The Point Lookout Conference Center in Northport on Friday, Oct. 9 was abuzz with arts educators for the Biennial Statewide Arts Education conference, The Measure of Success. The day was filled with student performances, celebrations, presentations, networking and workshops, conversations, questions, and wonderings. From the opening music performance by Camden Hills Regional High School Jazz Band under the direction of Nancy Rowe to the closing session with a theatre performance of selections from the Addams Family under the direction of Kim Murphy, the day was educational, energizing, and filled with surprises!
The event included the unveiling of the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Resource Bank. The Maine DOE provided funding to create the website to make the resources available to all arts educators.
The resources on the site include: a planning template; searchable database that includes resources for the following categories: Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theater Arts, Visual Art, Creativity, and Student Voices; The Maine Learning Results, and links to the contributors so teachers can reach out to them with questions and/or comments.
The conference also included celebrations. Teachers from each of the four disciplines: dance, music, theatre, and visual arts were recognized for outstanding contribution to the field by Maine DOE Visual and Performing Arts Specialist Beth Lambert and Maine Arts Commission Director of Arts Education Argy Nestor. The following visual and performing arts educators were recognized: Theresa Cerceo, art teacher from SAD 33; Rick Osann, theatre teacher from SAD 6; Carmel Collins, dance teacher from SAD 61; and Kim Murphy, music teacher from Five Town CSD.
For more information about visual and performing arts in Maine schools, contact the Department’s Beth Lambert at beth.lambert@maine.gov.