Apply to become a Teacher-Leader in the Arts

Do you believe in the power of arts learning to make a difference in the lives of students? Do you want to take a leadership role in expanding arts education opportunities in your school and community?

The Montana Arts Council (MAC), in partnership with the OPI, is recruiting educators from across Montana for the second year of the Montana Teacher Leaders in the Arts (TLA). 

Through this innovative program, MAC and the OPI are developing teacher leaders who can support other teachers statewide in integrating the arts into their classrooms.  

Montana Teacher Leaders in the Arts will:

• Gather arts-based tools to spark creative, engaged, and joyful teaching and learning for all learners, in any classroom environment.
• Study the relationship between arts learning and brain theory.
• Understand how the arts build critical habits of mind that lead to future success in college, careers, and civic life.
• Work collaboratively with other educators to build a curriculum that supports both the arts and other content in an integrated model.
• Advocate for and champion arts learning back in their schools and communities by sharing their knowledge and skills with other educators through field projects.
• Become catalysts for change to create more equitable access to arts learning opportunities for K-12 students in Montana schools. 

The program includes an on-site summer institute on arts learning, June 20-29 at Salish Kootenai College (SKC), online professional learning throughout the school year, and support for a field project in the teacher leader's school or region. Watch this video to see highlights from last year's on-site summer institute at SKC. 

All K-12 teachers in Montana's public schools, arts specialists, classroom teachers, and qualified teaching artists are encouraged to apply for TLA.

That's right! The program is open to certified arts specialists in K-12 schools in any discipline but also to K-12 classroom teachers with demonstrated artistic background and/or high comfort level in arts learning. 

Click here for full program information and directions on how to apply.  

Deadline for application: Friday, March 18, 2016.

P.S. Looking for PD that's less intensive or closer to home? Check out these April workshops in Great Falls, Billings, Miles City, and Sidney.