Who Are They?: MECA, Part 2

Maine College of Art

This blog post is part of a series called Who Are They? where information is provided for the Maine Arts Ed blog readers to learn about community organizations and institutions that provide educational opportunities in the arts. You will learn that they are partnering with other organizations and schools to extend learning opportunities, not supplant.

This is the second post on the Maine College of Art (MECA) which is located in downtown Portland. Donald Tuski has been the President of MECA since July 2010. Tuski received his undergraduate degree at Olivet and then earned both his master’s degree and a doctorate in anthropology from Michigan State University. He built his academic career at Olivet, starting as a faculty member and assuming a variety of posts before serving as president for his last nine years at the college. Don is a Maine Arts Commission member. In President Tuski’s own words…

Next weeks MECA post will be an interview with student Sarah Sullivan.

Maine Calling

Being an Artist

This week radio another show in ‘What Does It Mean’ series, this time looking at being an artist. What is the role of artists in Maine? Who are they, what do they do and how do they earn a living?

Host Keith Shortall was joined by:

• Julie Richard, Executive Director, Maine Arts Commission
• Don Tuski, President, Maine College of Art
• Aimee Petrin, Executive Director, Portland Ovations

And Suzanne Nance joined the show as well.

Listen to the archive at http://www.mpbn.net/OnDemand/AudioOnDemand/MaineCalling/tabid/288/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3682/ItemId/26755/Default.aspx

On February 26 the Maine Calling show topic was Teacher Evaluation with guests Commissioner of Education Steve Bowen, Lewiston superintendent Bill Webster, and MEA president Lois Kilby-Chesley. Learn more by listening to the podcast of the recorded show at this link: http://www.mpbn.net/OnDemand/AudioOnDemand/MaineCalling/tabid/288/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3682/ItemId/26488/Default.aspx

Day 3: Maine Arts Assessment Initiative Institute

Leadership and Creativity

On day 3 of the MAAI institute teacher leaders participated in two Leadership sessions and a session on Creativity. Brunswick High School Art teacher Jennie Driscoll facilitated the first leadership session through hands-on experiences that led to identifying the characteristics of leaders. Some of those identified were risk taker, communicator, confident, humility, trust, and compassion.

MAAI leadership team member and Executive Director of the New England Institute for Teacher Education Catherine Ring facilitated the second leadership session where participants took a close look at their role as leaders; in their schools, districts, communities and beyond. They looked at the research and explored questions including How do we work with adults to encourage change?

Leadership team member and Bates College instructor Bronwyn Sale facilitated the Creativity session.  Included in the Maine Learning Results: Parameters for Essential Instruction the Visual and Performing Arts include Standard C. Creative-Problem Solving. As arts educators this standard represents creativity, the creative process, creative thinking, and creative problem solving. All of these were examined in this session and should be taught intentionally in the arts classroom.

Teacher leaders continued working on their individual action plans putting together what they were learning during the institute. The plans include their ideas for their regional workshops that they will facilitate throughout the school year. The day ended with a celebration of the good work the teacher leaders are doing at a reception with MECA’s President Don Tuski in the college’s gallery ICA.