MALI Mega Oxford Hills

Fabulous learning opportunity

Over 70 PK-12 arts educators and Teaching Artists traveled to Oxford Hills High School in late March to attend the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative conference. The workshops varied greatly and participants had the opportunity to attend three during the day.

Thank you to the Oxford Hills visual and performing arts staff and administrators for providing the space for the conference. One week before the conference we learned that their workshop day turned into a teaching and learning day due to the many snow days. We are grateful that they were still able to make it happen.

Kris Bisson, Kate Smith, Brian Evans-Jones

A huge THANK YOU to visual arts teachers Cindi Kugell and Samantha Armstrong for all of their attention to detail.

Thank you to the following who offered workshops:

• Cindi Kugell – Bookmaking 101: summative assessment never looked so good!
• Lindsay Pinchbeck – The Arts and Emotional Intelligence
• Dorie Tripp – Flexible Grouping Strategies for the General Music Classroom
• Catherine Anderson – Tableaus of Courage: How to Help Students Engage with Complex Content through Theater
• Samantha Armstrong – Stars and Stairs
• Phil Hammett – Creativity
• Tom Luther – Improvisation Crusader: Improvisation as an Essential Musical Skill
• Nancy Harris Frohlich – Inspiring Environmental Stewardship Through Visual Arts
• Lori Spruce and Tim Christensen – Integrating Curriculum: Making it Happen at the High School Level
• Mandi Mitchell – Looking in the Mirror: The Importance of Student Self-Reflection
• Brian Evans-Jones and Kris Bisson – Bridging Adolescence: A River Runs Through Us – Composing our Story
• Jenni Null and Linda McVety – All Aboard for Arts Travel, Full STEAM Ahead!
• Bronwyn Sale – Teaching Aesthetics and Criticism: Approaches to Standard D
• Andrew Harris – Creativity and Taking Back the Classroom

Amanda Huotari

In the middle of the day we had the fabulous opportunity to work with and learn from Teaching Artist Amanda Houteri from Celebration Barn Theater.

Participants during Amanda’s session

In June there will be an opportunity for teaching artists. PK-12 arts teachers and teaching artists will have an opportunity to apply to be a leader. Watch the blog and weekly email to learn more.

Dr. Katie Rybakova and Thomas College pre-service teachers

Jan Gill and Jenni Null

Kris Bisson and Brian Evans-Jones presenting

Tom Luther presenting

Mandi Mitchell

Samantha Armstrong and Linda McVety

Teaching artists Tim Christensen, Tom Luther, and Brian Evans-Jones