Lauren Stichter is a Philadelphia native who graduated from Tyler School of Art and Architecture with her BFA in Ceramics and a teaching certification. After graduating from Tyler, Lauren became the lead art teacher at The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and continued her work there for 15 years. While at PSD Lauren completed her Master’s in Education, focusing the majority of her studies around positive behavior supports for those who have special needs. In 2009, Lauren spent a 6 month sabbatical in northern India where she taught art to children who have different abilities and trained local educators how to incorporate art into their curriculum.

For the past 5 years Lauren has also been an adjunct faculty member at Moore College of Art and Design teaching the Special Populations class in the Undergrad Art Education department. At Moore Lauren was also asked to join the Advisory Board for the Masters in Art Education with an Emphasis in Special Populations, and this past spring Lauren became the Graduate Program Director of this great program. In the summer of 2014, Lauren took on the role of Special Needs in Art Education Chairperson for the Pennsylvania Art Education Association. In collaboration with Dr. Lisa Kay, Lauren also began a PAEA Special Needs in Art Education Collegial Assembly that meets quarterly in and around Philadelphia, with plans to extend this group of peers across the state.

Lauren has presented at conferences, symposiums and workshops through the National Art Education Association and Pennsylvania Art Education Association at colleges, museums and community arts organizations across the state. Most recently Lauren presented at the World Conference for Special Education which was hosted at Temple University this past August.

Lauren now lives in Kensington with her husband Will and daughter Shirley. Lauren continues to make her own pottery and is an active member of her community, especially when it comes to working with Philadelphia public schools and their art programs.