MAIN Events
Professional Learning Sessions of the Missouri Arts Integration Network
Opportunities for professional learning centered in arts integration topics and classroom applications.
SAVE THE DATE!
Future sessions scheduled for our 2024-2025 Season
MONDAYS at 5:30-6:30pm
Register Here
Why Arts Integration Series
Join Us April 7, 2025
Join us April 7, as we continue our exploration of Why Arts Integration? In this session, we will hear from preservice teachers in the field who are utilizing best practices of arts across the curriculum in their classrooms. Attendees will learn more about the everyday application of arts integration and the positive impact it has on student learning communities.
MAIN and IDEA Joint Session
The Art of Transformation:
Harnessing Music and Theatre for Social Justice and Education
Join Us May 5, 2025
Join Dr. Philip A. Woodmore as he delves into the transformative power of music and theater in addressing social justice, fostering community dialogue, and inspiring change. Drawing from his groundbreaking projects—Antigone in Ferguson, The Drum Major Instinct, and the upcoming Team M—as well as the innovative Theater of War model, this presentation highlights how art becomes activism. Discover practical strategies for integrating these ideas into K-12 classrooms, especially in the post-pandemic era, to build resilience, empathy, and connection among students.
Tap Here to Learn more about Dr. Philip A. Woodmore
Dr. Philip A. Woodmore is a distinguished figure in the St. Louis music community, renowned for his multifaceted contributions as an educator, composer, and vocal coach. A native of St. Louis, Dr. Woodmore's academic journey began at Saint Louis University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business marketing and music, concentrating in Vocal Performance. He furthered his studies with a master’s degree in music education from Webster University and achieved a PhD in Music Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His doctoral research focused on the transformative power of music in choral settings, particularly examining the Off-Broadway production of Antigone in Ferguson.
Dr. Woodmore dedicated 14 years to teaching middle school choir, with tenures at Ferguson and Berkeley Middle Schools in the Ferguson-Florissant School District and Crestview Middle School in the Rockwood School District. His commitment to music education extended to his role as Coordinator of the Voice Program at the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), where he developed a comprehensive curriculum to train young singers in musical theater. Additionally, he founded the Allegro Music Company in 2008 and served as its artistic director until 2017.
In August 2016, Dr. Woodmore was commissioned to compose an original score for Antigone in Ferguson, a project that melded Sophocles' classic tragedy with contemporary social issues and gospel music. This production has toured nationally, including an Off-Broadway run from 2018 to 2019, and an international premiere in Athens, Greece. Building on this success, he composed scores for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s final sermon, "The Drum Major Instinct," and a speech by Frederick Douglass, both premiering in New York. His latest endeavor, Team M, addresses mental health in communities of color and is slated to premiere in St. Louis in 2024.
Beyond composition, Dr. Woodmore has been a vocal coach to students across St. Louis, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and New York. He directed the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department Choir from 2009 to 2017 and the Northern Arizona University Gospel Choir from 2014 to 2017. His leadership roles also include serving as Minister of Music at Trinity Community Church from 1992 to 2018.
In recognition of his expertise, Dr. Woodmore was appointed Artistic Director of Voice and Camps at COCA, where he continues to influence the next generation of vocalists. He also serves as the Worship and Arts Director at New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church, where he leads a department of 80 people who bring powerful worship experiences to the congregation. During the pandemic, he authored Antigone in Ferguson: A Journey Through the Transformative Power of Music, documenting his experiences and insights into the role of music in social justice. Dr. Woodmore's career is a testament to his belief in the transformative power of music and theater. Through his innovative compositions, dedicated teaching, and leadership in various musical initiatives, he has significantly impacted both the artistic and broader communities, using music as a catalyst for dialogue, healing, and change. www.philipawoodmore.com
MAIN events bring educators together who see the benefits of engaging students in a creative process in their learning. A part of MAAE's work to support Arts Across the Curriculum and Arts Integration, MAIN participants share of best practices, reflect, ask questions, and offer suggestions to support members of this community.
No matter what stage of your arts integration journey, there is a place for you at our MAIN events! Join in collaborative conversation with other teachers who recognize the incredible power of involving the arts in their educational practice.
We are always looking for future presenters for our MAIN events.
contact Lauren Hanahan at: lauren.hanahan@moaae.org
MAIN Network Video Archive
11.4.24 - Why Arts Integration?
Learning from Administrators with Robin Collins, Aaron Money, and Joel Sherman.
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Hear from school administrators as they share why they think arts integration strategies are vital for their learning communities and how they incorporate arts integrated practices into their professional development.
9.9.24 - Why Arts Integration?
Learning from Professors in the Field. With Dr. Wendy Sims, Dr. Michael Smith, and Dr. Tara Plachowski
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Hear from field professors as they share why they incorporate arts integration strategies into their teaching and why they think it is important for the next generation of teachers.
5.20.24 - Learning from Teacher Leaders
With Jen Short, Dana Ross, Carolyn Fulk, Grace LaRose, Stephanie Cohen
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Join a small group of teacher leaders from the Kansas City/MO Kennedy Center Partners in Education Program as they reflect on their year. They will share strategies they learned, struggles they went through. Please join us, and who knows...maybe you'll be our next teacher leader in arts integration!
4.29.24 - Puppets in the Classroom
With Michael Smith
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Michael leads participants through an entire lesson plan where students can be empowered to be creative, bold and communicative, while learning how to make their very own mouth puppets! Participants will learn how to adjust the lesson to address math, science, social studies, history, reading, or ANY core subject. Bring your own paper, colors and tape and watch how easy creativity can be!
BIO:
Michael Andrew Smith is a writer and educator for What if Puppets, where he spends his days training elementary teachers to combine arts integration techniques with their core curriculum. In addition to his work for What if Puppets, he is an author and the Editor in Chief of The Object.
2.26.24 - 4P's of Art: People, Place, Plot, and Purpose
With Karen E. Griffin, certified national storyteller
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Karen E. Griffin is a certified national storyteller and professional art quilter. She will engage learners in an exploration of the 4P's of Art: People, Place, Plot, and Purpose. Griffin will weave together the elements of Art and Storytelling through arts integration, the application of the Missouri Learning Standards for English Language Arts, and ideas for classroom implementation.
1.29.24 Arts Integration in the Elementary Classroom
Megan Thompson, Assistant Principal at Kellybrook Elementary, discusses her experience of incorporating arts integration in the classroom for the past six years and how she is now introducing arts integration strategies and design thinking to a new school as assistant principal.
Using Creative Movement to help with Transitions with Kayla Sandusky
Meet Kayla and learn how planning for transitions and using movement can benefit your instructional practice.
Session Resources: Book Suggestions for Guided Movement from Meeting Chat.
Keeping it real with Kari Schepker-Mueller
Meet Kari and learn more about her arts integration practice.
Slides from the event with links to TAB and Reggio Children. Additionally, I've added the watercolor conversation warmup activity and additional resources you may enjoy.
Arts Integration in Songwriting with Mark Pagano
Meet Mark and learn ways of incorporating songwriting in your instructional process.
Black Women in Jazz with Christie Jones
Discover information about Black women in jazz and their roles as modern day Griots and the African American oral tradition. Christie guides us through a freestyle writing activity inspired by jazz music and storytelling traditions.
Dance Your Story Today with Dr. Mark Turner
Mark Turner will walk us through how he uses dance and music to build a creative storytelling experience for young and old.
Arts Integration standards and assessment with Katie and Stephen Schisler
Part One -- After their year-long online training sessions with Susan Riley's group at artsintegration.com, Katie (music) and Stephen (art) from A.D. Stowell Elementary blend content and arts standards, creating delicious "jelly roll" standards to guide unit and lesson planning in arts integration, and lead toward assessment.
Part Two - 4/24/23 at 4:30pm Katie and Stephen walk participants through the process of examining content and arts standards to create Lesson Seeds for the development of future lessons and units for use with students.
Leslie Lausten, Reading Specialist
Leslie will share how she connects Harvard's Project Zero Artful Thinking Strategies effortlessly into her daily reading and writing curriculum. This event will be hands-on and provide you with strategies and ideas you can implement the next day.
Marilyn Yung shares her experiences of, as Walt Whitman would say, "connecting the spheres" of art and poetry to enhance the teaching of English Language Arts. Learn how Poetry Out Loud, ekphrastic poetry, and poetry transcription can add student choice, voice, and creativity to your classroom this winter! With eleven years of middle and high school experience in rural Missouri public schools, Yung enjoys creating ways to incorporate the visual and performing arts into English instruction.
Also - Check out Springfield, MO educator - Marilyn Yung's Blog entry about Poetry Out Loud!
(48.22)
November 28, 2022
LESSONS LEARNED
with Andrea Branstetter and Cecile Galluzzo
Andrea Branstetter (music) Cecile Galluzzo (visual art) share their learning from the virtual Kennedy Center Arts Integration training in June, 2022. Listen in to hear about how they've applied what they've learned in the first semester of the 22-23 school year.
(42 min)
10/24/22 - Lauren Hanahan and Stronger Together!
In this Roundtable discussion participants were able to join in collaborative conversation and meet MAAE's new Arts Integration Specialist - Lauren Hanahan. See and hear Lauren walk participants through an arts rich learning experience involving black-out poetry.
(42 min)
8/29/22 - Olivia Mendlson shared an close look at the collaboration between museum educatos and classroom teachers to integrate the arts in a 4th grade math curriculum during her presentation - MUSEUM to CLASSROOM at the Kemper. We'll explore how the Arts of Math program has taken different forms for remonte and in person learning to increase buseum access for schools and students. wE'll learn about ways to incorporate a museum visit into your own curriculum, no matter teh grade level or content area. Session links included: Symbols in Art & Math and Art & Scientific Method from the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum’s STE(A)M learning collection! as well as a PDF file assisting K-12 educators prepare for collaboration with the Kemper.
5/24 and 8/29/22 - Rachel LaMear shares an in-depth look at integrating the arts in a K-5 mutiage classroom in the Lab School at Stephens College. Projects engage in a variety of ages and abilities, including preservice teachers.
3/28 and 4/25/22 In this two-part series - MAAE's MAIN event welcomes one of COCA's All-Star Teaching Artists - Susan Kopp as our featured presenter - alongside her classroom teacher partners to share more information about using the arts to build a classroom climate of self-confidence, creativity and collaborative spirit. Clint Christensen (5th grade teacher from Flynn Park Elementary) joined the conversation on 3/28 and Latasha Gaston, (5th grade teacher at Barbara C. Jordan Elementary) lends her perspective on 4/25.
2/28/22 - Allison Fleetwood - Nixa School District
(Soon-to-be Dr.) Fleetwood will share the results of her doctoral dissertation on arts integration and the great work happening in Nixa to support this effective approach to teaching and learning.
https://nelson-atkins.org/school-educator-programs/resources/
1/24/22 - Amy Berridge Manager, Studio Experiences, and Bonnie Thomas, Manager, Educator Programs and Resources in the School Programs and Partnerships Department at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art share an arts-integrated lesson involving natural materials and stop-motion animation inspired by Andy Goldsworthy's Walking Wall - available for teachers to check out from the Educator Resource Center.
11/29/21 Meghann Henry Executive Artistic Director from Mesner Puppet Theatre and Aaron Money - Liberty Public Schools
The partnership between these two entities was outlined and success stories were shared.
10/25/21 Garrett Brown and Dana Ross (with Aaron Money)
Liberty Schools and EPIC Elementary
The KS/MO Partnership in Education group affiliated with the Kennedy Center has become a hub for Arts Integration in the KC region.
June-September 2021 Sessions were informal roundtable discussions.
June 28, 2021
3/22 and 5/24/21 Arts Integration Collaborative - Columbia Civic Orchestra
Dr. Gennie Pfannenstiel is an educator and arts integration specialist. For many years she has worked at Locust Street Elementary (formerly Lee Elementary) in the Columbia Public School system in central Missouri. Learn more about Locust Street students in collaboration with Columbia Civic Orchestra..
2/22 and 4/26/21 - Globally Strong Cultural Fair
Stephanie Hasty grew up in Mansfield where the Little House books were written and now teaches high school English in Lebanon. She and her 11 year old daughter, Lila Jane, spend their free time reading books and watching too much TV and they can't wait to travel again, as they miss exploring the world.
Elizabeth Barker has been throwing clay and teaching art at Lebanon High School for 25 years. Elizabeth hopes to someday return to slow running at marathon events with crowds of other crazy people. She lives near Bennett Springs with her husband Robert, and their children Abram (17), Alia (15) and Adlai (12).
1/25/21 @ 4pm - Carrie Pace - STEAM Academy Middle School - Ferguson Florissant School District - "Art with Heart" program involves students as entrepreneurs who design a replicable product for sale to benefit local non-profits. The project encompasses visual arts, ELA, mathematics and more as they research, apply for a $25 business loan for materials and supplies, market their products and sell them at a school fair, and then present the proceeds.
Amanda Martin Hamon
Molly Nevius
12/7/20 @ 4pm - Amanda Martin-Hamon, Associate Director of K-12 Education and Molly Nevius Learning Communities Coordinator-both at the Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas showcased their newest statewide arts integration outreach initiative PEAK (Partners Engaging Arts across Kansas). This exciting initiative is focusing on SEL and character development (SECD). They also plan to display some of the educational resources available at the Spencer tied with their upcoming exhibition Healing, Knowing, Seeing the Body including their lesson plan bank and collection cards.
11/2/20 @ 4pm - Dr. Elizabeth Hogan McFarland
Fine Arts Educators who work with pre-service educators help their students understand the benefits of arts integration. Dr. McFarland works with teachers in the area of music education.
About the STEAM Experience at
A.D. Stowell School - Hannibal, MO
10/5/20 @ 4pm - Katie (music) and Steven (visual art) Schisler are a dynamic duo who in 2018 they had the opportunity to help in the creation of a STEAM Integration program at Stowell. This would pair grade level teachers with specialist (art, music, PE, and STEM) to create project based learning lessons that integrate multiple subjects through co-teaching. In the third year of the program there is still a lot of learning to do, but it has become a source of enjoyment and identity throughout the school. They are excited to share the structure of the program as well as some successes and pitfalls they have encountered thus far. The link at left allows you to watch a video created in 2019 to promote the program.
Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning
8/31 - 4pm - Ed Reggi and Sherry Norfolk
Learn more about the work of Springboard to Learning teaching artists Ed Reggi and Sherry Norfolk who work in an onsite residency program with host teachers who receive arts integration coaching.
Lifelong storyteller and actor Ed Reggi is one of Springboard to Learning’s original Wolf Trap Literacy and STEM trained teaching artists. Ed obtained his BFA from Fontbonne University. He’s lived in NYC and Chicago and mentored by Second City founder Paul Sills. An improv teacher on Oprah’s nationally syndicated reality show WELCOME TO SWEETIE PIE’S, Ed also teaches Acting at Southern Illinois University, Washington University, and COCA in University City.
Kennedy Center Teaching Artist and Adjunct Professor at Lesley University, Sherry Norfolk is a performing artist, a dynamic storyteller, and teaching artist, who uses storytelling as a strategy for teaching preK-12th grade curriculum. She is co-editor with Lyn Ford of “Storytelling Strategies for Reaching and Teaching Children with Special Needs,” and with Jane Stenson of “The Storytelling Classroom series” (four books that explore rigorous, standards- based storytelling strategies for learning across the curriculum). Sherry is another of Springboard to Learning’s original Wolf Trap Literacy and STEM trained teaching artists.
OTHER RESOURCES: •WT Programming- General Description https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68kHIOu5Bv0&t=93s•WT Specific Teacher testimonial with description - https://youtu.be/RY5aq1GV7-A
7/27/20 - So Choi and Lee Newell
Our neighbors to the West in the great state of Kansas, So Choi (visual arts) and Lee Newell (mathematics) shared their collaboration in creating stunning works of art while learning more about quadratic equations.
6/29/20 - Phyllis Pasley - Introduction to M.A.I.N.
Would you like to share a presentation or facilitate a discussion panel at one of our future MAIN meetings? We are always looking for new ideas and perspectives which might inspire others! Email director@moaae.org or lauren.hanahan@moaae.org with your ideas.