Imaginative, Empathetic Classrooms for Teaching Creativity with Jason Blair

In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cyndi Burnett and Dr. Matthew Worwood sit down with innovative art educator Jason Blair to explore the often overlooked discomfort adults feel around "real creativity"—something Jason dubs "inconvenient creativity." Jason shares powerful personal stories, from creative chaos in his daughter's room to spontaneous, student-driven art projects in his classroom, illustrating how true creativity frequently emerges in unexpected moments that disrupt the status quo. He explains why adults and educators can be unsettled by these uncontrollable, messy instances and emphasizes the importance of leaning into these opportunities instead of suppressing them.

 

The conversation delves into strategies for infusing creativity across all classrooms, not just the arts, with Jason offering practical ideas for sparking student imagination and engagement in any subject area. The hosts and Jason also explore the need for an educational revolution, not just evolution, highlighting the urgency to shift focus from content and efficiency to nurturing the dispositions and mindsets that help students thrive in a rapidly changing world. The episode wraps with a memorable account of a cross-age, student-led project that encapsulates authentic learning, collaboration, and the joy of creating for others, leaving listeners inspired to invite more serendipity and creativity into their own teaching practice.

 

About the Guest

Jason Blair is an art educator dedicated to the belief that creativity is more than a skill—it’s a way of seeing, thinking, and being. With over two decades of classroom experience, Jason is passionate about empowering both students and educators to embrace imagination as a lever for transformation. He artfully blends the worlds of art, empathy, and innovation, creating environments where curiosity is cultivated and every voice matters. Jason is known for pushing beyond the traditional limits of education and modeling the courage to lean into the messy, beautiful moments of authentic, meaningful learning.

 

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