communicating.” Through arts integration, students engage with other subjects creatively, deepening understanding.
Beyond academics, art nurtures self-expression, resilience, and confidence, fostering personal growth for both students and teachers. In my teaching, creativity is not just encouraged—it’s essential to learning and well-being.
Triada Samaras 2025
BIO
Triada Samaras is an artist and educator based in New York City and Standish, Maine. She holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from Goddard College and an MA in Art/Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. With over 30 years of experience, Triada has taught a wide range of students—from K-12 to adult learners—in diverse settings. She is dedicated to empowering educators and students by fostering creativity and linking artmaking to academic success.
Triada recently led a workshop for Trenton K–12 teachers with Young Audiences NJ/Eastern PA, developing arts-based strategies that support emotional regulation and well-being. As a mentor and teaching artist, she blends artistic practice with critical thinking to help educators and students connect creativity to daily life. She is currently completing certification with Mindful Creative Muse to further integrate mindfulness, meditation, and expressive art-making into her teaching and community work.
Triada has extensive experience in arts integration for teacher professional development, including serving as Arts Integration Professor-in-Residence at William Paterson University, leading STEAM after-school programs in the Paterson Public School District (2013–2023), and teaching Drawing, Painting, 2D Design, and Visual Thinking to art and art education majors at Kean University. She currently teaches an Arts Integration course in the William Paterson STEAM Master’s program and is a Master-Level Teaching Artist with Young Audiences NJ/Eastern PA.
Triada has published several articles on art and arts integration, including a chapter in Digital Learning in High-Needs Schools (Routledge). She has presented numerous professional development workshops at regional and national conferences on topics such as arts integration K–12, AI image generators in the classroom, and the role of creativity and play in learning for students of all ages. In addition, she has been a frequent presenter at the William Paterson Summer Arts Integration Institutes.
For more information:
Professor Samaras
STEAM EmPOWERment
Inclusive Arts Integration
Learning Arts at Home
CV Below
Triada Samaras is an artist and educator based in New York City and Standish, Maine. She holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Art from Goddard College and an MA in Art/Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. With over 30 years of experience, Triada has taught a wide range of students—from K-12 to adult learners—in diverse settings. She is dedicated to empowering educators and students by fostering creativity and linking artmaking to academic success.
Triada recently led a workshop for Trenton K–12 teachers with Young Audiences NJ/Eastern PA, developing arts-based strategies that support emotional regulation and well-being. As a mentor and teaching artist, she blends artistic practice with critical thinking to help educators and students connect creativity to daily life. She is currently completing certification with Mindful Creative Muse to further integrate mindfulness, meditation, and expressive art-making into her teaching and community work.
Triada has extensive experience in arts integration for teacher professional development, including serving as Arts Integration Professor-in-Residence at William Paterson University, leading STEAM after-school programs in the Paterson Public School District (2013–2023), and teaching Drawing, Painting, 2D Design, and Visual Thinking to art and art education majors at Kean University. She currently teaches an Arts Integration course in the William Paterson STEAM Master’s program and is a Master-Level Teaching Artist with Young Audiences NJ/Eastern PA.
Triada has published several articles on art and arts integration, including a chapter in Digital Learning in High-Needs Schools (Routledge). She has presented numerous professional development workshops at regional and national conferences on topics such as arts integration K–12, AI image generators in the classroom, and the role of creativity and play in learning for students of all ages. In addition, she has been a frequent presenter at the William Paterson Summer Arts Integration Institutes.
For more information:
Professor Samaras
STEAM EmPOWERment
Inclusive Arts Integration
Learning Arts at Home
CV Below
Triada Samaras Artist and Art Educator Born in Haverhill, Massachusetts Live/Work: Brooklyn, New York / Standish, Maine Email: [email protected] Cell: 917-558-6157
Education
- Mindful Art & Meditation Teacher Training (Certification in Progress)
Mindful Creative Muse (Cynthia Hauk) — Online, 2025
Training in mindfulness, meditation, and creative facilitation for emotional balance and community well-being. - 2012: Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Interdisciplinary Art, Goddard College, Plainfield, VT Thesis: At Home in Activist Art: Transgressing Political & Geographical Boundaries
- 2006: Master of Art in Art and Art Education, Teachers College/Columbia University, New York, NY Thesis: Awesome Art as Adolescent Educator
- 1985: Fifth Year Certificate and Award, Museum School of Fine Arts, Boston, MA Medici Society Traveling Fellowship Award with Boston Museum of Fine Arts Exhibition
- 1984: Diploma in Studio Art, Museum School of Fine Arts, Boston, MA Dana Pond Award in Painting
- 1980: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Studio Art, Smith College, Northampton, MA
- 2025: William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Adjunct Professor: Education Department: Arts Integration for STEAM Program (Graduate Level, In-Service Teacher)
- 2006-2024: Kean University, Union, New Jersey. Adjunct Professor: Fine Arts Department: Drawing 1, Drawing 2, Painting 1, Color Theory, 2-D Design, Visual Thinking (Undergraduate Level, BFA and BA Art Majors
- 2009-2023: William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Adjunct Professor: Education Department: Methods for Art Teachers: K-12 and K-6, Art and Literacy, Creativity and Play, Supervision: Art Teachers in Field (Undergraduate and Graduate Level, Pre-and In-Service Teachers)
- 2013-2023 William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. STEAM/Arts Integration Art Professor in Residence: Paterson New Jersey Public Schools K-12 and After School Program, Numerous Schools (K-12 Teachers, All Content Areas)
- 2002-Present: Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania Princeton, New Jersey. Master Level Teaching Artist and Professional Developer: Numerous Presentations, Workshops, Residencies, New Jersey Public School Districts e.g. Trenton, Newark, and Camden (Pre-K-12 New Jersey Public School Teachers, Students (All content Areas), Administrators, Staff, Families and more. Current Workshops include: Observational Drawing and Arts Integration, Drawing in the Classroom, Wood Scrap Art for Learning, AI Image Tools for Classrooms, Art for Emotional Balance
- 2025 Presenter: Hamilton Township School District, Hamilton, New Jersey, Art Teachers Grades K-5 "Wood Scrap Sculpture" and Art Teachers Grades 6-12 "AI in the Art Classroom
- 2025 Presenter: Trenton Board of Education, Trenton, New Jersey, District-wide Professional Learning Day. "Art for Emotional Balance"
- 2025 Presenter: New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association/NJPSA, Monroe Township, New Jersey. Guided Creative Play and Arts Integration. "Wood Scrap Sculpture/Integration."
- 2024 Presenter and Moderator: William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Educational Technology Conference: Leveraging Technology to Foster Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. "Using Artificial Intelligence/AI Image Generators to Promote DEIA in the Classroom."
- 2024 Presenter: New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association/NJPSA, Princeton, New Jersey. Arts Integration Leadership Institute. "AI Image Generators in the Classroom."
- 2023 Presenter: William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Educational Technology Conference: ISTE's Role in Reimagining Teaching, Learning and Leadership for K12 Schools. "Usage of Artificial Intelligence/AI Generators to Foster Creativity across the Subjects."
- 2014-2023 Annual Presenter: William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Summer STEA/Arts Integration Institute. "Integrating STEAM/Arts Integration in the Classroom. Variety of Topics."
- 2020 Presenter: William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey. Educational Technology Conference: Embracing Emerging Trends: Teaching Effective On-Line Teaching Strategies and Tools for P-12 Education. "Teaching Arts Online with Digital Tools: Using Padlet and Screencastify to Create an Online Interactive Bulletin Board."
Publications and Presentations:
Forthcoming December 2025: An, H., Samaras, T., Sung, W. (2025). Journal of Technology-Integrated Lessons and Teaching, "Biomimicry and Human Design: Creating a Flying Machine Using Observations of Birds’ Structure and Functions and Design Thinking Scaffolded by an Artificial Intelligence Image Generator".
An, H., Mohamad, G., Moreno, K., Samaras, T., Lanni, M., & Rajab, N. (2023). Book talk on Digital learning in high-needs schools: A critical approach to technology access and equity in PreK-12. Palestinian American Community Center, September 16, 2023.
An, H., Samaras, T., Lanni, M., & Rajab, N. (2023). Designing a culturally responsive multilingual arts-integration program: read-aloud and book-inspired art-making videos. In H. An & D. Fuentes (Eds.), Digital learning in high-needs schools: A critical approach to technology access and equity in PreK-12, Routledge.
An, H., Samaras, T., & Lanni, M. (2021). Designing a multilingual culturally responsive video-based arts integration and digital storytelling tool for high-needs New Jersey schools. Build & Broaden: Long-Term Impacts of Covid-19 on Latino Communities in the Tri-State Area. Montclair State University, August 15-17, 2021
https://www.montclair.edu/provost/build-broaden-conference-long-term-impacts-of-covid-19-on-latino-communities-in-the-tri-state-area/
Grimes, N., Samaras, T., Denda, K., & Sandler, S. (2021). Using the Smithsonian Learning Lab: A collaborative team-centered approach with PDS schools in the Paterson Public Schools to teach lessons around equity & diversity, The Annual New Jersey Professional Development Schools Conference, William Paterson University, May 26, 2021.
An, H., Yoon, S. Y., & Samaras, T. (2020). Overcoming the digital divide: The development of a culturally responsive video-based arts integration tool for high-needs New Jersey urban schools. Proceedings of the Fall 2020 Semiannual Conference of Korean Society for Educational Technology (pp. 136-145). South Korea, October 31, 2020.
An, H., Norris-Bauer, N., Samaras, T., & Sandler, S. (2020). Arts integration to foster creative thinking and diversity, National Association for Professional Development Schools Conference, February 13-15, 2020, Atlantic City.
An, H., Sandler, S., & Samaras, T. (2019). Use of music integration across the curriculum to cultivate creative thinking, The Annual New Jersey Professional Development Schools Conference, May 23, 2019, William Paterson University.
An, H., Norris-Bauer, N., Samaras, T., & Sandler, S. (2019). Supporting high needs schools to integrate arts across the curriculum: benefits and challenges, National Association for Professional Development Schools Conference, Atlanta, GA, February 14-16, 2019.
An. H., Samaras, T., & Sandler, S. (2018). Supporting the development of critical thinking through integration of the arts across the curriculum in high-needs schools. The Annual New Jersey Professional Development Schools Conference, William Paterson University, May 24, 2018.
An, H., Samaras, T., Post, J., Sandler, S., Scacchetti, D., & Norris-Bauer, N. (2018). Effective arts integration approaches in high needs school districts. Explorations, William Paterson University, April 12, 2018.
Arts Integration Resource Development
- Collaborator/Curriculum Developer: Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access Grant for Geraldine R. Dodge funded arts integration schools in Paterson Public Schools, NJ 2020/2021 culminating in presentations and arts integration resources for the Smithsonian Learning Lab
- Contributor: Inclusive Arts Integration Website
- Author and Contributor: SteamEmPOWERment Blogsite
- Co-Author and Contributor: Learning Art at Home Website
Learning Arts at Home (LAH) was created during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020) to provide digital storytelling pertaining to art education and art making to serve children and their families in the Paterson, NJ Public Schools. The digital storytelling and art making videos are available in English, Spanish, and Bengali
- College Art Association
- NAEA National Art Education Association
- UCAE University Council for Art Education
- Freelancers Union
- Art Educators of New Jersey