Opening Session
The conference started with a greeting from University of Southern Maine (USM) president Dr. Selma Botman who spoke about the commitment to arts education at USM and its integral place in education. Selma was introduced by Dr. Jeff Beaudry who is making contributions to Maine’s arts assessment. Jeff has many gifts, one of them is his expertise in assessment. He facilitated sessions at the August arts education assessment institute with Maine’s arts ed teacher leaders.
Dr. Rick Nickerson
Following the president’s message the Windham Chamber Singers performed under the direction of Dr. Richard Nickerson. I have been fortunate to be in a room when music educators sing the Stars Spangled Banner and been moved to tears. The Windham High School singers beautiful voices alone were moving, but when they led the 222 participants of art, music, dance, and theatre teachers in our country’s national anthem I had chills. I think this may have been a first for our state thanks to Rick’s leadership and to the amazing Windham Chamber Singers!
Windham Chamber Singers
Jeff Beaudry
Following the chamber singers was the collaborative keynote Collaborative Keynote: Context and Connection in the Arts was delivered by Jeff Beaudry, Wiscasset High School art teacher Shalimar Poulin, and York High School music teacher Rob Westerberg. Jeff provided the history of assessment in Maine and the importance and value of assessment and it’s place in the arts ed classroom, Shalimar provided her perspective and the importance of our attitudes in assessment, and Rob provided the nuts and bolts of assessment.
This is one of a series of blog posts as a follow-up to the statewide arts education conference, Arts Teachers Leading the Way… Back to the Future: Arts Assessment For Learning, held on October 7th at USM, Portland campus.
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