Kristin Calderhead
Hot Springs Village,AR
Summary
Expressive arts director and programs developer working with people suffering from severe mental illness and/or developmental delay.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Expressive Arts Director
Birch Tree Communities
Benton, AR
03.2023 - Current
- Work with patients suffering from severe mental illness
- Create program and art activities for them to complete, build relationships and work directly with programs coordinator to create curriculum.
- Use expressive arts techniques to align activities and lessons with well being and health of all clients.
- Use recreation as a therapy and tool for rehabilitation
Art Teacher
Sylvan Hills Middle School
North Little Rock, AR
12.2018 - 03.2023
- Teach art to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students
- Enter students in contests for young artists, and help students achieve higher learning in the arts
- Spark interest in art careers
Educational Therapist
Centers for Youth and Families
Little Rock, AR
01.2018 - 12.2018
- Taught therapeutic lessons and use trauma informed care to students in a behavioral care setting.
- Used art as coping skills for students to help deal with emotions.
- Developed recreational programs and events for leisure activities that help mental health and holistic healing.
Art and Recreation Educator
LRSD Alternative Learning
08.2017 - 01.2018
- 12 grade Art, Taught art to 6th-12th grade alternative learning students
- Entered students in contests for young artists, and helped students achieve higher learning in the arts
- Spark interest in art careers
- Helped students use art as coping skills for trauma.
Art Teacher
Arkansas School for the Blind
08.2016 - 05.2017
- Taught art to K-12th grade visually impaired students
Mayflower School District Secondary Art
08.2013 - 05.2016
- Taught art 9-12th grade students
- Entered students in contests for young artists, and help students achieve higher learning in the arts
- Sparked interest in art careers.
Maumelle Charter School Secondary Art
08.2009 - 05.2013
- Taught art 9-12th grade students
- Entered students in contests for young artists, and help students achieve higher learning in the arts
- Sparked interest in art careers.
Education
Registered Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator - Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts Institute of Florida
Sarasota, FL08.2025
Graduate certificate - Therapeutic Recreation
Northern Arizona University
ArizonaMasters of Applied Teaching - Applied Teaching
Harding University
Searcy, AR2013
Bachelors of Fine Arts - Art education
Harding University
Searcy, AR2005
Skills
- Childcare
- Autism experience
- Childhood development
- Customer service
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Social media marketing
- Microsoft Office
- Classroom experience
- Leadership
- Teaching
- Early childhood education
- Recreational therapy
- Classroom management
- Lesson planning
- Experience working with people diagnosed with severe mental Illness
Accomplishments
Applied and got grants from peacelove.org for programs to incorporate music and dance into programs.Teacher of the year multiple times in career. Orchestrated largest art show for mentally Ill clients in the state.Member of IEATA (international expressive arts therapy association). Presenter for the 2025 AEATA (American expressive arts therapy association).
Timeline
Expressive Arts Director
Birch Tree Communities
03.2023 - Current
Art Teacher
Sylvan Hills Middle School
12.2018 - 03.2023
Educational Therapist
Centers for Youth and Families
01.2018 - 12.2018
Art and Recreation Educator
LRSD Alternative Learning
08.2017 - 01.2018
Art Teacher
Arkansas School for the Blind
08.2016 - 05.2017
Mayflower School District Secondary Art
08.2013 - 05.2016
Maumelle Charter School Secondary Art
08.2009 - 05.2013
Registered Expressive Arts Consultant/Educator - Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts Institute of Florida
Graduate certificate - Therapeutic Recreation
Northern Arizona University
Masters of Applied Teaching - Applied Teaching
Harding University
Bachelors of Fine Arts - Art education
Harding University