Iowa Virtual Academy Student Revives Art Folio, Bringing Creativity and Community Together 

When a beloved school publication needed a new leader, Iowa Virtual Academy (IAVA) junior Kylie stepped up to ensure the tradition continued. 

Art Folio is a school-wide portfolio of student and staff artwork, writing, recipes, and other interests. It gives students and teachers across IAVA an opportunity to connect through their creativity and shared passions. The student-led initiative originally started in 2021, with a goal of giving the school community a place to showcase their work and strengthen connections with each other. 

After the founder graduated, a group of teachers worked to keep Art Folio going but they were unable to find a student volunteer willing to lead the project. At the same time, students continued asking whether Art Folio would return.  

When Kylie learned there was no student available to take ownership of the publication, she gladly volunteered. Her hard work helped bring the project back during the 2025–2026 school year. The finished publication featured:  

• 119 creative submissions 

• 26 senior quotes 

• 49 student participants 

• 9 staff participants 

• Contributions representing grades 3–12 

Submissions are grouped into seven categories: art, cooking, literature, music, needlework, photography, and senior quotes. 

Bringing Back a School Tradition 

While several staff members helped promote the project, Kylie took responsibility for managing and creating the publication. She handled nearly every aspect of the project, from creating submission forms and organizing entries to designing and assembling the final edition. 

Students quickly embraced the return of Art Folio. 

“As soon as people heard Art Folio was coming back, they were excited,” Kylie said. “Some of the first questions were, ‘When can I make my first submission?'” 

Producing the publication required significant planning and organization, but Kylie was able to balance the project alongside her coursework thanks in part to the flexibility of virtual learning. 

“Being on top of what you need to get done is important,” Kylie said. “I make myself a schedule of what to get done each day, and I spend a bare minimum of 45 minutes working on Art Folio.” 

Kylie also credits her success to maintaining a routine and attending her live online classes regularly, so she does not fall behind. 

Creating Connections Through Creativity 

For Kylie, the most meaningful part of Art Folio is its ability to strengthen relationships among students. 

“My main focus was to give everyone a conversation starter so they could get to know each other better,” she said. “People who wouldn’t necessarily talk to each other would because they have something in common.” 

In a virtual environment where students live in different communities across Iowa, Art Folio creates opportunities for connection through shared interests and creative expression. IAVA high school science teacher Renee Mente said Kylie’s commitment helped bring the school community together. 

“Kylie recognized how much students valued having a place to showcase their talents and connect with one another,” Mente said. “She stepped up, took ownership of the project, and dedicated countless hours to making Art Folio a success. Her leadership helped create a stronger sense of community across our school.” 

Looking to the Future 

Kylie is already thinking about ways to expand Art Folio during the 2026–2027 school year. She plans to introduce student voting for the annual theme and expand outreach efforts to encourage even more participation across the school community. 

She is also working with school leaders to establish an apprenticeship model that would allow a younger student to learn the process and eventually take over leadership of Art Folio after she graduates. 

Kylie hopes to pursue a future in art, fashion design, or another creative field, and Art Folio has already given her valuable experience leading a large-scale project and working with others. 

To learn more about Iowa Virtual Academy and how virtual learning can help students pursue their interests while reaching their academic goals, visit the IAVA website. 

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