Nicole Smith Selected for National Project to Change Arts Education Practice in Boston

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nicole Smith Selected for National Project to Change Arts Education Practice in Boston, MA. Smith among only 484 participants in Connected Arts Networks (CAN)
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Boston, MA (April 27, 2024) — Nicole Smith, Theatre Arts Specialist at the Charles Sumner Elementary School in Boston, MA, has been chosen to participate in a national project designed to advance arts education practice in schools across the country. Funded by a five-year, $8.5 million U.S. Department of Education grant, Connected Arts Networks is a joint endeavor of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), and the National Art Education Association (NAEA). Smith is one of 105 theatre educators and 484 total educators across the arts disciplines to join the project, which involves a three-year commitment to participating in CAN’s professional learning communities (PLCs).

These groups engage in peer-to-peer learning, access to top arts education experts, share insights, and explore innovative approaches to reaching all students in their classrooms. Smith will be part of CAN’s ultimate goal of creating a model for sustainable arts-based teacher learning communities across the nation.

“Nicole was selected because of her dedication to theatre education and commitment to advancing equitable and inclusive practices within arts instruction,” said EdTA Chief Learning Officer Cory Wilkerson, who leads the theatre portion of the project. “Having opportunities to learn from their peers is beneficial for all educators, but especially for theatre educators, who are often the only educator trained in their discipline within a school or even a district. We are thrilled to be a part of a project that aims to make that a reality for all theatre teachers and to elevate the field.”

Find more information about CAN on NAEA’s website.


About the Educational Theatre Association
The Educational Theatre Association, home to the Educational Theatre Foundation and International Thespian Society, is an international nonprofit whose mission is shaping lives through theatre education. The foundation provides essential financial support to enhance theatre education, expand access, and foster racial equity. The International Thespian Society, an honor society active in nearly 5,000 schools, has inducted 2.5 million students since 1929. Visit schooltheatre.org to learn how EdTA honors students, supports teachers, and influences public opinion that theatre education is essential for building life skills.