District/School Administration Administration
The Board of Education Advisory Councils

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.

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.

Council Statement

This year, the Arts Education Advisory Council (AEAC) will work to address the following questions in response to the Commissioner’s working goals and priorities for 2008-2010:

• Educator Development (December 4 meeting): How are arts educators encouraging, training, and sustaining the best students to enter and stay in the teaching profession?
  1. Recruiting
  2. Training and licensure
  3. Mentoring, development, and leadership
  
  
• Curriculum and Instruction (February 5 meeting): How are arts educators designing curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of all students in the 21st century?
  1. Arts curriculum
  2. Integrated curriculum
  3. Active teaching
  4. Differentiated instruction
  5. Deep, critical, reflective, analytical, creative, critical thinking
  
  
• Accountability Redesign (March 5 meeting): How are arts educators designing accountability systems to meet the needs of all students for the 21st century?
  1. aDifferentiated assessment for differentiated instruction
  
  

Meeting Schedule for 2008 - 2009:

Meetings will be held from 2:30-5:00 p.m. except where a change is specifically noted.

Council Membership 2008 - 2009

Ms. Maureen G. Caouette, Director of Art, Music, New Media, Littleton Middle School
Mr. Nick Colarossi, Teacher; Catholic Memorial High School
Ms. Diane Daily, Education Programs Manager; MA Cultural Council
Ms. Beth Delforge, Arts Curriculum Director K-12; Marblehead Public Schools
Ms. Lindsay Erben, Art & Nature Program Specialist; Peabody Essex Museum
Ms. Kathy Ivanowski, Visual Arts Liaison; Worcester Public Schools
Ms. Lisa Leach, Performing Arts Liaison; Worcester Public Schools
Ms. Barbara Marder, Teacher; Somerville Public Schools
Dr. Sandra Niccolucci, Assistant Professor of Music Education; Boston University
Dr. Luci Prawdzik, Supervisor of Art K-12, Somerville
Mr. Jonathan Rappaport, Arts Administrator and Professor, New England Conservatory
Mr. R. Barry Shauck, Assistant Professor & Head of Art Education; Boston University
Dr. Benedict J. Smar, Senior Lecturer, Department of Music & Dance, University of Mass., Amherst
Ms. Rosanne E. Trolan, Special Education Art Teacher; Cotting School, Lexington
Ms. Debra S. Vitt, Art Specialist; Somerville Public Schools
Ms. Diane Weir, Software Test Automation Engineer; IBM
Ms. Jessica B. Wilke, Music Teacher, F.G.Houghton Elementary School, Sterling

Contact Information

Advisory Council Co-Chairs:

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education AEAC Liaison

Dr. Lurline Muñoz-Bennett
Arts Education and Equity Coordinator
Office of the Humanities, Curriculum Instruction
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-4906
Phone: 781-338-6285
Fax: 781-338-3395 (6)
Email: lmunoz-bennett@doe.mass.edu

Related Resource Agencies and Organizations:

Massachusetts Cultural Council(MCC): a state agency that offers grants and services for schools, non-profit cultural organizations, communities, and working artists, for programs that use the arts, sciences, and humanities to build stronger, more livable communities.

The National Art Education Association (NAEA): arts professionals and members of the public working to promote quality art education. The Massachusetts Arts Education Association is the local chapter. See their web site for more details.

American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE): promotes standards of excellence in theatre and drama/theatre education.

The National Music Education Association (MENC): working to advance music education. The Massachusetts Music Education Association is the local chapter.

National Dance Association: seeks to increase knowledge, improve skills, and encourage sound professional practices in dance education.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): the federal agency working to support the arts nationwide.

Arts Education Partnership: Promoting the essential role of arts education in enabling all students to succeed in school, life and work

Americans for the Arts: a nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America.