Bangor Public Library
Archive for March, 2017
Another Arts Teacher’s Story: Hilary Martin
March 21, 2017MALI Teacher Leaders Series
This is the fourth blog post of the Phase 6 Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Teacher Leader stories. This series includes a set of questions so you can learn a little bit about the work each Maine visual or performing arts teacher or artist is doing. CLICK HERE for more information on MALI. CLICK HERE for more information on the 81 Teacher Leaders plus 4 Teaching Artist Leaders. CLICK HERE for Arts education resources. CLICK HERE for the MALI Resource Bank. Search in the “search archives” box on the bottom right side of this post for past teacher leader stories. There have been 74 posted to date. Thank you Hillary for sharing your story!
Hilary Martin is currently working as a grades K-8 ed. tech. at the Vassalboro Community School in AOS 92. Before this year, beginning in 2013, she worked as the K-12 theatre teacher at the Vinalhaven School, where she taught K-5 drama, high school public speaking, and middle and high school electives in acting, directing, playwriting, and technical theatre and design. While at Vinalhaven Hilary also directed after-school productions.
What do you like best about being an arts educator?
Having the opportunity to help students be creators, and giving students who might not be highly successful in other classes a place where they can shine.
What do you believe are three keys to ANY successful visual and performing arts education?
Community support, investment from administrators and colleagues, and a passionate teacher.
How have you found assessment to be helpful to you in your classroom?
Assessment allows me to get a sense of what students have and haven’t mastered, so I know what curriculum areas to spend extra time on, and it allows me to give students useful, constructive feedback on their work.
What have been the benefits in becoming involved in the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative?
Being an arts educator can often feel very isolated–a lot of time you’re the only one in the building in your subject area, and being a theatre teacher even more so, as there aren’t that many of us in the state! Being involved with MALI has been a wonderful opportunity to network and share resources with other theatre teachers.
What are you most proud of in your career?
While at Vinalhaven, I began taking students to the Maine Drama Festival. Our first year attending we placed second at the regional competition, and the program has been successful enough to continue under the new Vinalhaven theatre teacher. I’m very proud of how I was able to expand the already very strong theatre program at Vinalhaven!
What gets in the way of being a better teacher or doing a better job as a teacher?
Time, or the lack of it! With all of the responsibilities teachers have there is very little time for professional development, collaborating with colleagues, or even individual curriculum planning–all things that are crucial to being an effective educator.
What have you accomplished through hard work and determination that might otherwise appear at first glance to be due to “luck” or circumstances?
While on Vinalhaven, I had the opportunity to become a literacy interventionist, in addition to my work as the theatre teacher. This gave me a great opportunity to improve my skills as a teacher and get to know my students in a new way. While to some extent that opportunity was a result of being in the right place at the right time, it was also a result of my own hard work and commitment to continuing my education and training.
Look into your crystal ball: what advice would you give to teachers?
Know your limits, and don’t be afraid to say no to additional commitments. Arts educators tend to love what we do a great deal, and as a result it can be easy to overextend ourselves–I know I’ve found myself in positions where I took on more than I could reasonably handle! Remember to leave yourself space for rest and recovery.
If you were given a $500,000.00 to do with whatever you please, what would it be?
I would create a program to expand the number of in or after school theatre programs for elementary students. For many students, their first opportunity to participate in theatre comes in middle or high school, but elementary students can benefit just as much from being involved in theatre.
Imagine you are 94 years old. You’re looking back. Do you have any regrets?
It’s hard to say, but I hope that by the time I reach 94 I’ll have the perspective to look back on all the moments of my life as valuable learning experiences!
New England Institute for Teacher Education
March 20, 2017Upcoming arts ed courses available
EDE 325: Technology for Educators – online course taught by Barb Vinal, April 10 – June 19, 2017
- Are you ready to take your classroom into the 21st Century?
- Are you in awe of your colleagues who are more facile with technology than you are?
- Would you like to explore how Google Drive can help you organize your classroom?
- Would you like to learn how to best use tech tools and social media?
This course is a great way to get your recertification credits in ONE class for 4.5 CEUs – all online!
SIGN UP TODAY and take your understanding of technology to the next level!
Barb Vinal (Packeles) taught music in Maine for many years before moving to North Carolina where she continues teaching and learning as the Instructional Technology Facilitator and Magnet School Coordinator for the Wake County Public School System in Raleigh, NC. She has been an educator for 30 years and holds a Masters in Technology Education from Lesley University, a Bachelors in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and holds a certificate in online instruction through the Carolina Online Teacher program (COLT) through LearnNC, a program of the UNC School of Education. Barb serves on the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Leadership Team. She was a member of the Maine Department of Education Learning Results Review Committee in 2007, developing the Maine state standards in Visual and Performing Arts.
EDAR 528: Brains on Fire, An Arts Integration course taught by Catherine Ring, Hilton Garden Inn Bangor, Maine – April 14, 15 and June 16, 17, 2017, (Fridays 4-8pm, Saturdays 8-4pm)
Earn 4.5 CEUs and learn how to engage students in learning through the arts! This course is approved for Gifted Talented endorsement, as well. SIGN UP TODAY!
This course will take an in-depth look at the significant role the arts can play in learning. Participants will see examples of student learning through visual art, dance, music and drama; learn about the critical evidence of improved academic achievement by students who are regularly exposed to the arts; and participate in practical, hands-on arts integration lessons which can be used immediately in the classroom. Helpful resources, including books, videos, websites, wikis and lesson plans will be shared. Collaborative work between arts teachers and classroom teachers are encouraged.
Catherine Ring is Executive Director of the New England Institute for Teacher Education and teaches graduate level courses to educators across the state of Maine. She serves on the Leadership Team with the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative since 2010. Catherine has presented at the Maine Principals’ Association Conference as well as nationally at the National Art Education Conventions. Catherine has taught visual arts for 20 years, is a former K-8 Principal and is has her Assistant Superintendent certification. Catherine completed her Education Leadership studies at the University of Vermont and received her Master of Arts from Vermont College of Norwich University. For her thesis, entitled “Education and the Arts, Toward Creative Intelligences,” she researched the role of the arts in learning and has worked closely with classroom teachers, helping them to integrate the arts into their regular curricula. She assists school districts throughout Maine with differentiated instruction, arts integration, and gifted and talented programs. Catherine is the 2014 Maine Art Education Association Advocate of the Year. Catherine teachers visual arts one-day per week at Isle au Haut School.
Aroostook Mall Art Exhibit
March 20, 2017Northern pARTners
Mackenzie Vigue and Delanie Cyr of Mapleton Elementary School
The Northern pARTners, Aroostook County regional art teachers, held a reception at the Aroostook Centre Mall on Thursday, March 9th from 7-7:30pm. Students from all around Aroostook County gathered to celebrate and showcase student artwork for the Essence of the North annual YAM(Youth Art Month) art show.
There were eleven county school districts represented including Presque Isle/Mapleton, Fort Fairfield, Limestone, Caribou, Ashland, Washburn, Connor, Hodgdon, Houlton, Mars Hill, and St. Agatha/Frenchville.
The Aroostook Centre Mall graciously donated space again this year for hanging the show. Vibrant colors and stunning examples of student artistic talents and skills filled the room as county art educators put up their student work.
Student artists accompanied by family and friends filled the gallery space from 6:45-7:45 Thursday evening. The visual appeal of the exhibit is an experience one wouldn’t want to miss. This was evident on reception night as people of all ages excitedly traveled around the exhibit.
Jack Boone of Zippel Elementary School
Beth Walker, Washburn art educator, provided a scavenger hunt which has student artists and their families studying the artworks looking for 2 clues in each district’s collection. They check off if they found the clue and write down the district where it was found. Stacy Ramsey, art educator from Hodgdon, created a visual scavenger hunt for her younger students. Students had to find photo images that she had photographed and printed off.
Despite the blustery weather conditions, it was an exciting evening meeting, greeting, and praising the students and their art work.
The northern pARTners are very appreciative and thankful to the Aroostook Centre Mall for providing this opportunity to display artwork from school districts around the county.
The artwork will be on display from February 28 through March 31st.
Abby Collins of Zippel Elementary School
Podcast on the Arts
March 19, 2017Making the Case for the Arts Economy
The arts in America is big business — a $704 billion-a-year business, according to Department of Commerce figures. Nearly a fifth of that economic activity, $134 million, is generated by the nation’s 100,000 arts and culture nonprofits, as are millions of jobs, says Robert Lynch, president of Americans for the Arts. You can listen to the podcast by CLICKING HERE.
Playwrights Festival
March 18, 2017Maine Educational Theatre Association
Please make a plan to join us on Saturday, June 3rd, for the Maine Educational Theatre Association’s seventh annual Maine Young Playwrights’ Festival, to be held at Portland Stage Company in Portland!
MYPF celebrates Maine’s high school writers and offers an opportunity for students to see and hear their plays on stage, in front of an audience, and with feedback from professional writers to help them improve their work. This year’s Maine Young Playwrights Festival will be held from 10:00am to 4:30pm on June 3rd and includes both theater workshops and performances of student work.
We’d like to see as many student scripts showcased in one day as we can! The format is open for student work at any level of development! Plays will be performed in workshop settings and on the Portland Stage Mainstage. Performances may range from seated readings of scenes to staged readings to fully produced plays, and from 5 minutes to 40 minutes.
The cost for this full day event is only $10.00 per participant. Adults and members of Thespian Society troupes are $5.00. You may choose to join us for lunch for $6.00 per person, or bring your own food for your group.
We’re open for submissions of student-written scripts for the festival right now!
* Submit a student script by Friday, April 14, by completing the Script Submission Form (see link below) and emailing the script daniel.g.burson@gmail.com.
Maine Young Playwrights Festival Script Submission form
* We will respond by Monday, April 24, to let you know how your play will be scheduled into the festival. You and your students can then prepare a presentation of the play at whatever level works for your schedule and participants (from a simple reading to full production).
* Once your student script has been scheduled, you’ll then need to register participants by Monday, May 15 (We’ll send you a link to the forms after you submit a script. They’re really quick and easy)
Please contact Maine EdTA board members Dan Burson daniel.g.burson@gmail.com, or Rick Osann rosann@bonnyeagle.org, with any questions about this year’s Young Playwrights Festival.
We hope you and your students can take part in this celebration of Maine’s high school playwrights this June 3rd!
Bucksport Arts Festival
March 18, 201740 artists selected
Bucksport, Maine, USA – The 3rd Annual Bucksport Arts Festival will be returning to the waterfront this August with thanks to the generous support of Seaboard Federal Credit Union. As the primary sponsor in 2016, Seaboard FCU will continue their support for 2017 in recognition that the Arts are part of a healthy, thriving community. As a member-owned cooperative, Seaboard FCU is a vital part of the community itself and strives to provide quality financial services to all members at fair and reasonable rates and terms. Supporting the Festival is yet another way for Seaboard FCU to support their members, business partners, and community.
Forty artists have recently been selected to participate this summer. These fine artists and craftspeople will be showcasing a diverse selection of good for all to enjoy, including: paintings, drawings, jewelry, pottery, sculpture, fiber, glass, and woodworking. Several familiar faces will be returning from previous years, and many new artists will also participating for the first time. All proceeds of the 2017 Festival will benefit Main Street Bucksport, our non-profit partner whose mission is to promote a vibrant downtown Bucksport by supporting existing businesses, attracting new businesses, and supporting cultural arts events.
The Festival is currently seeking food vendors to feed the crowds on Saturday, August 12th. Vendors of all kinds are encouraged to apply, although preference will be given to local businesses with artisanal quality food. Interested vendors should contact 3leggeddogink@gmail.com for an application.
Questions? Contact Festival Coordinators Lyndsey Marston at 3leggeddogink@gmail.com or Laurie Brooks at lauriebrooksart@gmail.com.
Congratulations Gabrielle!
March 17, 2017Gardiner Area High School Senior Gabrielle Cooper
Gardiner High School Senior Gabrielle Cooper Maine Poetry Out Loud State Champ
Natalie Lisnet, senior at Bangor High School, is runner up
AUGUSTA, ME, MARCH 13– The Maine Arts Commission is proud to announce that Gabrielle Cooper, a senior from Gardiner High School, won the Maine Poetry Out Loud State Finals and is on her way to the nationals in Washington, D.C. in April. Natalie Lisnet, a senior from Bangor High School took runner-up. Cooper won the championship in three rounds of readings among 10 finalists representing Maine’s northern and southern regionals.
The Maine Arts Commission organizes the poetry recitation contest in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Jennifer Rooks, public affairs host and producer at Maine Public Broadcasting Network was the master of ceremonies for the event at the Waterville Opera House. The event also featured music from the Maranacook Chamber Singers and a reading by Maine Poet Laureate Stuart Kestenbaum.
Poetry Out Loud Maine Champion Gabrielle Cooper poses with her first place trophy. It was Cooper’s first time competing in the state and regional finals. She will now move on to Washington D.C. to compete in the national championship.
“I think that when a poem works and a poet gets to the point where he or she wants to get, it’s because they made a discovery in their work,” Kesterbaum said while speaking to the finalists during intermission. “I think when you spoke those poems, you were making that same discovery in the words that the poet made.”
All 10 contestants recited two poems by memory before intermission, at which time the panel of four judges selected five finalists. In the final round of five, Cooper recited “To Be of Use,” by Marge Piercy, a poem Cooper said, is about the value of hard work and how nice it is to see progress in your efforts.
In her spare time, Cooper enjoys horseback riding, playing in her school band and volunteering with Spectrum Generations’ Meals on Wheels program. Cooper will attend Dartmouth College next fall, where she hopes to pursue a degree in economics.
After the event, Cooper thanked her mom and English teachers for all the support and effort they put into helping her along the way.
Maine Poetry Out Loud State Finalists: (left to right): Emma Beyor, Kate Hodgson, Amran Mahamed, Skyler Vaughn, Arielle Leeman, Antyna Gould, Gabrielle Cooper, Natalie Lisnet, Jordan Bryant and Sabrina Small.
“They helped me a lot with practicing after school, during my study halls, breaking down my poems for me, and giving me feedback after the regional competition,” Cooper said. “That’s been a great help. It’s been nice to spend that time with them.”
Cooper will receive $200, as well as a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books for Gardiner High School. She will then represent Maine at the National Poetry Out Loud Finals in Washington D.C. on April 25-26. Cooper will compete for the first place award of a $20,000 scholarship. In total, $50,000 in prizes and school stipends will be awarded to the top 10 finalists and their schools.
In addition to Cooper and Lisnet, the other state finalists were: Emma Beyor, Erskine Academy; Kate Hodgson, Camden Regional High School; Amran Mahamed, Deering High School; Skyler Vaughn, The Maine Girls’ Academy; Arielle Leeman, Morse High School; Antyna Gould, Medomak Valley High School; Jordan Bryant, Greely High School; and Sabrina Small, Maine Coast Waldorf School.
For more information about Poetry Out Loud, and for how your school can participate next year, visit http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/POL-Home or contact Argy Nestor, Director of Arts Education, Maine Arts Commission at argy.nestor@maine.gov. Videos of the Poetry Out Loud state and regional finals will be made available on the Maine Arts Commission youtube and Facebook page: https://www.youtube.com/user/VirtualMaineArts.
The Maine Arts Commission supports artists, art organizations, educators, policy makers, and community developers in advancing the arts in Maine. For more than 50 years the Commission has encouraged and stimulated public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and cultural programs of our state; has worked to expand the state’s cultural resources; and encouraged and assisted freedom of artistic expression for the well-being of the arts, to meet the needs and aspirations of persons in all parts of the state. Additional information is available at mainearts.com.
Assessment for Learning and Leading
March 16, 2017Southern Maine Partnership/USM
The 2nd Assessment for Learning & Leading two-day conference on May 3rd-4th in beautiful Portland, ME on the USM campus. This conference is provided by the Southern Maine Partnership and USMs Educational Leadership Program.
This conference will provide opportunities to engage with internationally acclaimed classroom assessment experts, Jan Chappuis and Rick Stiggins (in person), USM faculty, and a host of educational practitioners on high-impact strategies of assessment for learning.
Guest presenters/administrators from Ashland Middle School (Oregon) Katherine Holden and Steve Retzlaff will join us and focus on proficiency-based assessment rubrics and systems thinking.
Dr. Holly Couturier, Assistant Executive Director of the Maine Principals’ Association, will share her leadership and assessment expertise.
Another area of focus will be data literacy with interim benchmark assessments like the MAP assessment from the NWEA and the Lucy Calkins assessment program. Tim Neville will represent the NWEA and Kellie Smith will present on the reading and writing literacy connections to assessment/data.
Teacher leaders and staff from the Maine Research in STEM Education Center will join us to present their assessment literacy leadership/study group model as well as sound assessments and scoring guides created around NGSS practices.
Leaders from schools and districts will discuss strategies for successful teacher and administrator leadership in professional development. Another feature will be the implementation of assessment for learning strategies with regional partnerships like Southern Maine Partnership, Penobscot River Educational Partnership, Washington County Leaders Consortium, Midcoast Regional Professional Development Center, and Northwoods Partnership.
Who Should Attend: The primary audience will be preK-12 educators and leaders; however, we encourage higher education faculty, legislators, educational researchers, school board members, and other policy makers to also attend.
Cost: $225 fee for full access to 2-day conference, including all keynotes, sessions, materials, lunch, and refreshments ($125 for one-day only)
Register Now:
https://conferences.usm.maine.edu/attendeeonline/AutoLogin.aspx?page=new&event=1456&password=event
Heart Warming
March 15, 2017National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards
This is a video tape of the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards being presented in conjunction with Michelle Obama in November 2016. When you listen to the descriptions of the programs perhaps you will feel as I did – no matter what, the future is in good hands. It’s a bit longer than most videos I post but it is worth your time. Be sure and listen carefully when you get to about 32 minutes.
me arts ed 