Congrats Music Educators

Soooo exciting!

I had the pleasure of attending the Maine Music Educators Association (MMEA) Conference held at the University of Maine, Orono. The MMEA board and conference planners did an amazing job on every detail of the conference. CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU! I know that it takes many hours of planning and coordinating the entire three and a half day event. Between the conference and the teachers and students traveling from all over the state, workshops, performances and on and on. It takes a strong village and the leaders in MMEA to make it happen successfully!

Every two years the conference marks a shift in leadership. Pam Kinsey will be stepping down as Immediate Past-President, Sue Barre steps down as President, and President-Elect Ben Potvin steps up to take on the role of President for the next two years. Thank you all for your dedication to the organization.

A very special part of the conference is the President’s Reception during which awards are presented to several educators. It was a pleasure to be there for the reception and a delight to see colleagues that I’ve known for years and meet teachers for the first time. The sentiments read during the reception were thoughtful and heart felt. I love that educators take the time recognize  well deserved colleagues – some who have served for many years and some for a short time. All educators making an impact – not because they are seek accolades but because they care about the education they provide for young people!

Thank you to the following who nominated their colleagues and thank you to the awardees for your contributions and commitment to music education! Please consider nominating someone for next years awards  presented annually at the MMEA conference. You can find the nominating forms under ‘forms’ on the home page of the MMEA site.

Rick Nickerson with Hanna Flewelling receiving the Outstanding New Educator Award from Windam Middle School

Kim Murphy, Glen Sargent, and Nancy Rowe. Glen received the Music Education Appreciation Award and was nominated by Kim and Nancy, music educators from Camden Hills High School

MMEA President Sue Barre with Sam Moore-Young who was inducted in the MMEA Hall of Fame

Oxford Hills staff Kyle Jordan, Sarah Bailey (former), and Dennis Boyd presenting Ted Moccia, Oxford Hills Regional High School principal the Outstanding School Administrator Award

Messalonskee High School Kevin Rhein presenting the Educator Appreciation Award to Pam Rhein

Nora Krainis presenting the Maine Music Educator of the Year Award to Linda Vaillancourt

Pat Michaud, Matt Madore, Dana Ross, Heidi Corliss, Becky Mallory representing Hampden Schools, RSU22 that received the Dale F. Huff Outstanding Music Program Award

Trip to The County

Aroostook county

Most days I feel fortunate to do the work I do. Let’s face, I believe working with Maine’s Visual and Performing Arts teachers is a great job! Most days it doesn’t feel like work because I love it so much. (Don’t mistake this for an easy job!) I don’t get to Aroostook County or the areas of Maine that are further away from the Maine Arts Commission office as much as I’d like but, when I do it is a wonderful treat.

Recently I traveled to the County (as Aroostook is affectionately know to many) and learned a great deal AND had a fabulous time. The early morning drive north on 95, once I reach Bangor, is an opportunity to turn off the radio and look and think. It took me almost 4 hours from my home to my first destination, Wintergreen Arts Center in Presque Isle.

Wintergreen Arts Center, Presque Isle

I met with Dottie Hutchins, the Executive Director of the Wintergreen Arts Center and with the co-chairs of the center board members Heather Harvell, and Kim Guerrette Michaud. I felt like I had known them for a long time. The center has many successful programs that range from pre-school programs to after school art programs for young kids through teenagers to programs for adults. They are a growing center with so much to offer. If you are in Presque Isle be sure and stop in and say hello to the folks there. Dottie and the crew are working on a series of blog posts for meartsed so you can learn more in depth about their programs.

From there I headed north to visit Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Art Teacher Leader and Leadership Team member Theresa Cerceo. First stop, after my hour drive was at the Dr. Levesque Elementary School in Frenchville where Theresa was teaching a science lab. Yes, art integration in action. It wasn’t about the product but about learning by asking questions and experimenting with materials. For example, students were grinding leaves with a little bit of water. Students test scores in math and reading have increased due to the work that ALL teachers are doing during the weekly labs.

SLAM at Wisdom High School, St. Agatha

From there I headed north again  to Wisdom Middle/High School in St. Agatha to visit with the Students Leaders in the Arts Movement (SLAM). It provided the opportunity to talk and listen to the members of SLAM at their own school. We exchanged ideas on the school board presentation they are preparing for. SLAM kicked off the statewide arts education census in December by creating a video inviting principals to submit the survey. It was great to share some of the results – 95% response. So proud of the advocacy work this group is doing. If you are interested in learning more or starting your own SLAM chapter please contact Theresa at tcerceo@msad33.org.

Sip and Paint

Back to Presque Isle for supper with the MALI Teacher Leaders who planned the workshop I was attending the next day including Sue Beaulier who teaches Art K-12 in Ashland, Josh Bosse (and his lovely wife), Music PK-12 in Madawaska, Leadership Team member, Pam Kinsey, Music K-12 Easton, and Theresa. After supper we stopped into the Wintergreen Arts to see the center filled with 31 adults painting as part of a fundraiser, Sip and Paint.

Jake Sturtevant presenting long distance

The next day I headed west for the MALI Mega Workshop at the beautiful Ashland School. Students were in session but you couldn’t tell. The school is laid out beautifully and the rooms are lovely places to work. Thanks Sue for hosting. It was a wonderful day with the following workshops offered:

• Critical Thinking in the Art Room – Sue Beaulier
• Individual Assessments in an Ensemble – Jake Sturtevant, joining electronically
• GT Toolbox: Tools for the GT Classroom – Josh Bosse
• Changing the Way We Think About Special Ed. Students
• Studio Habits of Mind: Planting Seeds Towards Growth and Proficiency in the Arts – Theresa Cerceo

The day was complete with a discussion on PBE to learn where arts teachers in the County are on the continuum. And, two woman from the Partners in the Arts Presentation shared information about the organization and encouraged teachers to apply for grant funding.

MALI Mega participants

Lunch was delicious and the company was wonderful! Congratulations to the MALI Teacher Leaders and to Dave Ouellette from CACE who planned a great professional development opportunities for their colleagues in the County. The drive to the County is far but it is well worth the distance. I learned a great deal and had fun talking with folks about their arts education program. I had never been that far northeast but I must say the trip was so beautiful, especially along Long Lake (ice still on) in St. Agatha. I still need to get to Madawaska – next trip to the County (Josh!).

Long Lake

MALI Leadership Team

Those amazing leadership team members

Sooooo…. hours of meetings, zoom sessions for brainstorming, tons of time planning, phone calls for tweaking, emails of questions, google docs of compiling, scheduling and keeping lists. The dedication that the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) leadership team has devoted to planning and implementing the summer institute has been unbelievable. I am humbled by their work and grateful for their enthusiasm and commitment.

Three of the team members have been around since January 2011 when we had the first planning meeting of the initiative’s leadership team. Periodically I reflect on where MALI is and think about how none of this would be possible without the time that the leadership team has devoted. They are funny, creative, problem-solvers with a “never give up” attitude. They are by far top notch professionals who continuously make me a better person! I am sooooo thankful and Maine arts education is fortunate! Each of the following attended zoom meetings almost weekly since January!

• Catherine Ring – Executive Director, New England Institute for Teacher Education
• Rob Westerberg – Music Educator, York High School
• Jeff Beaudry – Associate Professor, Educational Leadership, USM
• Pam Kinsey – Music Educator, Easton Schools
• Barb Vinal – Instructional Technology Facilitator, Raleigh, NC and former Maine Music Educator

In addition Nancy Salmon planned the Teaching Artist segment of the institute which received rave reviews! Thank you Nancy!

Since the Teach to Lead Summit in Washington, D.C. July 22-24, two teacher leaders have stepped up and worked with the Leadership Team with the planning of the institute. Without them the 3 days would have been very different.  I want to thank the following for the work each of them have contributed intensely after returning home from the Teach to Lead Summit.

• Theresa Cerceo – Visual Art Educator, Dr. Levesque Elementary School, Wisdom Middle/High School, MSAD 33, K-12
• Kate Smith – Music Educator, Central Elementary School, PK-3

Theresa and Kate in D.C.

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.

Pam Kinsey Blog Post

Aroostook county Music educator Pam Kinsey makes a statement!

The following post was contributed by K-12 music educator Pam Kinsey who teaches in Easton, Maine. Easton is in Aroostook county, about a 20 minute drive east of Presque Isle. There are several arts educators in Maine who teach K-12, many in rural areas. The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) makes a commitment to all arts educators in Maine providing professional development opportunities for rural, urban, and everything in between. Pam has served on the MAAI leadership team for 2 years representing Maine Music Educators Association. The leadership team is thrilled that Pam will be attending the New England Summit on Arts Education at USM, July 29, 30, 31 and August 1. This is Pam’s first summer joining the professional development opportunity and we all hope that you can join us as well!

How to write a blog post? I guess you just start to write down your thoughts. Are you part of a small or rural school system? Are you a department of one? What do you think when they say (for professional development days):  ‘We are going to work by department” and you think ‘hmmmm….me, myself and I—again. What if you could be part of a team? Perhaps develop curriculum and rubrics, lesson plans and grading strategies with others from your discipline? Tackle standards-based learning outcomes with someone who has the same struggles and celebrations that you encounter on a daily basis? The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) probably has something for you! For many years (over 20!)

I have been a department of one. The neighboring town now has a music department of one and the communities two over from my district each have music departments of one. What a great idea if we could all collaborate to create meaningful instruction that aligns at least with one another as we pore over new curriculum expectations and standards-based outcomes? Often, our populations are transitory and some students travel freely from district to district, depending on a parent’s current situation. I, for one, would love to avoid the gaps that all of this moving can create for students, as well as a seamless flow of curriculum through the grade levels for students that don’t move around. I would like to do this in a group of more than one!

The MAAI is responding to feedback and offering the ‘New England Summit on Arts Education’ this summer, July 29, 30, 31, USM, Portland, and it has opportunities for individuals and teams to work together to problem solve these and other aspects of teaching and learning for our students in the arts. I already have a few choices in mind of other music educators that I can contact and I can only hope that they will share my interest. If not, I know that when I attend I will still find others who share my concerns and attitudes toward wanting to provide the best education in the arts that I can and these people will become part of my learning community. Either way I am sure it will be a win-win opportunity for my students and for me!

For more information on the New England Summit please go to http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/NESummit#. Registration is now open with an early bird discount for those who register by May 30. The Summit is being customized to meet your needs. There is a team discount for those who register with at least from a district. The team strand is not only open to PreK-12 district Visual and Peforming Arts teachers and classroom teachers, but also to administrators, teaching artists, community cultural organizations or institute members, parents, and/or school board members. Check out the link above to learn more.

If you are interested in joining the MAAI as a teacher leader please attend the 3-day Summit and the additional day for teacher leaders only, August 1. If you have questions about the Summit and/or being a teacher leader, please contact Argy Nestor at argy.nestor@maine.gov.

MAAI Update

Leadership team meets

Today the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) leadership team met to take a look back and a look ahead. Our day was filled with a rich discussion, thoughtful questions, brilliant ideas, and food for thought! Catherine Ring, Jeff Beaudry, Bronwyn Sale, and Matt Doiron met with me in Augusta at the Maine Department of Education and Pam Kinsey joined us by Skype from Easton (where it was 20 degrees below this morning). At lunchtime Meagan Mattingly, Arts in Education Associate, stopped in to discuss possibilities for connecting Maine Arts Commission work.

Pam Kinsey on Skype from Aroostook county

As you know we are in the middle of phase 2 of the MAAI. Today’s goal was to reflect on what has been accomplished through the MAAI and to discuss what the next steps might be. The information will be summarized and in early February the teacher leaders will join the leadership team to discuss the ideas to confirm the direction.

In August 20 teacher leaders attended a 4-day institute where they participated in professional development in assessment, leadership, technology, and creativity. They created workshops and are presenting them throughout the state during the 2012-13 school year in 20 locations. These workshops are FREE and contact hours are available for participating.

Along with the regional workshops Mega-regional workshops are taking place in 4 locations. These opportunities are offered by the teacher leaders from phase 2 as well as some teacher leaders from phase 1. At each of the 4 locations Maine Learning Technology Initiative Technology Integrators are partnering with a teacher leader to present an integrated session.

The Mega-regional workshops are being offered, 8:00 to 3:00:

• January 14: UMF
• March 1: USM, Portland
• March 22: Presque Isle High School
• March 29: Ellsworth High School

Matt Doiron and Jeff Beaudry listen intently

You MUST register for the Mega-regional workshops. They are FREE to all arts educators, PK through grade 12 and contact hours are available. Participants need a laptop with the most recent MLTI image. If you do not have one we will lend you one for the day. Please check the appropriate box while registering to communicate that.

PLEASE don’t hesitate register today at http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/vpa/assessment.html#regional or at http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=MLTINews&id=469365&v=details.

Soooooooo… what do you think phase 3 of the initiative could/should include??? Please post your feedback below or email Argy at argy.nestor@maine.gov with your ideas and suggestions!

Happy New Year!

Reflecting

I have taken some time today to reflect on 2012 and realize how fortunate I am to work with incredible arts educators in Maine and throughout the United States. Educators who are dedicated, passionate, and fully committed to providing an outstanding arts education for every student!

The year has been filled with many successes, some challenges, and sad losses! I wish I had time to go back through all the blog posts that I wrote in 2012 to help me remember all of the successes, challenges, and losses but instead I will provide the highlights.

Successes

The biggest success is the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI). The second phase of MAAI officially kicked off in the spring with the identification of 20 teacher leaders. These arts educators joined the 18 teacher leaders from phase one. They participated in a 4-day institute in August at the Maine College of Art (MECA) in Portland where they expanded their knowledge in the areas of assessment, leadership, technology, and creativity. They have created workshops that are being delivered throughout this school year at the regional and mega-regional level. (Registration for the mega-regional workshops is now open – FREE and contact hours are available.) The topics of the sessions are as varied as the individual teacher leaders. I am so grateful for their commitment to the work that is making a difference for arts teachers and in arts classrooms across Maine each day. The impact on students learning is amazing!

And, uniquely the Mega-regional workshops are being co-sponsored with the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI). At these workshops their will be at least one session that is integrated with an MLTI integrator to provide a first time opportunity for educators!

The MAAI would not be possible without the commitment of the leadership team who have consistently shepherded the work. A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Catherine Ring, Rob Westerberg, Jeff Beaudry, Bronwyn Sale, Pam Kinsey, and Matt Doiron. Their willingness to lead has made a difference! Close to 1000 arts educators have taken advantage of the professional development opportunities during the last year and a half.

The MAAI is aligned with the Maine Department of Education’s Strategic Plan: Education Evolving: Maine’s Plan for Putting Learners First.

In July Catherine and I flew to Denver for a national conference on arts assessment held at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. I was proud to let others know of the grassroots efforts that Maine arts educators are involved with.

Art educator Chris Milliken, on sabbatical from Wells schools, has been following and doing research on the MAAI during this past year. He will join art teacher Lisa Marin and present a session on their findings at the Mega-regional workshop at Ellsworth High School on March 29, 2013.

Literacy is a statewide focus with the Literacy for ME being launched this fall and arts education has stepped up to become an integral part of the cross content literacy connections. Arts educators Jen Nash, Suzanne Goulet, and Lisa Gilman have been facilitating literacy webinars. Suzanne is also co-facilitating face to face sessions.

We have had 4 wonderful art exhibits at the Maine Department of Education during this past year from Maranacook Community Schools, Bangor Elementary and Middle Schools, Lake Region High School, and Messalonskee High School. Along with the exhibits we had receptions at the Blaine House with music and dance performances from each school/district. Participating and collaborating are First Lady Ann LePage, the Maine State Board of Education, and the Commissioner of Education, Steve Bowen.

First Lady Ann LePage partnered with the Barbara Bush Foundation to create a new baby journal to present to parents at hospitals across Maine when their babies are born. We did a call for K-8 artwork and 867 young artists submitted work. Thirty two pieces were selected to be published in the book which will be completed in June 2014.

The Maine arts education list-serv has grown to 1200 and the meartsed blog is growing as a source of information, not only for arts educators but for all educators. If you are not on the list-serv but would like to be, please email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov. On December 5, 2013 the blog set a record high day of 976 visitors. And a record high week happened during that same time of 2508 visitors. Thank you for taking the time to visit and informing others about what is available on the Maine arts education blog.

Challenges

• Common Core standards for ELA and Math were released this year and teachers are being asked to incorporate them into their curricula.
• We are waiting patiently for the next iteration of the national arts standards to be released in March March 2013.
• Arts education in Maine is underserved. As the economy continues to be a challenge so is providing adequate arts education programs and teachers.
• Determining how to provide quality arts education to be ready for the “proficiency based graduation requirement” slated for the graduating class of 2018.
• What will determine “teacher effectiveness” for arts educators (the non-tested content)?

Sadness

In March music teacher Beth Polletto died in a car accident driving to school. Beth taught at Gray New Gloucester and Georgetown Central School. In May art teacher Jackie McTigue died in a car accident on her way to school. Jackie taught at Glenburn Elementary School. Both teachers were amazing arts educators and have left a huge hole. My friend and colleague 2nd grade teacher and Maine’s 2010 Teacher of the Year Kevin Grover died on Thanksgiving day after returning from a run. He is greatly missed by family, friends, and colleagues.

Looking forward

Being forever optimistic, I know that 2013 will be filled with many more successes and that the challenges will be small mountains for us to climb. I invite you to collaborate with your colleagues to face the challenges and enjoy the successes. I hope you will continue to use the meartsed blog for resources and to access information. Many of you have heard me say “none of us is as smart as all of us”. Please continue to share information that I can pass on to others through the blog. I appreciate it!

I am confident that 2013 will be filled with opportunities for arts education to move forward. For example part of phase 2 of the MAAI is videotaping arts classrooms to respond to your request “what does a standards based arts education classroom look like?” So, Debi Lynne Baker (newly retired art teacher) will be visiting arts classrooms in the next few months and creating 4 short videos with examples. This is just one example of resources being developed for arts teachers.

I enjoy the challenges that my work at the Maine Department of Education provides for me. I especially love the opportunity to interact with you, the readers of the meartsed blog. So please take a moment when possible and drop me an email at argy.nestor@maine.gov or make a comment at the bottom of a blog post. You can subscribe to the blog by clicking on “Sign me up!” located on the right side of the front page of the blog.

I hope your year is filled with love and laughter and that you continue to provide outstanding opportunities for your students in arts education! Best Wishes for a wonderful 2013 and THANKS so much for all the good that you do in education!

Only one photo and one quote included in today’s post. Hopefully the photo will put a smile on your face and the quote will provide you with some “food for thought” as we dive into 2013!

The purpose of arts education is not to produce more artists, though that is a byproduct. The real purpose of arts education is to create complete human beings capable of leading successful and productive lives in a free society. – Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts