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 achieve the following four outcomes. Progress on the outcomes is indicated below, as are the names of AEAC members working on each of these goals.

• Explore effectiveness of the Kennedy Center Arts Education Audit Tool: The Massachusetts Cultural Council has partnered with the Revere, Springfield and Southern Berkshire school districts to assess the efficacy of the Kennedy Center's arts education audit tool. Based on the results of these efforts, the council will determine whether this is a valuable tool to recommend for adoption in other districts throughout the state.

• Coordinate with other Advisory Councils on arts education policy issues: Coordinate with other advisory councils, as appropriate, towards accomplishing shared goals and agendas.

• Share information about arts education across the state: The Arts Education Advisory Council will continue to serve as a forum for the exchange of information about arts education across the state, so that we can make policy recommendations to the Commissioner, reflect our interest in sustaining the importance of the arts in the current climate of accountability and focus on MCAS subjects. To this end, a meeting will be convened between the AEAC and the Massachusetts Arts Education Coalition to share information and ideas.

• Explore assessment methods: Assessment methods-particularly for interdisciplinary education--will be explored with the goal of submitting an application to create a Content Institute. A related goal is to develop an assessment survey.

Council Members 2007 - 2008

Ms. Vera Baker, Director of Fine Arts; Springfield Public Schools
Ms. Maureen G. Caouette Fine Arts Teacher; Worcester Public Schools
Ms. Diane Daily, Program Coordinator; MA Cultural Council
Ms. Teresa Karangioze, Art Specialist Teacher; Parker Middle School, Chelmsford
Ms. Lisa Leach, Performing Arts Liaison, Worcester Public Schools
Mr. David Marshall, Program Manager; Massachusetts Cultural Council
Dr. Luci Prawdzik, Supervisor of Art K-12, Somerville
Ms. Sabrina E. Quintana, Director of Music, Winchester Public Schools
Ms. Janet Sebell, Coordinator of Undergraduate Program; Art Education, Salem State College
Mr. R. Barry Shauck, Assistant Professor of Art Education; Boston University
Dr. Benedict J. Smar, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education; University of Mass., Amherst
Ms. Roseanne E. Trolan, Special Education Art Teacher; Cotting School, Lexington
Ms. Debra S. Vitt, Arts Educator; Somerville Public Schools
Ms. Diane Weir, Software Test Automation Engineer, Westford, MA
Ms. Jessica B. Wilke, Music Teacher, F.G.Houghton elementary School, Sterling
Ms. Donna Wresinski, Co-Director of Fine & Performing Arts, Framingham

Meeting Schedule for 2007 - 2008:

Meetings will be held from 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.except where a change is specifically noted

Related Resource Agencies and Organizations:

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

The National Art Education Association: NAEA is arts professionals and members of the public working to promote quality art education. This year's national conference will be held in Boston on March 4-8, 2005. See their web site for more details.

American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE) -- Promoting standards of excellence in theatre and drama/theatre education

The National Music Education Association: MENC is working to advance music education

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

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

The Kennedy Center's Arts Edge: Linking the arts and education through technology (through the John F. Kennedy for the Performing Arts)

ArtsEdNet: Online services supporting arts education from the Getty Institute for Education in the Arts

National Endowment for the Arts

President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities

Contact Information

Advisory Council Co-Chairs:

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Liaison

Dr. Lurline Muņoz-Bennett
Arts Education and Equity Coordinator
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
350 Main Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023
Phone: 781-338-6285
Fax: 781-338-3395
Email: lmunoz-bennett@doe.mass.edu