MALI Mega Ellsworth

Wonderful learning

The first Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Regional conference took place yesterday at Ellsworth High School. The participants were appreciative of the opportunity, not just to attend and learn in the formal sessions, but to have the chance to network with other arts educators.

Each participant attended two sessions in the morning from the following selection:

• 

  Illustrating to Write session

  Where are your Art Standards within the Studio Habits of Mind! with Jane Snider, Hancock Grammar School

• Ellsworth High School VPA Academy  with Rebecca Wright, Leah Olson, Shannon Westphal, Ellsworth High School
• More Cowbell with Tim Hart, MLTI
• Illustrating to Write with Ann Marie Quirion Hutton, MLTI
• Bringing it All Together with Sue Barre, Waterville High School
  
• 

  Evidence of Learning Through Google

  Evidence of Learning Through Google with Charlie Johnson, Mount Desert Island High School

• Visual Notetaking/Doodling in Class with Ann Marie Quirion Hutton, MLTI
  
• Making 8-bit Art with Tim Hart, MLTI

 

A great big thanks to all of the MALI Teacher Leaders and MLTI session presenters. Without your willingness, commitment, and leadership we wouldn’t be able to have the Mega conferences.

Thank you to the Ellsworth High School VPA boosters club who provided lunch – it was all mmmmmmm!

Director of the Maine Arts Commission Julie Richard joined us in the afternoon. Teaching artist and dancer Nancy Salmon led us movement that got us ready for the afternoon. Beth Lambert from the Maine Department of Education  joined me in providing foundational information on the statewide arts education census that was conducted during the 2015-16 school year.

The day ended with some great door prizes. Thanks to those who contributed. The next MALI Mega Regional conference takes place on Wednesday, January 4 at USM, Portland. Please CLICK HERE for information and registration.

MAC Executive Director Julie Richard

Teaching Artist and dancer Nancy Salmon

Participants moving with Nancy Salmon

Ellsworth High School art teachers sharing a funny moment

Participants at lunchtime

Sue Barre presenting Bringing it all Together, her assessment system

Participants at lunchtime

Discussing the census information

More Cowbell session

 

Almost 300 Maine Arts Educators

Professional Development Opportunities

During the last week amost 300 arts educators have participated in opportunities to learn more about assessment in arts education. That is about one fourth of all the arts teachers in Maine.

On Wednesday, October 5th teacher leader Audrey Grumbling presented to her colleagues in RSU 21. At the statewide arts education conference Arts Teachers Leading the Way… Back to the Future: Arts Assessment For Learning at USM, Portland on October 7th, 225 teachers participated in 27 workshops and large group sessions. The workshops were facilitated by the 18 Maine teacher leaders.

Rob converses with colleagues in Presque Isle

Yesterday, October 6th, Lisa Marin, teacher leader from Jonesport presented all day in Machias at the Harvest of Ideas workshop to 10 Washington county teachers. And, I traveled to Presque Isle with teacher leader Rebecca Wright from Ellsworth High School, and leadership team members, York High School music teacher Rob Westerberg, and Catherine Ring. We facilitated an all day workshop with 40 arts teachers who had traveled from all over Aroostook county.

During the next 8 months there will be 21 more workshops available facilitated by the 18 teacher leaders and 4 webinars on arts assessment. The webinar information is located at http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/vpa/assessment.html