Kate Hushion’s artistic drive has given her a new perspective, guiding her from her own canvas to helping students fulfill their artistic dreams. Her entrepreneurial endeavor, called ArtCart, brings color to kids throughout the Mountain State.
The Columbia Teachers College graduate launched ArtCart nine years ago to address a glaring need: the absence of elementary art teachers in her community. Her journey was spurred by her own experiences as a Wood County art teacher, where educators and administrators acknowledge that art education has been a challenge, with many schools lacking dedicated programs, particularly at the elementary level.
Kate Hushion, president and founder of ArtCart (left) and Jaclyn Rodet, director of sales and marketing for ArtCart, attend an art lesson taught by ArtCart’s Jess Martin in a fifth-grade classroom at Poca Elementary School on Oct. 7, 2024.
ArtCart teacher Jess Martin pushes an artcart down the hall at Poca Elementary School on her way to a fifth-grade classroom on Oct. 7, 2024.
ArtCart teacher Jess Martin offers colored markers to Poca Elementary fifth-graders (from left) Gigi Goldizen, Walker Cole, Mason Cravens and Danni Pharis to use on their art projects on Oct. 7, 2024.
Poca Elementary School fifth-grader Carson Craig holds papers up to the light to trace a figure during an ArtCart art lesson on Oct. 7, 2024.