Posts Tagged ‘teacher leaders’

h1

Welcome Back!

August 25, 2015

2015-16 School year

Summer 2015 2nd group

MALI Summer Institute, August 3-5, 2015, USM, Portland

It’s back to school time and the air is changing. Whether you are in full swing with teaching or in your classroom preparing for students or perhaps waiting at home for the first day with “kids”, I know that the school year is upon you in some form.

I can sense that it is going to be a great year for visual and performing arts education in Maine! The Maine Arts Commission has been busy all summer supporting the work of Maine Visual and Performing Arts Education. Read below just a few of the ways in which MAC is doing just that:

  • It’s official, on August 3, the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative became the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative during the opening at the summer institute. Read about the shift at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/maai-goes-to-mali/.
  • In addition to the name change MALI sent a representative team to the Teach to Lead Summit in Washington, D.C., July 22-24 sponsored by the US DOE and the National Board. The experience launched us into phase 5 in an amazing way. We found ourselves at the same table with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Read about it at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2015/07/25/teach-to-lead/.
  • On August 3-5 the MALI summer institute took place at USM, Portland campus. It was a fabulous learning opportunity where 12 new Teacher Leaders created an action plan that is turning into a workshop to be presented during the 2015-16 school year across Maine. This brings the total of Teacher Leaders to 73! You can read about the Teacher Leader work at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2015/08/13/teacher-leaders/.
  • The veteran Teacher Leaders used a Logic Model to guide their work. Starting with a “problem” they created a plan that they will take action on during the next several months. Pretty amazing work!
  • The biennial fall arts ed conference is happening on Friday, October 9, Point Lookout Conference Center, Arts Education: The Measure of Success. Early bird registration and detailed information is at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Biennial-Statewide.
  • Fourteen Teaching Artists participated in one day of the MALI summer institute – what a treat to have so many in one location. Read about their participation at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2015/08/12/teaching-artists/.
  • The Teaching Artist roster expanded this summer to a total of 40. You can read about the program and check out the roster at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Teaching-Artist-Roster. Please consider contracting with one (or more) of these artists for your students during this school year. Another call for the roster will go out in the near future. Watch this blog and arts ed list-serv for the invitation.
  • The statewide visual and performing arts education census will be launched this fall and plans are underway to collect data from all 100% of Maine schools. Watch for more information because we will need everyone’s help to make this happen!
  • MALI had an incredible Critical Friend day with 45 educators attending including PK-higher ed teachers and administrators. Read about it at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2015/08/22/mali-critical-friend-day/.

As you begin a new school year know that the MAC and MALI are here to assist you on your educational journey. More information on all of the MAC education programs can be found at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Arts-in-Education.

h1

MALI Critical Friend Day

August 22, 2015

A great day in Portland!

IMG_0233So impressive were the presentations all day on Thursday during the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Critical Friend Day. Forty-five educators convened at Luther Bonney Hall on the USM, Portland campus. Twenty-four educators made presentations, either a workshop or a logic model idea. When not presenting they joined the critical friends who were a collective of teachers, a principal, an assistant principal, curriculum leader, an assistant superintendent, and an Apple employee. In addition, we had three educators join electronically and two actually gave their presentations from Aroostook county during their prep periods (school is underway). Needless to say it was very cool that they could join us from a distance. The entire day was a TERRIFIC learning opportunity for all involved. The presenters received valuable suggestions so they can tweak and expand on their ideas and the critical friends walked away with new information and ideas to apply to their own work. It is a fabulous opportunity for all involved.

Dance and visual arts teacher leader from Lake Region High School Carmel Collins and music teacher leader from Sebasticook Valley Middle School

Dance and Visual Arts Teacher Leader, Lake Region High School Carmel Collins, and Music Teacher Leader, Sebasticook Valley Middle School

The presentations were in direct connection with the three-day MALI institute that was held earlier this month where over 50 visual and performing arts educators and teaching artists came together for a professional learning opportunity. You can read about the institute in several consecutive blog posts starting with August 10. They had a chance to gain more knowledge in teaching, learning, assessment, proficiency-based education, leadership, advocacy, technology, creativity, integration, and several other relevant topics related to the challenges faced in the visual or performing arts classroom. I had a chance to go from one workshop to the next and it was amazing to see the high quality of work that has been formulated.

Visual Art Teacher Leader Mandi Mitchell from Hermon High School

Visual Art Teacher Leader Mandi MItchell, Hermon High School

You might be wondering what a critical friend is or does. Below is how we guided the work of those who graciously took on the role as “critical friend”.

One definition of “critical” is expressing or involving an analysis of the merits and faults of a work of literature, music, or art. A “friend” is a person who gives assistance. The MALI leadership team asks you to do both in a gentle helpful way. We want the teacher leaders to create the best work possible so please be honest in your feedback.

Rob Westerberg, Nancy Kinkade, Holly Leighton, (hidden) Shari Tarleton, and Virgil Bozeman provide feedback

Rob Westerberg, Nancy Kinkade, Holly Leighton, (hidden) Shari Tarleton, and Virgil Bozeman provide feedback

The workshops will be presented at the local level during the 2015-16 school year. The new teacher leaders (https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2015/05/26/phase-5-maai-teacher-leaders-announced/) will be selecting a location and time and all of the information will be posted so you can see what is offered and plan to attend.

Trevor Marcho Music Teacher Leader Mattanawcook Academy

Trevor Marcho Music Teacher Leader Mattanawcook Academy

The veteran teachers selected a problem and created a plan to solve the problem. The logic model is just that – a way to guide those using it to a clear picture of how to influence and create change. You can read a bit about logic model at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logic_model.

IMG_0181

Allie Rimkunas, Great Falls Elementary Art Teacher Leader

During the afternoon session we participated in a “messaging” workshop that was facilitated by Kate Smith, music teacher leader from South Berwick. Participants selected a topic that they wanted to refine to be able to communicate clearly and concisely at a moments notice when the opportunity arises.

Art Teacher Leader, Lisa Ingraham, Madison and Critical Friend Hollie Hilton

Art Teacher Leader, Lisa Ingraham, Madison and Critical Friend Hollie Hilton

Needless to say yesterday was a great day for Arts education in Maine. Nothing like being in an environment where everyone is talking, thinking, exchanging about visual and performing arts education – directly connected to all the issues and topics of education in general! If you’d like to read about the teacher leaders and leadership team please go to the Maine Arts Assessment site at http://www.maineartsassessment.com/.  You can be part of the next quality learning opportunity at the Biennial Statewide conference being held on Friday, October 9, Point Lookout Conference Center, Northport, Maine. Information and registration for the great day we have planned is located at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Biennial-Statewide. If you’d like to learn more about being involved in MALI and the opportunities that the initiative provides please be sure and email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.

Music Teacher Leader Kate Smith, and Critical Friends, AOS 92 Curriculum Leader Mary Boyle and 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year Karen MacDonald

Music Teacher Leader Kate Smith, and Critical Friends, AOS 92 Curriculum Leader Mary Boyle and 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year Karen MacDonald

Please note: On August 3, 2015, MAAI, the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative, announced its new name, MALI, the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative. You can read about it at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/maai-goes-to-mali/. Please email me know if you have any questions at argy.nestor@maine.gov.

h1

MALI is Ready!

August 15, 2015

Stuff happening!

Every time I reflect on the work that the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI)* has underway I can’t help but smile. There are now 73 Maine arts educators who have attended the summer institute and taken on the role of Teacher Leader (TL). Fifty Teacher Leaders are taking an active role during the 2015-16 school year.

IMG_0088Their roles will vary depending on where they are in their educational journey. The 12 new MALI TLs will be presenting workshops throughout the state that they have created on a variety of topics. The returning TLs have used the Logic Model to take on a “problem” facing them and will solve that with a strategic plan they have each created.

Screen Shot 2015-08-15 at 2.09.37 PMIn addition to the TL workshops, the biennial arts ed conference Arts Education: The Measure of Success, will take place on October 9,  at the Point Lookout Conference Center, Northport. The format is unique this year to meet the needs of the 21st century. Take a look at the 1-minute videos at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Biennial-Statewide-Workshop-Descriptions# that the nine workshop presenters have created so you can see and hear what the sessions are all about. During the morning at the conference the nine will each present for 5 minutes with 5 images to provide further information of what will be an exciting afternoon of 1 hour and 15 minute workshops (you can attend 2). This unique format is designed to provide you with more varied and deeper learning opportunities. Conference early-bird registration is available so I suggest you save yourself a spot. Once the conference is full, we will close down registration so don’t delay! Check out the details and registration at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Biennial-Statewide.

The MALI Leadership Team continually listens to the Teacher Leaders and those who attend workshops to make available what is needed for addressing the needs of quality arts education for all students. The Maine Arts Education Resource website at http://www.maineartsassessment.com/is managed by Rob Westerberg and is continually updated with new professional learning opportunities.

The new Mission: “MALI is committed to the development of Teacher leaders to ensure deep understanding and meaningful implementation of high quality teaching, learning and assessment in the Arts.”

Please note: On August 3, 2015, MAAI, the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative, announced its new name, MALI, the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative. You can read about it at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/maai-goes-to-mali/. Please email me know if you have any questions at argy.nestor@maine.gov.

h1

Teacher Leaders

August 13, 2015

Those amazing teachers

What do the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Teacher Leaders have in common? There are many IMG_0065similarities. If I had to select the top six, they would be:

  1. commitment to teaching
  2. life-long learners and a passion for learning
  3. a desire to go above and beyond
  4. positive attitudes
  5. problem-solvers
  6. collaborators

Sounds like many teachers in Maine and across the country you might say. I couldn’t agree more! A guest (teacher from another content) attended the MALI summer institute August 3-5 at USM, Portland and said what impressed her most about the environment was how positive the MALI Teacher Leaders are. “They weren’t sitting around complaining about what they couldn’t control but focusing on what they could do to move the conversation forward about how essential high quality arts education is for all students.”

At the completion of the three-day institute we asked the Teacher Leaders:”What about this professional IMG_0034development Institute has been useful to you?”  These were some of the remarks from some of the new and veteran Teacher Leaders:

  • The positive energy and the connections have been refreshing and revitalizing!
  • In-person collaboration, feedback from colleagues, upbeat atmosphere, opportunity to see old friends.
  • The extended time to work on our workshop ideas with experts available to de-mystify the whole process.
  • The institute has made me go back and look at the MLRs; what I do now and what goals I have for my teaching in the future.
  • It is the connection with others and networking. It is being able to talk with others about what they are doing, getting inspired, and and now being really pumped for the start of this year.
  • All my questions and doubts about PBE has been answered. I love the feedback that I received from the other teacher leaders, and that is what has been the most useful for me.
  • Connecting with other teachers, learning about becoming a teacher leader and my role within MALI. I learned a lot about assessment, proficiency, and creativity.
  • I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge that I will be able to bring back with me and share!! I cannot begin to describe all of the knowledge, enthusiasm, and collaboration that the past three days have given me!
  • The logic model has been so useful with guiding a plan for making change at the local level. Look forward IMG_0027to a great year of stepping into a new different leadership role. Also thought that the “messaging” session was so helpful.
  • The amazing feedback about my logic plan received by the teacher leaders!
  • There have been so many different aspects about this Institute that have been useful to me. I think that the ability to collaborate with others and like-minded educators really helps to invigorate and inspire me in my work as an educator. I think that it is really important to connect with others and it helps to edify our energy and passion for our field and everything that we do. This also inspired me to make sure to be an advocate for myself and the arts. To continue what I have done and push towards advocacy for my program at my school. To be a resource and make myself present for others in my school building and arts educators.
  • There is so much I don’t even know where to begin! I loved the fact that I was able to develop a logic model that helps me put together something that will help to benefit my program specifically. I also loved having the teaching artists as part of the plan!!!!
  • Receiving feedback from my colleagues with reference to our workshop design. Networking with new and old colleagues. Hearing what everyone is doing i.e. SLO’s, teacher evaluation process, assessments, good practice, arts advocacy. How MAAI has evolved and the shift in direction. I love the new name. It truly reflects our purpose of leadership in the arts.
  • The group work around written philosophies and “elevator speeches” was an amazing exercise in how many voices can blend together to create powerful messages.

Perhaps you’re thinking “wow, I’d like to be part of this type of learning”. Plan ahead and consider applying to IMG_0081be a Teacher Leader in the future. Join the Teacher Leaders as well as educators from across the state and attend the biennial conference, Arts Education: The Measure of Success, being held on Friday, October 9, Point Lookout, Northport. Details and registration located at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Biennial-Statewide. Please move swiftly and take advantage of the Early-Bird Special and join the positive, energetic environment that the presenters will be all about!

 

Please note: On August 3, 2015, MAAI, the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative, announced its new name, MALI, the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative. You can read about it at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2015/08/09/maai-goes-to-mali/. Please let me know if you have any questions.

h1

MAAI Goes to MALI

August 9, 2015

Name Change

On February 28, 2015 the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) Teacher Leaders met and decided that it was time to consider a change – a change in the title of the initiative AND the mission. It was time because MAAI, since its inception has been committed to meeting the needs of visual and performing arts teachers and education.

The participants that day brainstormed ideas and titles and at the summer MAAI institute on August 3 at USM the new title and mission were unveiled. MAAI is now MALI – from the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative to the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative.

The Mission:

Screen Shot 2015-08-08 at 10.23.17 AMMALI is committed to providing opportunities for visual and performing arts educators to build and expand on their knowledge and skills in teaching, learning, and assessment. In addition, MALI will continue to intentionally recognize the potential in teachers as leaders and provide ways for educators to find their voices and spaces at the table.

Thank you to the MAAI/MALI Teacher Leaders and Leadership Team who helped navigate to the new title and mission for this valuable Maine Arts Commission program.

h1

MAAI Goes to DC

July 16, 2015

Maine Educators will showcase work at U.S. Department of Education event
MAAI Logo_Color_TxtCtr3LThe Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) has been selected as one of 28 teams out of 125 proposals to participate in one the Teach to Lead Regional Leadership Summit happening July 23-24 in Washington, D.C.

MAAI will be sending a team of five:

  • Theresa Cerceo—Visual Art Teacher; Dr. Levesque Elem, Wisdom Middle/High School, MSAD 33
  • Jeff Beaudry—Associate Professor; Educational Leadership, USM
  • Catherine Ring—Arts Education Consultant and Executive Director, New England Institute for Teacher Education
  • Kate Smith—Music Teacher; Central Elementary School, South Berwick
  • Argy Nestor—Director of Arts Education, Maine Arts Commission

The participating teams were selected by a panel of educators based on the teacher leadership ideas put forth for the conference. The MAAI team will be working on plans for the next 3-5 years of the initiative.

To make their time in D.C. to be as productive as possible participants will be using a variety of strategies the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative teacher leaders have been employing in planning and implementing Maine’s work.

See more at: http://teachtolead.org/summits/#sthash.e0lxfvRR.dpuf

MAAI is a program of the Maine Arts Commission and was established in 2015 by the Maine Department of Education.

h1

Phase 5 TLs

June 16, 2015

Zoom meeting

Tonight the new Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) Teacher Leaders met  for the first time using the Zoom Video Conference tool. It was a great opportunity to meet everyone and hear from veteran Teacher Leaders Jen Nash and Charlie Johnson. The Teacher Leaders were introduced to the Phase 5 wiki where they will be communicating with each other sharing their ideas and knowledge on Assessment, Leadership, Creativity, and Technology.

What a wonderful group of Teacher Leaders. The Leadership Team is so very excited to WELCOME them into the MAAI community!

Screen Shot 2015-06-16 at 7.58.19 PM

h1

MAAI Resource Team

June 11, 2015

Amazing resources available soon

The Resource Team meeting by Zoom updating each other on their progress

The Resource Team meeting by Zoom updating each other on their progress

During the last few months the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) Resource Team has been working to create more resources for the ‘bank’. The quality and variety of information contained in this second series of resources is very impressive. During the next couple of weeks the six team members are putting the finishing touches on their resources. They will be unveiled at the MAAI Summer Institute in early August.

Catherine Ring from the New England Institute for Teacher Education is the Project Manager, contracted by the Maine Arts Commission to oversee the work. Members of the 2015 Resource Bank Team include:  Theresa Cerceo (Frenchville), Patti Gordan (Raymond), Danette Kerrigan (Hiram), John Morris (Bridgton), Jake Sturtevant (Buxton), and Sarah Swain (Westbrook).

The Team has been meeting through Zoom video conferencing.  They’ve shared ideas, documents, and videos and provided each other with feedback as critical friends. It has been an amazing process to watch as the teachers have created their resources and shared them with each other. This years resources will contain documents as well as videos which we hope will provide greater clarity for educators accessing the resources. Last years resources are available at http://maairesourcebank.pbworks.com/w/page/82916230/MAAI%20Resource%20Bank.

This week we had a Zoom meeting with MAAI Leadership Team members, Rob Westerberg and Barb Vinal, to get their technology expertise on where to store the many resources so they are shareable and searchable. There is a lot of work behind the scenes, by MAAI Teacher Leaders and Leadership Team.

 

h1

Phase 5 MAAI Teacher Leaders Announced!

May 26, 2015

YAHOOOO!

Screen Shot 2015-05-23 at 1.05.09 AMThe Maine Arts Commission is pleased to announce the Phase 5 Maine Arts Assessment Initiative Teacher Leaders.  Thirteen visual and performing arts educators have applied and were selected to join the 61 Teacher Leaders from the other four MAAI phases. The total is 74 Teacher Leaders. Fifty will be active this year. The MAAI Leadership Team joins me in congratulating the teachers listed below who represent all grade levels, PK-12 and Dance, Music, and Visual Arts.

Almost 40 teachers will meet for three days in Portland this summer for professional development that is likely to be energetic, mind-filling, and a great opportunity to expand ideas on teaching and learning. Not to mention a chance to meet and network with arts educators from across the state. I am excited about the work we are furiously planning. Of course I will keep you posted as the MAAI, Phase 5 progresses. If you have any questions about MAAI please don’t hesitate to contact me at argy.nestor@maine.gov. And, I do hope that you will join us at some point during Phase 5 at one of the professional development offerings that the Teacher Leaders are providing.

MUSIC EDUCATORS

  • JOSH BOSSE – Madawaska Schools, grades PK-12
  • VIRGIL BOZEMAN – Richmond Middle/High School, grades 6-12
  • DIANNE FENALSON – Spruce Mountain Middle School, grades 6-12
  • NANCY KINKADE – Mattanawcook Junior High School, grades 5-12
  • TREVOR MARCHO – Mattanawcook Academy, grades 9-12

VISUAL ART EDUCATORS

  • SAMANTHA ARMSTRONG –Paris and Hebron Elementary Schools, grades K-6
  • ELISE BOTHEL –  Narragansett Elementary School, grades K-5
  • IVA DAMON – Leavitt Area High School, grades 9-12
  • HOLLY LEIGHTON – Mattanawcook Academy, grades 9-12
  • LYNDA LEONAS -Farwell and Longley Elementary Schools, grades K-6
  • MANDI MITCHELL – Hermon High School, grades 9-12
  • ALLIE RIMKUNAS   – Great Falls Elementary School, grades K-5

The Maine Arts Assessment Resources page is located at http://www.maineartsassessment.com/. You will find a ton of information and resources that was either gathered or created by Teacher Leaders and the Leadership Team of MAAI from the past.

h1

MAAI Resource Team

May 17, 2015

Working on documents

The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative Resource Team is furiously creating more rich resources to add to the Resource Bank that was established in June of 2014. The MAAI Resource Bank is located at http://maairesourcebank.pbworks.com.

The 2015 MAAI Resource Bank Team

The 2015 MAAI Resource Bank Team

The site has full units developed by the 2014 MAAI Resource Team and includes lessons and assessments for dance, music, theater, and visual arts. In addition, the team from last year created templates that are also included in the website for you to download and adapt for your own lessons, units, and/or assessments.

The 2015 Resource Team will be completing their work at the end of June and their resources will be added to the resources at  http://maairesourcebank.pbworks.com. The work is pretty exciting! This years resources will be a bit different and I really enjoying watching their ideas develop. Along with documents with templates, examples, and detailed information the resources will also include videos. I think you will find that they will be a great addition to the bank. The team meets periodically (electronically) to update the team of their progress and and for feedback using the MAAI Critical Friends model.

Catherine Ring, Executive Director, New England Institute for Teacher Education is the MAAI Resource Team Project Manager. The 2015 MAAI Resource Team is made up of the following:

  • Theresa Cerceo, Visual Arts Educator, grades K-12, Wisdom Middle/HS, Levesque Elementary School. MSAD #33, Frenchville
  • Patti Gordan, Music Educator, grades K-4, Raymond Elementary School, RSU #14, Raymond
  • Danette Kerrigan, Visual Arts Educator, grades 6-8, Sacopee Valley Middle School, MSAD #55, Hiram
  • John Morris, Teaching Artist, grades K-12, Independent, Bridgton
  • Jake Sturtevant, Music Educator, grades 9-12, Bonny Eagle High School, MSAD #6, Buxton
  • Sarah Ritz Swain, District-wide Director of Art, grades K-12, Westbrook School Department, Westbrook

The 2014 Maine visual and performing arts teachers who made up the first team are listed below. You can find those resources at http://maairesourcebank.pbworks.com.

  • Jennie Driscoll, Visual Arts Educator, grades 9-12, Brunswick High School
  • Beth Lambert, Performing Arts Educator, grades 9-12, Carrabec High School, MSAD #74, North Anson
  • Brian McPherson, Visual Arts Educator, grades K-5, Woodside Elementary School, MSAD #75, Topsham
  • Jenni Null, Music Educator, grades K-12, MSAD #61, Lake Region Schools, Bridgton
  • Jeff Orth, Visual Arts Educator, grades 7-12, Richmond Middle/High Schools, Richmond
  • Jake Sturtevant, Music Educator, grades 9-12, Bonny Eagle High School, MSAD #6, Standish

In addition, you can find many, many more resources on the Maine Arts Assessment website at http://www.maineartsassessment.com/.