Our students are inherently creative, resourceful, and resilient. While many navigate complex circumstances outside the classroom, including financial hardship, housing instability, and food insecurity, their lived experiences also cultivate deep courage and unique perspective.
Through creative literacy instruction and consistent mentorship, we provide the tools and the platform for students to hone their strengths, sharpen their academic skills, and realize their full personal and academic potential.
Iconoclast Artists provides free, year-round programming for students in grades 6–12 in schools and community centers throughout the Houston and Galveston regions.
THEY SAY Annual Showcase & Poetry Anthology
Every spring, Iconoclast Artists honors its students at THEY SAY—an inspiring celebration held at prestigious cultural venues, such as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and The Bryan Museum in Galveston.
THEY SAY provides the opportunity for students to perform live before a large, diverse, and supportive audience as published authors in their annual poetry anthology. Proceeds from book sales directly fund college and career training scholarships.
Scheduling
In-school sessions are tailored to each campus's needs and are held during an existing class period, such as English Language Arts, theater arts, an ancillary class, or a designated free period. Schools typically schedule one class period per week for each participating group of students, while others choose longer class blocks.
Teaching Fellows
Iconoclast Artists’ in-school Teaching Fellows are experienced educators, writers, and mentors who hold master's degrees in English and have extensive experience working in under-resourced communities. Teaching Fellows also receive ongoing professional development in trauma-informed instruction and positive youth development. Their ability to build authentic relationships with students is central to our success, creating learning environments where students feel safe.
How We Teach
We honor student voices while nurturing academic excellence. Our educational model combines rigorous English Language Arts (ELA) instruction with the intentional development of core competencies:
- Standards-Based ELA Instruction: Aligned directly with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), our curriculum reinforces reading comprehension, literary analysis, vocabulary development, narrative writing, close reading, and oral communication.
- Core Competencies: Lessons build upon students' strengths while cultivating habits for long-term success, including self-awareness, confidence, emotional regulation, resilience, critical thinking, empathy, and respectful collaboration.
- Highly Trained Instructors & Mentors: Classes are led by Teaching Fellows—Masters Level educators and writers trained in trauma-informed instruction who build authentic, supportive relationships where students feel safe taking creative and academic risks.
Measured Success
When students are given the platform and tools to channel their experiences into creative expression, the results are transformative:
- 33% --> 65% increase in classwork completion rates
- 31% --> 10% reduction in reported emotional challenges
- 52% --> 20% reduction in student worry and anxiety
- +20% growth in self-awareness
Partner With Us
We're always looking to build new partnerships with schools, community leaders, educators, and volunteers who share our passion for youth empowerment. Whether you want to bring our curriculum to your campus, support our mission, attend an event, or join our team, we would love to hear from you.
Contact Us:
- Claudia Crane Shuford, Executive Director claudia.crane@iconoclastartists.org
- Susan Ferrer, Program Director susan.ferrer@iconoclastartists.org
