Blogs & Online Sources

Heather Vaughan-Southard Leave a Comment Back to School, Better Together in the Arts, MI-CSS. MAEIA Arts Lounge, Remote Learning

In preparation for Fall 2020, as MAEIA’s Professional Learning Director, I met with two arts educators who have spent the last six years teaching with the Michigan...

Heather Vaughan-Southard Leave a Comment COVID-19, dance, music, Online Learning, Resources, theatre, visual arts

In light of COVID-19 and our commitment to support arts educators and families, the MAEIA social media pages will be ramping up our posts sharing tools and resources to keep kids creating. Find us on

Heather Vaughan-Southard, Joni Starr, Amy Pobanz, Cathy DePentu Leave a Comment Adaptation, assessments, dance, MAEIA, music, Online Learning, theatre, visual arts

As we find ourselves in unprecedented times, with the possibility of adapting your teaching to online platforms, we at MAEIA are here for you. Though our assessment catalog is not a bank of lesson plans,...

Joni Starr Leave a Comment Courageous Creativity, creativity, dance, Joni Starr, MAEIA, music, theatre, visual arts

This is an unprecedented time. Our regular routine has been disrupted, human interactions are minimized and our relationship to the future has been compromised. The question is: Who do you choose to be in response?...

Zach Vandergraaff Leave a Comment arts assessment, arts education, dance, Elementary Education, MAEIA, music, Performance Assessment, Secondary Education, theatre, visual arts

“Assessment.”  It doesn’t have to be such a dirty word. As ARTs teachers, we’re often scared off by the idea of assessments. We think they’re just...

Heather Vaughan-Southard Leave a Comment administrators, arts assessments, arts education, arts educators, blueprint, community, educator effectiveness, professional learning, program review tool, SCHECH, student growth, virtual learning, webinar

The Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment project offers the MAEIA Institute, a concise professional learning offering which trains administrators-arts educator pairs how to support and measure growth in the arts disciplines.

Amy Lynne Pobanz Leave a Comment agent for change, Amy Lynne Pobanz, Arts Advocacy, arts education, MAEIA, MAEIA Leadership Fellows, MAEIA resources, program review, school improvement

I dream about it. The perfect place to teach and learn. A district that celebrates the arts. I fantasize about amazing arts facilities and resources for my students. I long to feel valued and supported...

Heather Vaughan-Southard Leave a Comment artist in residence, arts education grant, MAEIA Assessment Items, MCACA, Michigan Youth Arts, project grants, project-based learning, teaching artists

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs offer arts education grants which support teaching artists creating innovative projects in K-12 schools. The last video on our Professional Learning...

Barb Whitney Leave a Comment Americans for the Arts, Arts Advocacy, Arts Education Field Guide, Arts Education for America's Students, Arts Education Partnership, ArtScan, Barb Whitney, Creative Many Michigan, Critical Links, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Doing Well and Doing Good by Doing Art, ESSA, Imagination Project, James Catterall, Lansing Arts Gallery and Education Center, MAEIA, UCLA

Access to the arts for students in schools offers an avenue for self-expression and a source of inspiration. Beyond that, the arts develop students’ critical thinking skills. Additionally, numerous studies prove the arts benefit academic...

Barb Whitney Leave a Comment Americans for the Arts, Arts Advocacy, arts education, Barb Whitney, Kalamazoo College, Lansing Art Gallery, portfolio career, The All-American Singers

I haven’t always thought of myself as an artist or an arts advocate. I currently serve as the executive director for Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center. I am proud to lead the work...