Nebraska: Mastering the Arts

Mastering the Arts (MTA) is a new four-year initiative to provide arts focused professional development to teachers from seven low-achieving rural elementary schools serving Native American and Latino students. Underwritten by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the program will help up to 30 K-12 classroom and specialist teachers work toward a master’s degree at Wayne State College focused on integrating technology and standards based arts instruction across curricula. In addition to completing the coursework—including Math, Music, and Movement; Science and Visual Images; History and Mixed Media; and Language and Performing Arts—participating teachers will learn from teaching artists and cultural organizations through weekend workshops, a five-day summer institute and field based travel experiences. The Nebraska Arts Council (NAC) is providing the interface between MTA teacher-students and the participating teaching artists and cultural groups, which it also is helping to recruit. By leveraging the skills and habits of creativity to improve the academic performance and critical thinking of students, MTA ultimately aims to prepare them to exceed the expectations of state education standards. To learn more, contact NAC Program Specialist Anne Alston.