Teaching artist and clay sculptor Tim Christensen working on design principles with a student. Photo courtesy Maine Arts Commission.
Teaching artist and clay sculptor Tim Christensen working on design principles with a student. Photo courtesy Maine Arts Commission.

The Maine Arts Commission’s Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) will offer a one-day summer professional development intensive specifically geared toward Maine teaching artists, and/or those artists who would like to expand their work to PK-12 teaching, on Wednesday, August 10, from 8 to 4 p.m. at the University of Southern Maine. The intensive is part of MALI’s summer institute for PK-12 arts teachers that continues August 11-12.  The day-long session will focus in depth on the role of the teaching artist in the K-12 classroom, and the relationship between the K-12 arts educator and the teaching artist, and will includestructured networking with more than 50 PK-12 Visual and Performing Arts teachers from throughout Maine.

“We recognize the great learning value of Maine’s incredible population of artists,” said Argy Nestor, Director of Arts Education for the Maine Arts Commission, “and have as a goal the establishment of more high quality K-12 artist-in-residence programs.”

The day’s workshops are designed specifically for the needs of Teaching Artists, and will include separate sessions on topics including how to get funding to support residencies; best practices for Teaching Artists; Maine Learning standards; assessment skills and tools; advocacy; and more. Perhaps most importantly, the day will include ongoing opportunities for teaching artists to connect with and engage collaboratively with PK-12 visual and performing arts teachers from Maine schools—often the first step toward establishing a residency.

The MALI institute offers an exciting, teacher–driven environment for teaching artists who are interested in professional development with peers. Teaching Artist and dancer John Morris and PK-12 music educator Kate Smith, both members of the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative team, are leading the planning for the day.

“We think this year’s summer institute provides not only timely professional development and a chance to make important connections with arts educators in the schools, but also a real opportunity to contribute the voices of Teaching Artists to improving K-12 arts education for all students in Maine,” said Morris.

The Maine Arts Leadership Initiative, established in 2011, is committed to the development of teacher leaders and teaching artists to ensure deep understanding and meaningful implementation of high quality teaching, learning, and assessment in the arts.

Registration includes morning coffee/tea, a delicious lunch, and afternoon snacks. To register and review full workshop offerings, please go tohttp://goo.gl/forms/DwUebVc0Ys7aiBmH2.

To learn more about MALI, the Maine Arts Commission teaching artist program and roster, and other PK-12 arts education programs go tohttp://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MAAI# or contact Argy Nestor at argy.nestor@maine.gov or 207-287-2713.