In one of the most emotional and inspiring episodes of ArtScene | The Podcast to date, Michael Bell welcomes Queen Anne’s County Public Schools 2026 Teacher of the Year Alice Tickler into Bell's Cannon Street ArtStudio for a deeply personal conversation about literacy, humanity, grief, and the transformative power of helping children believe in themselves.

A National Board Certified Teacher, LETRS facilitator, and state-level literacy leader, Tickler shares how her journey as both a mother and educator reshaped the way she approaches reading instruction, advocacy, and connection. What began with watching her own son Jake struggle with literacy became a lifelong mission to ensure every child feels seen, supported, and capable of success.

Together, Bell and Tickler explore the idea that literacy may be one of the very first artforms children ever experience — rooted in storytelling, imagination, identity, and voice.

The conversation dives into:
• The Science of Reading and structured literacy• Creativity inside literacy instruction• Teaching multilingual learners through connection and empathy• The emotional realities children quietly carry• How grief and personal tragedy has transformed the way Tickler sees students, how her son Jake inspired her and how the children she teaches continue to inspire her every day• Why relationships matter just as much as curriculum• The power of helping children rewrite the stories they believe about themselves, and the power of communities

Filmed inside Bell’s Cannon Street Studio and joined by QACTV, this episode is a reminder that teaching is never just about academics.

In Jake's memory and honor, this episode is about inspiring all of us to do all the "Little" things.

Because at its best, teaching is art.

For more on Michael Bell and his art visit https://mbellart.com

To view a recent video from QAC-TV on Bell's new Cannon Street Studio visit: https://youtu.be/_h1Kf-q8E3M?si=pW86JZwmldPNOqdh