Arts Education Advisory Council
The Arts Education Advisory Council advises the Commissioner and Board of Education on matters pertinent to the development of arts education in the Commonwealth. This includes examining statewide trends and needs, seeking public and professional input, identifying model programs, and making recommendations on policies and programs for the dance, music, theatre, and visual arts components of the Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Framework. It is expected that media arts will be a fifth arts domain added to the upcoming revisions of the National Arts Standards. The AEAC is examining ways of making recommendations of including this new area into the Massachusetts Arts Curriculum Framework.
Council Statement
The Arts Education Advisory Council (AEAC) will work to address the issues innate in revising the Arts Curriculum Framework as well as research, review, and document valid recommendations in response to the Commissioner's working goals and priorities for fiscal year. The charge for this year is to work on revisions to the Arts Curriculum Framework, and include a focus on college and career readiness.
Some issues that will be considered are:
- Relevant supports that impact and/or facilitate learning in the arts.
- Review documents of National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS) releases guiding framework development.
- Identify the characteristics of a High School Graduate who is career and college ready in the Arts.
- Ways to develop/implement effective and meaningful curriculum integration in arts education.
- Modifications to the current Arts Curriculum Framework
Council Members
Council members reflect a wide range of perspectives and activities in arts education. They include arts teachers and directors, practicing artists, professors of arts education, and staff members from arts organizations. All of the arts disciplines are represented.
| Name | Title | Institution |
|---|
| Dawn Benski | Visual Art Content Specialist | Boston Public Schools |
| Elizabeth Byron | Visual Art and Special Education | Billerica Public Schools |
| Charles Combs Ph. D | Theatre and Drama Educator | Higher Education Consultant |
| Diane Daily | Education Programs Manager | MA Cultural Council |
| Christopher P. Dearbeck | Fine Arts Coordinator | Billerica Public Schools |
| Beth Delforge | Arts Curriculum Director | Andover Public Schools |
| Jodi P. Falk | Dance Teacher and Consultant | Nationally /Internationally |
| Jennifer Fidler | Visual Arts Liaison | Wilmington Public Schools |
| Alice Matthews Gentili | Visual Art Educator | Mendon Upton Regional School District |
| Hannah Hammond | Theatre Teacher | UP Academy Holland Elementary School |
| Priscilla Kane Hellweg | Executive Artistic Dir. | Enchanted Circle Theatre Holyoke |
| Julie Jaron | Director of Visual and Performing Arts | Springfield Public Schools |
| Richard P. King | Music, Theatre, Visual Art Coordinator | Newton Public Schools |
| Simone Kivett | Visual Art Teacher | Lynn Public Schools |
| Timmary Leary | Visual Arts Liaison | Worcester Public Schools |
| Arlene Black Mollo Ed. D | Professor of Art Education | UMass Dartmouth |
| Sandra Nicolucci Ed. D. | Music Education Consulting | For any or All School Districts |
| Joan A. Ortu | Visual Art Teacher | Malden Public Schools |
| William Thomas Pappazisis | Director of Performing Arts | Arlington Public Schools |
| Myran Parker-Brass | Executive Director for the Arts | Boston Public Schools |
| Kim Pike | Principal Provincetown Schools | Provincetown District, Provincetown |
| Luci Prawdzik Ed. D. | Supervisor of Art K-12 | Somerville Public Schools |
| Sabrina Quintana DMA | Director of Music Education | Lynn Public Schools |
| Jonathan Rappaport | Art Administrator and Professor | Anna Maria College, Paxton |
| Lynn Souza | Director of Fine Arts K-12 | New Bedford Public Schools |
| Matthew Wilson | Advocacy for Arts and Culture | Executive Director for MASSCREATIVE |
Contact Information
Advisory Council Co-Chairs:
Mr. Jonathan Rappaport
Faculty, Anna Maria College, Paxton
Executive Director
Arts|Learning
PO Box 483
Medfield, MA 02052
Phone: 508-335-1670
Email: executivedirector@artslearning.org
Dr. Charles Combs
Theatre & Drama Educator
Higher Education Consultant
12 Covey Road
Walpole, MA 02081
Phone: 508-660-9053
Email: Charles.combs@verizon.net
Secretary
Ms. Jennifer Fidler
Media & Visual Arts Educator
Wilmington High School
Email: Jennifer.Fidler@wpsk12.com
Resources
Councils' Meeting Minutes
Arts Education Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes April 2, 2018
Arts Education Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes January 18, 2018