MALI

Sooooo proud!

MALI at Bowdoin for Winter Retreat

I am continually amazed and proud of the commitment and passion of Maine’s visual and performing Arts educators. Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend all day at Bowdoin College with the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative’s (MALI) for the Phase 5 winter retreat. Twenty five MALI members were able to join us. Thank you to the Bowdoin College Art Museum for hosting. The beauty of the room and the delicious food added to the energy, thoughtfulness, and incredible knowledge of the MALI Teacher Leaders.

Teaching Artist and Teacher Leader John Morris

The topics of the day included overarching questions that are helping us to formulate the details of MALI’s Phase 6. The ideas are created based on the needs of teachers to meet the needs of Maine’s PK-12 students in the Arts. Who better to know about the needs of Arts education than Maine Arts educators?!

MALI’s Mission

MALI is committed to the development of Teacher Leaders to ensure deep understanding and meaningful implementation of high quality teaching, learning and assessment in the Arts for all students.

Teaching Artist/Teacher Leader – John Morris

During phase 5 John put together Creativity resources for the Resource Bank located at http://www.maineartsedresources.org/. The description of the Creativity resource: This discussion group model will help participants make connections with creativity research, while promoting inquiry and dialogue about the nature of creativity, as well as the role of creativity in K-12 teaching, learning and assessment. John facilitated the use of the model yesterday and the conversation was one that I wish every educator in the state could engage in. Contact John if you have questions about the resource at JohnMorris08@gmail.com.

MALI and Teaching Artists

We spent some time yesterday considering the role of the Teaching Artist and brainstormed ideas on possibilities for Phase 6. The Maine Arts Commission is committed to continue to develop opportunities. The Teaching Artist roster located at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/Teaching-Artist-Roster will continue to grow and be available for those interested in contracting with a Teaching Artist to provide learning opportunities for students.

MALI focus

Deep in thought, Rob Westerberg, Mari-Jo Hedman, Jake Sturtevant

The bulk of our day was spent on looking at and discussing the MALI topics that have become essential components of our work. Using the MALI Logic Model we asked two questions: 1) What is the role of the Teacher Leader working with the MALI mission? and 2) What activity or output could be created or included to implement the essential topics? The topics include: Arts Integration, Creativity and 21st Century Skills, Proficiency-Based Learning and Reporting, Educator Effectiveness, Advocacy, Assessment Literacy, Effective Teaching and Learning/Best Practices, Funding, Legislative Policy, and Guiding Principles.

It was a great day and I am so grateful to know and be part of a group that is so positive about the work they do educating PK-12 student in Arts education. It is a pleasure to LISTEN to what each Teacher Leader is doing and has to offer! If you are considering applying to be a Teacher Leader for Phase 6 please watch for the “call” and email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.

Gorham School district Art teachers Elise Bothel and Allie Rimkunas

Beth Lambert, DOE VPA specialist and St. Agatha art educator Theresa Cerceo

Dance teacher MaryEllen Schaper and Music teacher Jen Nash

MAAI Winter Retreat

What a way to spend the last day in February!

On February 27 and 28 several of Maine Arts Assessment Initiative’s (MAAI) 61 Teacher Leaders came together in Rockland to learn and provide their feedback on phase 4 and, all things MAAI. It is always fun to see everyone and catch up on what is happening (in person) in their classrooms across the state.

Pam Kinsey, Theresa Cerceo, Judy Fricke

Friday evening was spent with Sarah Swain, Art Director, Westbrook Schools who provided a workshop on making videos that answered these two questions:

• How can video be used as an effective communication tool?
• How can I create videos with visual interest that engage and inform the viewer?

Participants gave high marks to the opportunity to learn! Thank you Sarah!

Jeff Beaudry, Jen Nash

On Saturday we met at the Gamble Center at the Farnsworth Art Museum to review Phase 4 of the MAAI and imagine what Phase 5 could look like. The ideas and innovative thinking were plentiful. Below are some of the topics that generated long lists of ideas.

• Teacher Leaders
• Proficiency-based education
• Bridging the regional gaps with opportunities
• Arts integration – professional learning communities
• Teacher Effectiveness
• Teaching Artists
• Arts ambassadors
• Advocacy

Stay tuned for more information in the future. MAAI continues to respond to the needs of visual and performing arts educators. We are committed to the work that PK-12 arts educators are doing and during Phase 4 we brought Teaching Artists into the opportunities as well. In the very near future we will announce a call for Phase 5 Teacher Leaders. If you are considering participating as a Teacher Leader please update your resume which is part of the application. Watch for the announcement coming out soon. If you have questions please contact me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.