West Virginia
Arts Teams Project:Phase 2
June 19-21, 2007
Charleston Marriott Town Center
Charleston, West Virginia
Sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Education
with additional funding from the Benedum Foundation
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
2006-2007
Lowell E. Johnson, President
Delores W. Cook, Vice President
Priscilla M. Haden, Secretary
Robert W. Dunlevy, Member
Barbara N. Fish, Member
Burma Hatfield, Member
Gayle C. Manchin, Member
Jenny N. Phillips, Member
Ronald B. Spencer, Member
Brian E. Noland, Ex Officio
Chancellor
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
James L. Skidmore, Ex Officio
Chancellor
West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education
Steven L. Paine, Ex Officio
State Superintendent of Schools
West Virginia Department of Education
A Message from
Julia Murin Lee, Arts Coordinator
Dear arts teams participants and guests:
West Virginia Arts
Teams Project:
Phase 2
Welcome to Phase 2 of the West Virginia Arts Teams Project!
If you grew up having the experience of sitting on a front porch
and listening to stories, playing an instrument or singing songs
…
If you grew up in a neighborhood where your friends’ parents
had a hand in keeping you in line when you were out and about
tearing around as a kid …
If you grew up respecting senior citizens and listening to them
…
If you grew up excitedly watching or proudly taking part in local
parades …
If you grew up in a community where people were active in local
organizations …
If you grew up yearning to share with others your love of one or
more of the arts – dance, music, theatre and visual art …
… you’re in the right place! And we need you here! Our
state’s arts teachers need you here! And through helping
them, you are ultimately impacting the students of West
Virginia!
Some people would call you supporters of the “fourth pillar.”
Patrick Overton calls you the “front line.”
I call you our “last best hope” for strengthening connections
between the schools and the community.
Thank you for agreeing to be a part of this unique, exciting project.
(And it is unique in its design.)
I hope you will be inspired by the discussions you hear “on the
front porch” when you sit down with your team. And I hope
your experience of collaborating with others is rewarding, fruitful
and outstanding!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
7:30 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Full breakfast served – Country Buffet – Pavilion
West Virginia Arts
Teams Project:
Phase 2
8 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
General Meeting with Introductions and Overview – Salon D
Julia Lee, Arts Coordinator
West Virginia Department of Education
Welcome
Carla Williamson, Executive Director
Office of Instruction
West Virginia Department of Education
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Round 1: Trainers present 21st century skills as they pertain to their
content areas
Dance – Eight teachers and eight other team members
Salons E and F
Music – Eight teachers and eight other team members
Cumberland & Appalachian
Theatre – Eight teachers and eight other team members
Allegheny
Visual Art – Eight teachers and eight other team members
Kanawha & Blue Ridge
10:15 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Break
10:25 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Round 2: Improving Instructional Management and Improving
Connections – Salon D
Julia Lee, Arts Coordinator
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Lunch – Pavilion
Group travels to Civic Center
1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Arts teachers join the 2007 Social Studies Summer Institute at the Civic
Center to hear Patrick Overton address both groups on civic literacy.
Dr. Steven L. Paine to welcome both groups.
2 p.m.. – 2:15 p.m.
Travel back to Marriott from Civic Center
2:20 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
RESA Teams meet and begin planning based on content heard in
Rounds 1 and 2 and Civic Literacy. An afternoon break is built in.
RESA teams of eight meet in eight separate breakout rooms.
4 p.m.
Staff meeting with Julia Lee for master trainers and RESA team leaders
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
7:30 a.m.– 8:30 a.m.
Full breakfast served – Country Buffet – Pavilion
West Virginia Arts
Teams Project:
Phase 2
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Keynote speaker: Patrick Overton, author of Rebuilding the Front Porch
of America – A session about the “The Fifth Wall” – specifically
addressing school arts programs in West Virginia communities
Salon D
10:10 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15 a.m. –11:30 a.m.
General meeting – Salon D
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Lunch – Pavilion
12:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
RESA teams meet – Afternoon break
2 p.m.– 4 p.m.
General meeting and exchange of how professional development sessions
are being designed by the different arts teams from each RESA - Salon D
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
16-member staff meeting with Julia Lee – Salon D
5 p.m.
Dinner – Pavilion
6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Evening planning meetings
Thursday, June 21, 2007
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Full breakfast served – Country Buffet – Salon D
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
RESA team planning – Salon D
West Virginia Arts
Teams Project:
Phase 2
10 a.m.– Noon
General session and wrap up on plans and paperwork – Large meeting
room
Noon
Box Lunch
Keynote Presenter:
Patrick Overton:
West Virginia Arts
Teams Project:
Phase 2
Patrick Overton serves as director of the
Front Porch Institute in Astoria, Ore. The
Institute, created in 1996 while he was a
tenured faculty member at Columbia
College in Columbia, Mo., is dedicated to
creating resources for community arts and
community cultural development. In
addition to his teaching responsibilities at
Columbia College as associate professor of
communication and cultural studies (19851999), he served as the founding director
of the Columbia College Center for Community & Cultural Studies which
focused on developing resources, curricula and training experiences to
enhance rural and small community cultural development. His work in this
area is now incorporated in his role as director of the Front Porch Institute.
He is the recipient of the 1997 Missouri Arts Award, recognizing his “creative
and outstanding service that has made an important and lasting contribution
to the arts in Missouri.” In addition, in 1997, the Missouri House of
Representatives passed a special resolution honoring his work in Missouri.
Obtaining a Ph.D. in communication in 1987, Overton studied as a Gregory
Fellow and a College of Arts and Science Graduate Fellow at the University
of Missouri. His area of concentration was organizational communications
with collateral work in community development. His ongoing research in
organizational communication focuses on 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit,
community-based organizations, exploring ways to develop and strengthen
the vital contribution they make to the community-making process.
Patrick Overton is a frequent keynote speaker, workshop leader and
nationally respected community arts and community cultural developer. His
work through the Front Porch Institute focuses on non-profit, communitybased organizational development, facility assessment, strategic planning,
cultural assessment and cultural planning. While he works with organizations
of all types and sizes, he continues to address the special needs of smaller
organizations in rural and small communities.
A teacher, scholar, poet, playwright, author, lyricist, speaker and visual artist,
Overton has devoted his entire adult life to exploring human communication,
designing and building organizational systems that enhance the development
of the human community, and creating innovative resource networks to help
people in rural and small communities nurture the invisible culture of Rural
Genius.
Overton is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ),
having served as a bi-vocational parish minister to rural and small community
churches for 18 years. A native Californian raised in the San Francisco Bay
Area, he lived 31 years in the Midwest. Overton currently lives in Astoria,
Ore., where he resides with his wife, Lindi.
Faculty of Trainers
Brandy Butcher, Dance:
West Virginia Arts
Teams Project:
Phase 2
Brandy has an M.S. (+45) in physical education and a B.S. in exercise
physiology from West Virginia University. She has been teaching dance
and health at Hedgesville High School, Berkeley County for three years.
She is a founding member of the West Virginia Secondary Dance Alliance
(WVSDA). As their communications liaison in 2005-07, she was an
integral part in the planning and implementation of the “Celebration of
Dance” events. These successful conferences united high school dance
teachers and students to promote dance education programs in the state.
She is also a member of The National Dance Association (NDA), The
American Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
(AAHPERD) and The West Virginia Alliance for Health, Physical
Education and Dance (WVAHPERD). Brandy has served on committees
for the Berkeley County. Board of Education. She helped create staff
development in 2005 and 2006 for the Fitnessgram, which assesses fitness
components . Recently, she was chosen to help create a pilot wellness
course to complement the expanded physical education programs at
Hedgesville High then eventually county-wide. Brandy, assisted in revising
the West Virginia Dance Content Standard Objectives last summer.
Marcia Catron, Visual Art:
Marcia graduated summa cum laude from Concord College in 1990 with
a B.S. in Education, art K-12 and a B.A. in studio art with concentrations
in painting and ceramics. Having taught in Raleigh County at both junior
and senior high levels, she is currently teaching studio art at Shady Spring
High School. Marcia has been a member of the West Virginia Art Education
Association (WVAEA) since 1988 and is currently a member-at-large on
the Board of Directors. A previous WVAEA workshop presenter, Marcia
also has served on the planning committee for the “Day in the Studios at
Tamarack,” a statewide WVAEA mini conference, and the West Virginia
Youth Art Month Three-Dimensional Art Exhibit at Tamarack for the past
10 years.
John Deskins, Music:
John received his B.M. and M.M. from WVU, majoring in applied
saxophone and music education. He is band and choral director at Shady
Spring High School, where he also teaches music theory and history. He
has taught instrumental and general music at Beckley-Stratton Middle
School and was an adjunct professor at Concord College. His ensembles
have received consistently high ratings and numerous awards on the concert
stage and marching band field. In 2006-07, his student ensembles at Shady
Spring H.S. presented over 40 public performances in venues ranging
from Southern West Virginia retirement homes to jazz clubs in New York
City. John’s special fields of interest include jazz, African music and the
traditional music of Appalachia. He is a member of the West Virginia
Music Educators’ Association, Vice President of the Raleigh Co.
Bandmasters Assoc., and Vice-President Elect of the West Virginia
Association of Jazz Educators. He was a 2006 finalist for Raleigh County
Teacher of the Year and the 2007 Raleigh County Creative Arts Teacher
of the Year.
Linda Elmer, Visual Art:
West Virginia Arts
Teams Project:
Phase 2
Linda received her B.A. in art education from Fairmont State University in
1981 and an M.A. in visual art in 1991 from West Virginia University. She
has been teaching art in Marion County for 25 years and has taught first
grade through college level courses. She has been currently teaching at
North Marion High School since 1986 where she has taught a variety of
courses including photography, graphics, art history and AP Portfolio. Her
students have received recognition in state Youth Art Month and regional
and national exhibits. She is a past president of the West Virginia Art
Education Association and was on the refinement committee of the Visual
Art Content Standards and Objectives. She has served as a master trainer
for the West Virginia Department of Education and also is a working artist,
exhibiting her paintings in West Virginia, California and Pennsylvania. Linda
also is a member of the National Education Association and the West Virginia
Watercolor Society.
Helen Freeman, Theatre:
Helen Hage Freeman has directed, produced and acted in more than 150
community, professional and educational productions. Presently, she is the
theatre teacher at Capital High School in Charleston where she has an awardwinning program. In addition to producing, directing and teaching, Helen
serves as President and Artistic Director of Huntington Outdoor Theatre, a
Huntington-based regional theater organization which Helen co-founded 12
years ago. She holds a master’s degree in communications and a teaching
certificate in speech and theatre from Marshall University. Helen has been
active in the West Virginia Thespians, an honorary high school theatre
organization. She is a member of the state Thespian Executive Board and is
Region 6 Thespian Director, hosting that region’s annual festival at Capital
High School each spring. Three years ago, Helen was honored as West
Virginia’s Outstanding Theatre Director of the Year.
Steve Glendenning, Theatre:
Steve received a A.B. in education from Fairmont State (Pre-University)
with specializations in general science and oral communications and has
been teaching at Jefferson High School for 11 years where he has built an
award winning theatre program. During his tenure at Jefferson, Steve’s theatre
student organization, Thespian Troupe 2774, has performed over 60 plays,
attended and competed at the West Virginia Thespian Festival for the past
nine years, and represented the state at the International Thespian Festival.
This upcoming school year, the Jefferson High School Theatre Department.
will continue to bring social awareness to the community by partnering with
Amnesty International and performing Speak Truth to Power, which deals
with global human rights violations. Steve is a member of West Virginia
Thespians Executive Board; and has served as Region IV Treasurer for the
past four years. Last year Steve served on the West Virginia Content Standard
Objectives (CSOs) revision committee and is proud to a member of the
West Virginia Arts Team. He has developed a philosophy of “Arts for All”
and is a firm believer that theatre should be more than mere entertainment,
but needs to open minds and cause a discussion.
Michelle Legg, Dance:
West Virginia Arts
Teams Project:
Phase 2
Michelle holds a B.S. in Education with a specialization in English and is
currently pursuing her M.F.A. at Hollins University. She studied at the
American Academy of Ballet and studied classical ballet and modern dance
at West Virginia University before opening Appalachian Academy of
Performing Arts — developed with her brother David to educate youth in
all aspects of the performing arts. She is certified through Dance Educators
of America – an affiliation which requires testing for certification. She is a
member of the National Dance Association, National Dance Educators
Organization, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance, and is a charter member and Capital High School
Chapter Sponsor of Nu Delta Alpha, dance honorary.&n bsp; She was
Chairperson for the 2005-2006 West Virginia Secondary Dance Alliance
and will be back in that position this year. Michelle is also a freelance
artist for flag, dance, majorette, musical theater and show choirs across the
eastern U.S. She has served on West Virginia Conetent Standards and
Objectives (CSOs) revision, materials selection, Module III and other
committees for West Virginia Department of Education
Phil Wyatt, Music:
Phil received his undergraduate and his master’s degrees from West Virginia
University. He is presently employed as band director at Washington Irving
Middle School and is active as a saxophonist and vocalist. He is also active
as a clinician and guest conductor having directed the West Virginia
University Honors Band and several All-County Bands. He has served on
the Steering and Writing Committee for the West Virginia Content
Standards and Objectives (CSOs) in Music. He is an active member in the
National Association for Music Education (MENC), West Virginia Music
Educators Association (WVMEA), International Association of Jazz
Educators (IAJE), and American Federation of Musicians Local 580. Phil
has served as music faculty member for the West Virginia Arts Teachers’
Academy and in 2000 he was named Harrison County Teacher of the Year.
Phil has served as WVMEA president, and continues to serve that
organization. In 2002, he received the WVMEA “25 Years of Distinguished
Service Award” and in 2003 he was selected as one of the “50 Directors
That Make a Difference” by School Band and Orchestra Magazine.
Dr. Steven L. Paine
State Superintendent of Schools
West Virginia Department of Education