Full Name
Abi Paytoe Gbayee
Speaker Bio
Abi Paytoe Gbayee learned quickly that leadership is really just making decisions on the fly, hoping you are running and screaming in the right direction.
Abi is passionate about helping teachers grow as leaders, whether through organizing conferences, mentoring new professionals, or designing creative, standards-based learning experiences. She believes leadership is a shared journey and is excited to inspire others to see themselves as leaders wherever they find themselves as educators.
Abi speaks about the “muddy middle,” the space where things are not fully resolved, where educators are making decisions in real time, and where most of the actual work of teaching and leadership happens. Her approach is grounded in relationship, consistency, and a belief that leadership is something built through practice, not position.
Before moving into higher education, Abi spent 18 years in K–12 classrooms, and she still approaches her work from that perspective. Her teaching and scholarship focus on artistic agency, curriculum design, and the role of the educator in creating environments where students can take ownership of their learning without losing structure or support.
She is currently an Assistant Professor of Art Education at the University of Northern Colorado and the immediate Past Pacific Region Vice President of the National Art Education Association.
Abi is passionate about helping teachers grow as leaders, whether through organizing conferences, mentoring new professionals, or designing creative, standards-based learning experiences. She believes leadership is a shared journey and is excited to inspire others to see themselves as leaders wherever they find themselves as educators.
Abi speaks about the “muddy middle,” the space where things are not fully resolved, where educators are making decisions in real time, and where most of the actual work of teaching and leadership happens. Her approach is grounded in relationship, consistency, and a belief that leadership is something built through practice, not position.
Before moving into higher education, Abi spent 18 years in K–12 classrooms, and she still approaches her work from that perspective. Her teaching and scholarship focus on artistic agency, curriculum design, and the role of the educator in creating environments where students can take ownership of their learning without losing structure or support.
She is currently an Assistant Professor of Art Education at the University of Northern Colorado and the immediate Past Pacific Region Vice President of the National Art Education Association.
Speaking At
