Matt Johnson MAEd '26

From the Art Room to Arts Leadership: Matt Johnson’s MAEd Journey

After sixteen years in the classroom, Matt Johnson knows the rhythm of a high school art department. He knows the steady hum of a kiln, the quiet focus of AP Studio Art students deep in critique, and the creative energy that builds as yearbook deadlines approach. He understands the balance between teaching foundational technique and encouraging students to take risks.

What he didn’t know, until recently, was what his next chapter in arts education would look like.

That question led him to the Master of Arts in Education.

A Career Rooted in Art Education

Matt holds a BFA in Art Education with concentrations in painting and ceramics and teaches at Westbrook High School in Westbrook, ME. Over time, his role has grown well beyond the classroom. In addition to leading courses in 2D, 3D, digital media, photography, AP Studio Art, and multimedia publications, he serves as a National Art Honor Society sponsor, Visual and Performing Arts Diploma Endorsement Coordinator, and mentor to new educators.

His leadership extends statewide as President of the Maine Art Education Association, where he has served on the board for the past twelve years. Through that work, Matt began thinking not only about his own students, but about the broader direction of arts education in Maine.

“I had been teaching for a while and didn’t want to get set in my ways. I was looking for the next step.”

Choosing an Online MAEd Designed for Arts Leaders

As a full-time educator, association president, mentor teacher and father, Matt knew that any graduate program would need to fit into an already full life. The fully online MAEd format made advanced study possible without stepping away from his personal and professional commitments.

“The online format was essential. As a dad, a teacher, and MAEA president, stepping away just wasn’t an option.”

But convenience was not the deciding factor.

Rather than pursuing a traditional master’s in education, Matt wanted something discipline-specific and leadership-focused. He was searching for a program that would strengthen his administrative skills while expanding his knowledge in areas like digital media and emerging technologies. He was also drawn to the idea of joining a program in its early stages and contributing to something growing.

Coursework That Connects Directly to Practice

From the first e-term, the connection between coursework and real-world application was clear.

In a marketing course, Matt developed conference outreach tools that he now uses in his work with MAEA. In a proposal-for-change assignment, he drafted language that informed a professional position statement shared through the association’s communications. Other projects have shaped policy updates and strengthened the structure of events and programming.

“These projects aren’t hypothetical,” he explains. “They’re directly connected to the work I’m doing as a teacher and as a leader.”

At the same time, the program has sharpened his classroom practice. Revisiting lesson and unit design through a leadership lens has refined how he approaches planning, goals, and long-term curriculum development.

Growing as a Leader by Becoming a Student Again

Returning to graduate study required intention. Balancing coursework and engaging in thoughtful discussion with peers placed Matt back in the role of learner.

That shift has been transformative.

“The program has taught me to be a student again,” he says. “I feel that is one of the strongest traits of a really good leader, the desire to keep learning and keep an open mind.”

Through the online MAEd program, Matt has broadened his perspective beyond the walls of his classroom. He has strengthened his leadership voice, expanded his professional network, and clarified how he wants to contribute to the future of arts education.

With one year remaining in his presidency, he is focused on mentoring his successor and expanding opportunities for art educators statewide. Beyond that, he is considering National Board Certification and future leadership roles at the state or national level.

“I’m not exactly sure what’s next,” he says, “but I’m already looking for it. This program has helped broaden those options.”

For Matt, leadership does not mean stepping away from the classroom. It means expanding the frame while continuing to grow within it.