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Putting the “Teaching” in “Teaching Artist”
Our summer programs have ended, the school year is about to begin, and our teaching artists are ready to return to classrooms with more experience partnering with teachers and engaging students in joyful, creative, and academically strong lessons.
Each year, Arts for Learning Maryland works with over 100 of the best teaching artists in the state. Masters of their craft, they represent a diversity of art forms, from rap and parody songwriting to Chinese calligraphy and screen painting to ballet and tap dance. But the artists on our roster are also well-prepared for integrating the arts into the curriculum, connecting with students, and maximizing partnerships with teachers–and this is what makes them teaching artists of the highest caliber.
At the beginning of the year, Arts for Learning welcomed 22 artists into the Teaching Artist Academy, our paid professional development program for those interested in pursuing a career as a teaching artist. Over several months of asynchronous, virtual, and in-person sessions, participants learned how to integrate the arts with academic lessons like math and literacy; teach through an anti-racist lens; and meet students where they are to help them feel seen, heard, and a sense of belonging.
Workshops included:
- Intro to Arts Integration & Co-Teaching
- Restorative Practices
- SSE: Empowering LGBTQIA+ Youth
- Community Building
- Core Concepts of Childhood Traumatic Stress in a Classroom Setting
- Race Equity
Artists also had the opportunity to put their learning into practice by partnering with teachers from Baltimore City and Prince George’s County. The pairs worked together to co-plan an arts-integrated lesson, subsequently co-teaching in the teacher’s classroom, teaching the content the teacher was currently focusing on through the artist’s creative practice. By the end of the Teaching Artist Academy, artists had each received over 70 hours of training!
Participants self-reported growth in every measured area: building community, abolitionist teaching/anti-racist practices, restorative practices, trauma-informed teaching, safe and supportive school environments for LGBTQIA+ students, arts integration, collaborative planning, co-teaching, and student-centered learning.
Those in the program remarked on how they not only expanded their classroom-oriented skills, but also grew individually and as a community. One participant shared, “The program just touches every possible base. Not only do we gain the content training, the personal development piece is unmatched. It’s just been a beautiful experience from start to finish.”
Here’s to more joyful, art-rich classrooms that further the curriculum while building students’ sense of self. Bring on the school year!
Invite an Arts for Learning teaching artist into your school or classroom this fall! Meet all of our artists—and explore their programs—at artsforlearningmd.org/artists.
Teaching Artist Profile: Dino O’Dell
Music moves us. Its rhythm, melody, harmony, and lyricism catches our ears, inspires us, stirs our imaginations, and sticks in our heads. If you ask us, that sounds a lot like great teaching!
Dino O’Dell uses the power of music to teach and engage students of all ages. A teaching artist, award-winning musician, and former elementary school music educator, Dino has been writing and performing for young audiences for 20 years. Today, he travels across Maryland (and the country!) to perform participatory assemblies that transform traditional academic lessons into joyful, fun, and creative experiences.
“My background is in children’s theatre,” explains Dino. “It’s shaped my teaching philosophy. The goal is to create ways for students to engage with the performance—whether it’s through clapping, singing, or movement. We simply tap into what already resonates with students—such as music and stories.”
Dino’s programs cover topics like science, outer space, geography, history, and animals. And by bringing young viewers into the performance, he’s creating memorable learning experiences for kids and their teachers.
For example, in Around the World: The Geography of Planet Earth, Dino teaches students about the continents, using catchy tunes that encourage students to sing along and make corresponding dance moves. For North America, students mimic a basketball shot, nodding to the popular sport in the region; for South America, they swim in the Amazon; and for Europe, they eat an imaginary Italian pizza!
“Movement and lyrics contain information. Rhythm and melody make it easier to recall,” explains Dino. “Music is the key that opens the door to the room of knowledge. And the knowledge contains the content derived from the lyrics and dance moves.”
Dino incorporates many styles of music into his work, including blues, folk, reggae, ska, funk, and classical. “Exposing kids to a variety of styles and structures is so powerful,” he says. “They may not recognize that they’re hearing a jazz tune, but they feel a different kind of groove, they experience syncopation, and in the process, their awareness of what’s out there and what’s possible expands.” Here’s an example!
At Arts for Learning, we see a truth illustrated in all of Dino’s programs and those of our other teaching artists: creativity uniquely resonates with young people. “Kids are naturally creative,” says Dino “In many cases, they aren’t self-conscious yet, and convincing them that what they’re learning is also fun and interesting is easy. It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of.”
To learn more about Dino O’Dell and to explore his programs available for your school or classroom, visit his artist profile on our website.
A Peek into Summer at Arts for Learning Maryland
Summer is in full swing, bringing with it soaring temps, plenty of sun, and, for thousands of Maryland students, the arts. This month, students across the state are experiencing a variety of Arts for Learning Maryland’s arts-integrated summer programs that spark imaginations, enhance learning, and inspire passions – all for FREE!
More than 2,700 students from 118 Baltimore City public schools are engaging in Arts for Learning Maryland programs this summer, guided by over 400 teaching artists, educators, and staff. Take a look at what we’ve been up to below.
Summer Arts for Learning Academy
Nearly 2,000 City Schools students in grades PreK-6 are building skills in math, reading, and their favorite art forms at eight sites across Baltimore. SALA infuses traditional learning with hands-on, arts-based experiences that transform learning into a fun, joyful, explorative experience. For example, students use music to practice counting, create lively illustrations to show the plot points in stories, and even perform dances while learning fractions. And we know that this type of learning works—the US Department of Education recently awarded SALA (and its afterschool counterpart, ASALA, the After School Arts for Learning Academy) for its high-quality programming and impact on students. Visit our website to learn more about SALA.
Bloomberg Arts Internship
Real-world work experience is invaluable for young, aspiring creatives. And that’s exactly what 40 rising high school seniors from Baltimore City Public Schools are doing this summer in the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program (BAI). The cohort of 40 students is building college and career readiness skills through paid internships at leading local art institutions like the Baltimore Museum of Art and Creative Alliance, networking and building community along the way. Thanks to a recent grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, this program has expanded. Learn more about BAI on our website, and hear from interns about their experiences on the BAI blog.
Summer Arts for Learning at Goodnow
Did you know that Arts for Learning Maryland manages the Goodnow Community Center in East Baltimore, offering community-based arts experiences to primary and secondary school children? This summer at Arts for Learning at Goodnow, 81 area students in grades K-8 are diving into a wide variety of art forms and working with A4L teaching artists in art-making and recreational sports. The summer program at Arts for Learning at Goodnow is a free, full-day program supporting students’ creative growth, character development, and cultural understanding. Learn more on our website.
Extended School Year Support
City Schools students participating in the district’s Extended School Year (ESY) program are getting creative. A4L is partnering with City Schools to support dozens of classrooms at Dorothy I Height Elementary and Fort Worthington Elementary/Middle, by exploring arts enrichment experiences led by A4L teaching artists.
Arts Enrichment at Springboard
Arts for Learning Maryland has partnered with six elementary schools in Baltimore City to provide supplemental summer arts enrichment hand-in-hand with the Springboard program over a five-week period. More than 475 students are enjoying a different arts experience each week facilitated by Arts for Learning Maryland teaching artists. In the mornings, students study academics with Springboard, and in the afternoons they work with A4L artists to explore visual arts, spoken word, musical theater, dance, and music.
Here’s to a cool, creative, and inspiring rest of the summer!
Arts for Learning Maryland Awarded Grant to Expand Bloomberg Arts Internship Program for Baltimore’s Public High School Students
Arts for Learning Maryland’s Bloomberg Arts Internship Program (BAI) is expanding to reach more students in Baltimore City thanks to a generous grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The Bloomberg Arts Internship Program offers Baltimore City Public Schools rising seniors full-time, paid internships at leading arts institutions and college and career mentorship. The program is running this summer from June 24 to August 14.
Thanks to this grant, the program will continue through June 2026 and expand to include 50 interns and 25 worksites each summer. The grant also funds a new “sneak peak” initiative to help with future recruitment efforts: 10 City Schools sophomores will “shadow” the program this summer while earning a stipend. Arts for Learning Maryland has also hired a full-time Bloomberg Arts Internship Associate to manage the program. This is the eighth year of the program in Baltimore City. To-date, BAI has served 284 students in Baltimore.
The Bloomberg Arts Internship helps students develop skills, including communication, problem-solving, and team building, that are essential for any professional field while encouraging awareness of culture as an industry and a civic resource. Arts for Learning Maryland manages all aspects of the Baltimore Bloomberg Arts Internship program, such as coordinating with high schools to recruit potential interns; securing worksite placements at cultural organizations; and coordinating workshops, mentoring, and field trips. By partnering with public schools and paying a living wage, the Bloomberg Arts Internship program reaches students from all backgrounds and helps them secure workforce experience that is crucial to accessing future education and career opportunities. Students who could benefit from the program are identified by public school districts, teachers, citywide youth employment programs, and affiliated nonprofits that work with youth.
“Year after year, the Bloomberg Arts Internship Program gives Baltimore City students amazingly powerful learning and work experiences focused on the arts,” explained Stacie Sanders Evans, Arts for Learning Maryland President & CEO. “This grant reflects Bloomberg Philanthropies’ recognition of this program’s huge impact and success, and of the importance of the arts in student development. We’re so grateful.”
This year’s Bloomberg Arts Internship worksites include: AREA 405 under Central Baltimore Partnership, Art with a Heart, Artscentric, Ascend through Music (Living Classrooms), Baltimore Arts Realty Corporation, Baltimore Clayworks, Baltimore Jewelry Center, Baltimore Office of Promotion & the Arts, Baltimore Public Media, Baltimore Rock Opera Society, Baltimore Youth Arts, BrickRose Exchange, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Creative Alliance, Creative Nomads, Dance & Bmore, Everyman Theatre, Johns Hopkins University Museums, Leaders of Tomorrow Youth Center, Maryland Center for History and Culture, Peabody Preparatory, Port Discovery, Sankofa Children’s Museum of African Cultures, The Baltimore Museum of Art, and Yele Stitches LLC.
Since 2012, the program has supported over 1,700 internships at more than 250 cultural organizations across seven cities including Baltimore. For more information about the program, click here.
About Arts for Learning Maryland
Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is devoted to enriching the lives and education of Maryland’s youth through educational and culturally diverse arts programs. Through Arts for Learning, professional teaching artists from all disciplines partner with educators, schools, and school districts to provide — on average — over 500,000 hours of learning in, through, and about the arts to more than 155,000 Maryland students annually. Arts for Learning is a mission-driven organization that values community, innovation, and passion. The staff, board, and teaching artists have a shared commitment to advance equity in the field of education by generating opportunities for students to imagine, create, and realize their full potential through the arts.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2023, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, and X.
US Department of Education Honors A4L and City Schools’ SALA and ASALA Partnership
Study shows measurable impact of ASALA participation
Huge news! Arts for Learning Maryland, in partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools, has been recognized by the US Department of Education (DOE) for the Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) and After School Arts for Learning Academy (ASALA).The Department of Education named us a Champion of the 2024 U.S. Department of Education Engage Every Student Recognition Program. We’re one of just 13 districts and organizations across the country that were honored “for efforts to expand access to high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs for students.” Other factors that were considered include rising enrollment, a commitment to serving students from low-income families, and employing evidence-based approaches.
In both SALA, a five-week summer program in Title 1 schools, and ASALA, an after school program, teaching artists partner with classroom teachers to enhance students’ reading and math by encouraging creativity and arts-integrated exploration. This past year, more than 2,600 students participated in SALA and ASALA at 15 sites around Baltimore.
And studies show that this work is having a measurable impact! A recent evaluation by WolfBrown conducted by Arts for Learning shows that students who attended ASALA grew academically at a faster rate than their grade-level peers who did not attend the program. Results illustrate that ASALA students exhibited gains in math testing that were 37% larger than those by students not in ASALA. In reading assessments, students in ASALA showed gains that were 62% larger than their peers’.
This study and the DOE award illustrates the vast power of arts integration—a strategic approach to teaching and learning in which students build and demonstrate understanding in and through the arts.
And City Schools agrees! Said Joan Dabrowski, Chief Academic Officer, “Arts for Learning has proven to be an invaluable partner in our after-school and summer programs. The enthusiasm and engagement we observe in students, spurred by their unique teacher and teaching artist model, are laudable. This honor is well deserved and reflects its commitment and support to the students of Baltimore City. Students and their families are always eager to participate in the programs.”
Learn more about SALA here and ASALA here.
Straight Talk with Mike Gimbel Spotlights SALA
The Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) is making a splash in Baltimore City this summer—and the community is taking notice! Earlier this month, Arts for Learning Maryland President & CEO Stacie Sanders Evans joined WBFF-TV’s Straight Talk with Mike Gimbel to introduce SALA and its unique arts-integrated approach to summer learning.
As Stacie said in the interview, “SALA brings inspiring, amazing artists into our classrooms who work with teachers to reinforce students’ literacy and math learning in a different way—through arts integration. SALA nurtures students’ creativity and imagination, and sends them back to school performing better academically.”
Check out the interview here. SALA kicks off this summer on July 1st for thousands of Baltimore City Public Schools students. Learn more about the program here.
Teaching Artist Profile: Schroeder Cherry
Image of Schroeder Cherry courtesy of Charm City Fringe
Arts for Learning Maryland’s teaching artists are incredible—in and out of the classroom! In this new blog series, we’ll be highlighting our artists and exploring their work, perspectives, and approaches for guiding and inspiring students.
Schroeder Cherry is a talented painter, puppeteer, and collagist, and a 2024 Baker Artist Award finalist. His amazing work with puppets has been featured on a PBS Craft in America segment. Schroeder brings his puppets to life all across the state, inspiring students at all grade levels with educational and engaging performances that open minds and inspire viewers. Whether working with students or creating art in the studio, Schroeder reflects on the world around him to make work that blends metaphor and narrative, asks questions, and motivates viewers (and himself) to think deeper.
As Schroeder puts it, “Creativity is thinking, and thinking is creativity. If we expand understanding of what is and can be creative, the need for it becomes so clear. There is creativity everywhere, in every decision we make. Personally, I’m wired to make things, and I’ve been encouraged and supported since childhood in growing as an artist. I’m thrilled to help young people explore that as well.”
In schools, Schroeder performs fun, educational, and participatory puppet shows using hand-made hand puppets, rod puppets, and wooden cutouts. In his performance, Underground Railroad, Not a Subway, students learn about the Underground Railroad, how it operated, and the hardships that many overcame to make the historic network possible through the story of a boy who escaped from slavery. The powerful performance includes a call-and-response chant, bringing students into the show.
In the studio, Schroeder uses mixed media to create beautiful, thought-provoking pieces that encourage the viewer to ask questions and make inspiring connections. From cutting into wood and painting to working with canvas and sewing, Schroeder’s pieces jump off the wall (literally) and into our imaginations by evoking a feeling of wonder, of curiosity, and of hope. For example, his Future Voter series of paintings depicts soon-to-be voters in abstract worlds full of keys in the sky, playing cards, American flags, and more—all surrounded by fragments of picture frames pieced together in a stunning collage that makes viewers think.
Whether in the classroom or with his own work, Schroeder is always asking what’s the intention? with the art being created and experienced. “Asking this question encourages young people (and myself) to think deeper about the meaning behind the things we create and see,” he explained. “There is no right answer to the question, but in asking it, we’re further exploring our creativity and our relationship with our work.”
When asked what he might suggest to students or fellow artists, his answer is simple: learn from those around you.
“I’m always taking note of student responses to my performances, eavesdropping on attendees viewing my work at art galleries, and watching as friends and colleagues create art in mediums different from my own—whether it be theater, music, or visual art,” said Schroeder. “There are so many ways of creating. I love finding an energy I connect with and learning from it. It’s so important for kids to learn to be imaginative so that they can deal with and navigate life.”
Information about all of our teaching artists–including Schroeder Cherry–and their impactful programs can be found on our website.
Arts for Learning Maryland Receives NEA Funding for Principal Fellowship
Program Applications Now Being Accepted from Principals
Arts for Learning Maryland is thrilled and honored to have been named a recipient of National Endowment For the Arts (NEA) Grants for Arts Projects funding to support its Principal Fellowship Program.
The Principal Fellowship is a yearlong program creating a tight-knit community of 10-15 like-minded school leaders to build strategic plans and develop skills for using the arts to energize educators, motivate student learning, and create joyful school cultures grounded in equity.
The $40,000 grant will allow this year’s cohort of Principal Fellows to access more resources and meaningful experiences to help implement arts-based learning at their schools. Applications for this coming year’s program, which runs from September through May 2025, are now open for principals from Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Charles County.
“Over the five years of the Principal Fellowship Program, we’ve seen the inspiring, transformative power of bringing together talented and passionate school leaders to explore the arts’ role in their schools and their work,” said Stacie Sanders Evans, Arts for Learning Maryland President & CEO. “The NEA’s generous support is a wonderful testament to this program’s impact and potential. We’re grateful for that support!”
“Projects like the Arts for Learning Maryland Principal Fellowship exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “So many aspects of our communities such as cultural vitality, health and wellbeing, infrastructure, and the economy are advanced and improved through investments in art and design, and the National Endowment for the Arts is committed to ensuring people across the country benefit.”
To learn more about the Principal Fellowship (and for school leaders to apply!), click here.
Arts for Learning Maryland Shows State Leaders the JOY and Impact of its Early Childhood Programs
Our early childhood programs are a sight to behold!
Visitors to our programs, often caregivers interested in reinforcing the unique and playful techniques demonstrated by our teaching artists at home, can expect to find young ones eagerly engaging with our teaching artists through dance, play, and song while learning core subjects such as language, literacy, science, and math.
Our artist residencies and performances spark the imagination of adults and children alike, supporting foundational skills such as keeping a steady beat and coordinated movement. While our early childhood artists offer a diverse breadth of residencies and performances, there is always JOY filling the learning spaces and faces of young learners and care providers, and over the last few months, elected officials!
The momentum in Maryland around early childhood education is building. We’ve been happy to welcome several of our elected officials on recent visits to our programs, where they’ve observed our youngest learners make new connections and excel in play-based learning. In addition, Governor Wes Moore recently issued a proclamation to officially designate April as Month of the Young Child!
Delegates Stephanie Smith, Elizabeth Embry, and Kevin M. Harris visited Arts for Learning’s Early Childhood programs during this year’s Month of the Young Child.
Recent visitors to our programs include:
- Maryland State Delegate Jackie Addison – Baltimore City
- Maryland State Delegate Caylin Young – Baltimore City
- Maryland State Senator Cory McCray
- Maryland State Delegate Kevin Harris – Charles County
- Maryland State Delegate Stephanie Smith – Baltimore City
- Maryland State Delegate Elizabeth Embry – Baltimore City
- Maryland State Senator Jill Carter
- Maryland State Delegate Malcolm Ruff – Baltimore City
- Maryland State Delegate Aaron M. Kaufman – Montgomery County
- Maryland State Delegate Mark Edelson – Baltimore City
We’re grateful to our legislators for their continued commitment to early childhood education, and for their interest in learning more about our approach to the work we’re doing with thousands of students across the state.
WYPR is Blacktastic!
For 74 years, Arts for Learning Maryland has worked tirelessly to ensure our arts-integrated educational programming is as accessible as it is engaging to learners of all ages. The rapidly evolving educational landscape, shaped in part by the pandemic, brought important questions to the forefront of our organization’s consciousness in 2020: how do we adapt our hands-on educational experiences to a digital format? How do we celebrate Black history and culture during a time when it matters most? How do we make sure that our teaching artists’ transformative assemblies and residencies still reach our community, especially our younger learners? And so, Blacktastic was born! In February of 2021, we piloted the virtual children’s festival during Black History Month to celebrate and educate viewers on our local Maryland Black history. After four years of joyous innovation and collaboration, this February we were proud to air the fourth annual Blacktastic! virtual children’s festival, an endeavor made possible in part by our media sponsor WYPR.
We are truly thankful for the support of WYPR in spreading the word about this year’s Blacktastic. The popular free public radio station has served the Baltimore metropolitan area for over two decades, and hosts a wide variety of educational programs, ensuring that Marylanders of all ages stay informed, connected, and entertained. WYPR is committed to delivering content that adheres to the highest standards of journalistic and artistic excellence, centering diversity and inclusion in its mission, making their sponsorship of Blacktastic a natural fit.
The live-streamed festival has grown since its inception to include interactive performances, trivia, virtual field trips, and an activity book download to reinforce the learning–what began as an adaptation to the pandemic has grown into an annually anticipated event! This year, Blacktastic reached over 59,000 students across Maryland and DC–our largest audience yet! Both achieving this level of viewership and ensuring the program remains high-quality and accessible to schools and families with tight budgets requires external support and collaboration of all kinds, and we rely on sponsors like WYPR to meet these goals. From scripting and video production to marketing and livestream logistical coordination, it takes a village to make a large-scale virtual event like Blacktastic a reality.
If viewer feedback is any indication of the importance of support from sponsors like WYPR, one viewer wrote, “Blacktastic outdoes [its] programming each and every year. My favorite part as an educator is learning alongside the kids. We didn’t want it to end!”
Another commented, “Blacktastic was such a great way to celebrate Black culture and history in the classroom! Students got to see real people who looked like them who have made a difference right in front of their faces. The virtual format worked wonderfully to fit into our schedule. I am so excited to participate again next year!”
The theme of Black History Month this year was African Americans and the Arts, spanning the many impacts Black Americans have had on visual arts, music, dance, cultural movements, and more. We invite you to explore this theme all year long through the creativity, beauty, and energy of our teaching artists. Learn how at artsforlearningmd.org/programs/honoring-and-celebrating-black-history-and-culture.
For more information about WYPR, please visit wypr.org, and tune into 88.1 FM to listen.
Learn about all of this year’s Blacktastic artists and honorees at artsforlearningmd.org/blacktastic!
New Chief of Engagement and Development Director at Arts for Learning Maryland
Arts for Learning Maryland’s Development and Engagement teams have expanded! We’re excited to announce the appointment of longtime Arts for Learning team member Micaela Gramelis to the newly-created Chief of Engagement position, and Dani Faulkner as our new Development Director.
Micaela Gramelis was Arts for Learning Maryland’s most recent Development Director. In her new position, she will lead the development and communications teams for the $15 million organization. Micaela has been with Arts for Learning for more than 10 years and served as development director for five. During this time, annual fundraising more than doubled, successfully building organizational capacity and supporting the expansion of A4L programs.
Dani comes to Arts for Learning with more than 10 years of experience in development, specializing in grant funding with nonprofits in Baltimore and Maryland, including Baltimore Corps and Big Sisters of Greater Baltimore. Dani is a practitioner of Community Centric Fundraising, which focuses on equity when dealing with all things fundraising. She deeply understands Baltimore’s nonprofit and arts landscape, having worked, volunteered, and served on boards with the Baltimore Community Foundation, MOMCares, Nonprofit Technology Conference, Maryland Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, and the Maryland State Arts Council, where she serves as a grant panelist. Also a former playwright, Dani deeply shares our passion for arts experiences and education.
Said Stacie Sanders Evans, President and CEO of Arts for Learning Maryland, “The growth of these departments, led by the immensely talented Micaela and Dani, illustrates Arts for Learning Maryland’s exciting trajectory and impact for Maryland’s students, educators, and artists. With Micaela and Dani leading this work, we can’t wait to see more opportunities for young people, more stories of impact, and more arts experiences in students’ lives.”
Arts for Learning Maryland Welcomes Kathleen Basham as Vice President
Arts for Learning Maryland is delighted to announce Kathleen Basham as its new Vice President.
Kathleen brings more than 25 years of experience in leadership positions such as Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Associate Director with Baltimore-based arts and education institutions like the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. She’s worked with organizations that support older populations with money management, served on a variety of boards and committees, and is a consistent patron and supporter of the arts throughout Maryland.
In her new role at Arts for Learning, Kathleen’s strategic perspective and strong experience will enhance our continuing growth, innovation, and impact for the hundreds of thousands of students, artists, and educators we reach each year.
Said Kathleen, “In my years in the Baltimore arts community, I’ve watched Arts for Learning and noticed its powerful approach and commitment to students, artists, and creativity in our region. The potential for our work is huge, and I can’t wait to be a part of enhancing learning and creativity for students and educators across the state.”
“Kathleen’s incredible knowledge, thoughtfulness, and passion for the arts is a fantastic asset to Arts for Learning Maryland going forward,” said Stacie Sanders Evans, President and CEO of Arts for Learning Maryland. “With her stewardship, we’re more equipped than ever to transform student learning through the arts while supporting and elevating artists and educators in the process.”
Welcome, Kathleen!