PENNOHIO CLAY GUILD • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR K-12 ART EDUCATORS
Introducing, Act 48 Approved
Clay:SPARK
From First Steps to Fresh Perspectives
This is professional learning that fills the gaps in clay education, not "Ten Lessons You Can Do With Your Students." It is a deeper understanding of the material at every level, built for you as an artist and an educator.
Hands-on workshops in New Castle, PA (western PA)
PennOhio Clay Guild’s Clay:SPARK initiative received funding from Pennsylvania Creative Industries, powered by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Grant funds enable POCG to provide Clay:SPARK programming to all Pennsylvania teachers at a reduced cost.
What is Clay:SPARK?
PD built for what you actually teach.
Clay:SPARK, PennOhio Clay Guild’s professional development program for K–12 art educators, helps teachers strengthen their understanding of clay while growing as artists and educators.
Clay:SPARK addresses the questions, techniques, and foundational concepts that teachers may not have had the opportunity to fully develop, connecting existing knowledge with new skills, fresh perspectives, and greater confidence. Through focused workshops, demonstrations, and hands-on learning, you deepen your own creative practice and bring meaningful ideas back to your classroom.
Wherever you are with clay, there is always more to explore.
New to ceramics
Build a solid foundation in clay bodies, stages, throwing/building, and firing so you can teach it with confidence.
Some experience
Fill in the gaps, troubleshoot classroom challenges, and connect what you know to new techniques.
Seasoned ceramics teacher
Advanced processes, surface work, and fresh approaches to your own curriculum and practice.
Why art teachers choose Clay:SPARK
Relevant to your classroom
Most PD days are not designed for art teachers. Clay:SPARK is.
Hands in the clay
Learn by doing in our working clay studio, alongside experienced ceramic artists and former educators.
Counts toward Act 48
Clay:SPARK offerings earn professional learning credit, so your growth and your requirements line up.
FROM PILOT PARTICIPANTS
What teachers tell us
100%
said the sessions were helpful in their role as an art educator
1 in 3
returned to attend a second session
88%
plan to keep using POCG as a resource
“Probably the best PD I’ve ever attended.”
Elise C. • grades K-2
“I have much more knowledge about clay now, so I feel much more confident in using it with my students.”
Laura V. • elementary
Coming in 2027
Upcoming Offerings
Full details and registration open as dates are confirmed. Sign up below to hear first.
Foundations
For teachers new to clay or looking for a refresher.
Next Steps
For experienced clay teachers ready to engage with advanced concepts and insights.
Custom PD
Design your own session with us for you or your team
What a typical day workshop can look like
A full-day workshop runs 9 to 4, lunch included. Each session pairs conversation with time in the studio.
Morning
Welcome, then Session A: All About Clay. Presentation and discussion, followed by hands-on work.
Midday
Lunch together (included).
Afternoon
Session B: Glaze and Surface Design. Presentation, discussion, and hands-on practice.
Wrap-up
Live Alternative firing demonstration such as horsehair, obvara, sagar, or Raku.
WHERE WE MEET
PennOhio Clay Commons Learning Center
New Castle, PA [western PA]
Workshops take place at the Learning Center in PennOhio Clay Commons (a project of the PennOhio Clay Guild) at 39 S. Jefferson Street, New Castle, PA.
Approximate drive times
Pittsburgh: 1 hour
Harrisburg: 3.5 hours
Erie: 1.5 hours
Philadelphia: 5 hours
State College: 2.5 hours
CUSTOM PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Plan your day, your way.
We build custom PD around your district, department, or teaching team so you get the most out of your time together. Choose the focus, the level, and the format that fits.
Ways to customize your day:
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Your schedule: get custom PD on your district in-service days or whatever dates work for you.
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Your team: art departments and interdisciplinary teaching teams can learn side by side and plan clay projects that connect grade levels and subjects.
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Your focus: topics matched to your curriculum, your students, and your studio setup.
Call us at (724) 201-1989 to inquire about custom PD sessions, or fill out the form below.
Be the first to know
Get email notifications when 2027 dates are announced and registration opens.
Just want to talk to a person to get more info? Call us at (724) 201-1989, we are here to help!