We need to work with more teachers and encourage the teachers who have had a successful experience with an artist to mentor other teachers. I strongly believe that it is important to allow the artists to remain primarily artists and not turn them into art teachers. It is a significant difference. There is a fine line to walk and a tricky balancing act in becoming a successful teaching artist. Unfortunately, simply giving lesson plans to a teacher does not create arts integration. It is important for teachers to observe artists in the classroom and experience working with artists. We must offer, maybe even require, arts integration classes to education students in college.” Dossett passionately shares what sustainability looks like to her. “I am of the belief that every teacher can teach through the arts, and I believe that every teacher can
teach through the arts well with training. If we can create spaces where teachers feel supported to understand the pedagogical and practical nature of the work, then I think that sustainability looks like classroom teachers who take our work and make it work for their context. That’s one of the reasons I believe in arts-based instruction and arts integration, I think anyone that really wants to can own a piece of this work for themselves.” Thinking about follow-through after a residency is over, Dossett says, “You never want to leave them entirely, its always really important to ‘leave the door wide open, call me anytime you need, email, we will make time.’ You and I now have a professional and personal relationship, I want this to be something that is useful and meaningful and something that you are going to use in your practice for a long time.”
While different residency programs approach, view, and accept the chal lenging quest of leaping from service to sustainability in various ways, they joyfully hold the continual sharing and practice of arts integration in the classroom in the highest regard. While arts administrators, teaching artists, and teachers may not know exactly where they will land in the residency process and beyond, they continue to leap again and again.
Karen Weberman is the education director at Metro Theater Company in Saint Louis, Missouri. She holds an MFA in Theatre for Young Audiences from the University of Central Florida.
Chicago Playworks for Families & Young Audiences Presents:
Hansel and Gretel by Moses Goldberg directed by Ann Wakefield
OCT 15 NOV 16, 2013
Number the Stars
Jackie and Me
by Dr. Douglas W. Larche with Susan Elliott Larche based on the novel by Lois Lowry directed by Ernie Nolan
by Steven Dietz directed by John Jenkins
JAN 18 – FEB 22, 2014
APRIL 8– MAY 10, 2014
at DePaul’s historic Merle Reskin Theatre 60 E Balbo Dr, Chicago | 312 922 1999 | theatre.depaul.edu
spring 2013
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