Unleash the Power of Art in Education: Join Us at the Virtual Arts in Ed Forum!

Hi, I’m John Spencer. I’m a former middle school teacher and current college professor on a quest to transform schools into bastions of creativity and wonder. I want to see teachers unleash the creative potential in all of their students so that kids can be makers, designers, artists, and engineers. I explore research, interview educators, deconstruct systems, and study real-world examples of design thinking in action. I share what I’m learning in books, blog posts, journal articles, free resources, animated videos, and podcasts.

Greenville Homeless Alliance

Susan is the first Director of the Greenville Homeless Alliance and began in May 2018. She leads the organization’s efforts to advocate for relationships, services, housing, and policies to help those experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, educate the public, identify innovative solutions, and convene collaborative partners. Susan served on the 2016 Affordable Housing Steering Committee for the City of Greenville, The Greenville Housing Authority Board, Well-Being Partnership Steering Committee, United Ministries Board, and the Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (GAIHN) Board. She is a Riley Fellow with The Riley Institute at Furman University and an Ordained Elder with Presbyterian Church (USA). Susan served on the Greenville County Schools Diversity Equity and Inclusion Stakeholder team. She has been active in Wade Hampton High School, Stone Academy, and Blythe Academy School Improvement Councils. Susan is married to George McLarty, and they have a daughter. A graduate of North Carolina State University, she has worked for Milliken & Co. and Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Fine Arts Center

Dr. Catherine Smith-Gates is passionate about teaching design’s positive impacts to Fine Arts Center (FAC) Architecture students through community-focused projects. For twenty-five years, Catherine practiced architecture traditionally working with Waggonner & Ball Architects in New Orleans and in her own Greenville, SC residential firm. In 2013, she began the architecture program at the FAC which has grown from ten to over forty students and two full-time faculty. Catherine holds a Doctorate of Education in Professional Leadership from Converse University, a Master of Architecture and BS in Design from Clemson University. Her work has been recognized with national, regional, and local awards, she serves on several non-profit boards, and she was selected as a Top Ten Teacher of the Year in 2023 from Greenville County Schools. Catherine cooks burgers with her family on the weekends in their food truck and never passes up an opportunity to pet a puppy.

South Carolina Arts Commission

Maria uses her experience as a STEAM and arts integration teacher to deepen student learning experiences in high-needs content areas. Her work at the agency focuses on using the arts to support student learning in math and reading. Maria has over 15 years of experience teaching at the early childhood and elementary levels. She holds a bachelor’s in early childhood education and a master’s in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University. Maria is certified in early childhood education, elementary education, and STEAM and arts integration and is a certified South Carolina Teacher Evaluator. She is a two-time school-level teacher of the year (College Park Elementary School, 2018; Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School, 2023) and Palmetto State Arts Education awarded her the Ray Doughty Arts Integration Award in 2023.

Education Oversight Committee

Sparking Up Leadership

Alicia is the Founder of Sparking up Leadership, designed to help organizations thrive in the virtual realm. She has over 20 years of experience in the world of education including Middle & High School teaching experience, Assistant Principal & Principal roles, & time spent as the School Leader at the largest school in the state of SC. Alicia brings her enthusiasm for creating strong cultures to her work. At Sparking Up Leadership, her mission revolves around revolutionizing the way organizations engage in virtual spaces. With a focus on leadership excellence and team dynamics, Alicia navigates the complexities of remote work efficiently and effectively. Her approach has turned virtual meetings from mundane to vibrant, fostering productivity and genuine connection. Alicia is also a published author on leadership best practices, having just released the book Sparking up Leadership ~ Igniting your Influence with Sparkle & Shine–a book that puts emphasis on relationships, positivity, joy, and FUN at the core of leadership. Through anecdotes and insights, Alicia reveals the transformative power of treating others as you wish to be treated—a timeless truth at the heart of effective leadership. Alicia lives in Charleston, SC with her husband, Rusty, of 20 years, her three children Rentz (age 17), Haven (age 15), and Poppy (age 7) and her Silver Lab Blitzen (age 9). She loves all things sun, salt water, and sand, attending concerts, and traveling.

University of North Carolina Greensboro

Dr. Mila Parrish is a Professor of Dance at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, where she is the Director of Dance Education, teaching pedagogy courses and leading the MA and PBC teacher certification programs, and also the Director of the Centered in Dance Balanced Body Pilates professional certification program. An active writer and scholar, Dr. Parrish’s research has established new trends in movement technology, curricula design, and teacher training in the digital arena. Her publications appear in the Journal of Dance Education, Research in Dance Education, Arts Education Policy Review, Journal for Learning through the Arts, the book series Dance: Current Selected Research, and the International Handbook of Research in Arts Education. Her current book, Dance Education edTPA Online Preparation Guide, is a resource to help teacher candidates prepare and successfully navigate the edTPA submission process. She is the founding President of the North Carolina Dance Education Organization (NCDEO) and serves as Special Guest Faculty with the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) at the 92Y Harkness Dance Center in New York and the American Dance Festival (ADF). Mila is nationally and internationally recognized for her work in dance pedagogy, educational technology and interdisciplinary instruction. A leader in the dance education community, Parrish has offered over 100 professional development courses, seminars, and workshops throughout the US and in Canada, China, Finland, Brazil, Greece, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Parrish has established numerous service and community engagement initiatives, including; Dancers Connect a free community dance program, iDance AZ and iDance SC a standards-based curriculum delivery system of dance instruction using videoconferenced technologies, Embodied History reconstruction initiatives, Magellan undergraduate scholarship, as well as spearheading professional development programs: Hip Hop for Hope, Jazz it Up, Evolving Dance through Connectivity, Movement of Inspired Minds. Prior to her career in higher education, Parrish was a professional dancer and choreographer in NYC, performing with modern, ballet and theatre companies, most notably, The Jean Erdman Theater of Dance, with whom she toured nationally. Her company, Koshin Dance Theater has presented works at various NYC venues including DIA Center for the Arts, P.S. 122, the Morningside Dance Festival and St. Mark’s Church. Mila has been employed in public and private schools as a Program Director, Teaching-Artist and Teacher-Collaborator for BOCES Arts, Creative Arts Laboratory, ArtsBridge America, and the ABC Schools program. Dr. Parrish received a BFA in choreography and performance and K-12 Teachers Certification from the University of Michigan; an MA in Dance Education from Columbia University in New York and a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University. She is a Certified Movement Analyst (CMA) from the Laban Institute of Movement Studies in NYC and is a comprehensively certified pilates Master Teacher with Balanced Body. Mila began her studies in the Pilates method with first-generation master teacher and elder Romana Kryzanowska, and she has been practicing and teaching ever since. She has trained with master teachers Martha Eddy, Anne Green Gilbert, Ann Kipling Brown, Ann Hutchenson Guest, Nora St. John, Chantel Lopez, and Eric Franklin. Her publications on Labanotation, Motif Writing and enhanced movement cognition support her deep interest helping dancers develop body awareness and creative skills, strength, balance, and freedom. Dr. Parrish is the 2011 recipient of the Dance Advocacy Award from the South Carolina Dance Association, the 2012 Faculty Advisor Award from the University of South Carolina, the 2015 Leadership Award for her community initiatives and scholarly work from the National Dance Education Organization and the 2016 Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Activity Award for her research in service learning and community partnerships from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro and the 2019 Outstanding Dance Teacher in Higher Education Award from the National Dance Education Organization. The recipient has an extensive record of teaching dance as an artistic discipline and success developing, supporting, implementing, and/or promoting dance and dance education in their community.

SC Whitmore School

My name is Dr. Christine Cleary and I am a teacher and the Curriculum Designer at a virtual high school, SC Whitmore.  I have twenty years of experience in the world of education with time spent as a teacher, department chair, new teacher mentor, and teacher trainer for tech tools and other PD.  I also have an extensive background in the arts working as a theatre teacher, dance teacher, performing arts coordinator, district theatre specialist, musical theatre performer, and a director and choreographer of over sixty musicals.  I recently finished my Ed.D. in Learning, Design, and Technology.

Winthrop University

Dr. Jones received an undergraduate degree in English Literature from Furman University and his master’s, and doctoral degrees in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., USA. He spent five years on faculty at Northern Illinois University, and three years at the University of Memphis where he earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. In 2001 he returned home to South Carolina to develop a Master's program in Learning Design and Technology at Winthrop University. He was named the inaugural Bank of America Professor of Education at Winthrop University in 2006 and currently holds the Singleton Endowed Professorship in Education at Winthrop University. Dr. Jones has been an invited speaker at international meetings in places such as Bangladesh, Ireland, India, Nepal, The Philippines, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Dr. Jones has published more than sixty papers and book chapters in various professional journals and books and has made over one hundred presentations at national and international meetings. He has worked as an educational consultant and grant evaluator for school districts and universities in South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Illinois. He has designed and developed training for multinational companies such as Hewlett Packard, IBM, Apple Computer, Sears, and Motorola. Dr. Jones' research interests include the diffusion and adoption of innovations, emerging technologies and their impact on learning, internet-based learning, social networking, Artificial Intelligence, and instructional strategies for face-to-face and online classes. His most recent work has focused on Artificial Intelligence for teaching and learning. Dr. Jones serves on the board of two international nonprofits related to education and the use of online learning and digital technologies. 1. The GEIST International Foundation, headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (https://geistfoundation.org). GEIST is a collective of teachers from 17 countries working on issues related to education, gender equity, environmental issues, and economic development. 2. The International Institute of Innovations, headquartered in Kyiv, Ukraine. (https://www.intii.org). The International Institute of Innovations seeks to provide free access to cutting edge technology for education and scientific innovations. You can connect with Dr. Jones online: · jonesmg@winthrop.edu · marshallgjones.substack.com/ · youtube.com/@marshallgjones Dr. Jones is an exercise enthusiast who enjoys hiking and running. Other hobbies include reading, writing, photography, playing guitar and travel. Dr. Jones is married to Dr. Mary O'Grady-Jones, a STEAM teacher in Fort Mill, SC, USA.

Greenville County Schools K-12 Virtual Program

Jessica is in her 15th year as a teacher-artist with Greenville County Schools, and is in her third year with the GCS Virtual Program. She earned her Master of Arts in Teaching in Art Education through Converse University in 2010, after completing her BA in Art History at the University of South Carolina in 2008. As a former graphic designer, Jessica is able to bring her career expertise and perspective to the classroom when working with students in all levels of art, as well as graphic design, art appreciation, and AP Art History courses offered in the Virtual Program. She serves in multiple extracurricular roles at the school level, and was selected as the Virtual Program’s High School Teacher of the Year for 2024-25. She also is an active member of the South Carolina Art Education Association, serving on the Western Region and ED&I Committees. Outside of the classroom, Jessica enjoys creating her own artwork in colored pencil and graphite, and adventuring with her partner, Mike, and their two dogs.

Greenville County Schools Virtual Program

Dr. Jody Webb is a virtual music and chorus teacher for Greenville County Schools, specializing in musical growth and emotional connections for and among her students. She received her Ed.D. last May from Anderson University where she researched the effects of Social Music Improvisation (SMI) on middle school students' feelings of connectedness to others, highlighting her commitment to innovative artistic educational practices to benefit the whole learner. Dr. Webb enjoys family life with her husband, three children, and two dogs in Greenville, SC. 

ABC Institute

Jennifer has worked in education for 11 years, and joined the ABC Institute in 2021 as the Virtual Teaching and Learning Program Specialist. As a former K-12 public educator, Jennifer is passionate about connecting educators with opportunities, professional development, and essential resources. She specializes in developing and utilizing statewide virtual platforms in an effort to reach all educators across South Carolina. Jennifer graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Dance Education from the University of South Carolina in 2013, where she received a number of awards for her work and research in community dance education. She then began her career as a middle school dance educator in Lexington, SC, where she also discovered her love for coaching and mentoring. During her time in public education, Jennifer attended numerous summer arts institutes, presented at state arts education conferences, and also managed her school’s Distinguished Arts Program Grant. Jennifer resides in Irmo, SC with her husband Robert Arcovio and daughter Ellie. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and perpetually planning trips to the mountains.

South Carolina Department of Education

Roger Simpson serves over 780,000 students and nearly 3,500 arts educators as Education Associate for the Visual and Performing Arts with the South Carolina Department of Education where his primary responsibilities include overseeing the visual and performing arts proficiency standards, providing and organizing professional learning opportunities, and managing the Arts Curricular Innovation Grants Program and the Archibald Rutledge Scholarship Program. Some of Mr. Simpson’s past experiences include classroom teacher, teacher technology leader, district arts lead, artistic gifted and talented program director, arts clinician and consultant, arts organization board member, and professional development presenter and facilitator. He believes strongly in the importance of mentorship and enhancing mentor/mentee relationships. Mr. Simpson was recently awarded the Mac Goodwin Distinguished Art Advocate Award by the South Carolina Art Education Association. In his free time, Mr. Simpson can be found in the skies flying his Cessna 172.

SC Governor's School for the Arts & Humanities

<p><span style='color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' id="isPasted">Courtney Cunningham is an LA-based working actress who has appeared in such TV shows as:</span><span style='border: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-emoji: inherit; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>&nbsp;</span><b style='color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>NCIS: LA, Godless, Grey's Anatomy, Criminal Minds, The Really Loud House</b><span style='border: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-emoji: inherit; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>&nbsp;</span><span style='color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>and more. She has also worked in films such as the Coen Brothers' "</span><b style='color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>True Grit</b><span style='color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>" and Hulu's recently released "</span><b style='color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>Hold Your Breath</b><span style='color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>" opposite Sarah Paulson. When not focused on her own acting career, Courtney spends her time as a private audition coach to an exclusive list of talented actors around the globe. Her clients have booked work on:</span><span style='border: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-alternates: inherit; font-variant-position: inherit; font-variant-emoji: inherit; font-weight: 400; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: inherit; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>&nbsp;</span><b style='color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;'>Yellowstone, Magnum P.I., NCIS, Mayans M.C., Good Trouble, 9-1-1, The Rookie, SEAL Team, Selena, Grace and Frankie, Blackish</b><span style='color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", -apple-system, "system-ui", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>, and more. Courtney has also directed and produced multiple short films and web series.&nbsp;</span></p>

South Carolina Department of Education

South Carolina Department of Education

South Carolina Arts Commission

As arts learning director, Kimberly brings an artist’s eye and a teacher’s experience to her role. An artist herself, Kimberly is a former visual art teacher, having taught across the K-12 spectrum in Darlington County. She came to the SCAC from the Florence County Museum, where she has served as curator of education since 2012. She received her bachelor’s in art education from Francis Marion University. Kimberly’s work at the agency focuses on a continuum of learning in and through the arts— from enrichment with very young learners through creative aging experiences.

Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary School

Robert Neuner is the principal of Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary School in South Carolina’s Dorchester District Two. He is a firm believer that everyone can learn, and that learning should be a life-long endeavor. In 1992, Robert graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He earned a Master of Education degree focusing on Natural Science Education from Coastal Carolina University. While teaching science in Richmond, Virginia, he earned his second master’s degree in administration from the College of William and Mary. Robert was named Assistance Principal of Gregg Middle School in 2005, where he was instrumental in leading the school to a Palmetto’s Finest Award in 2015. In 2016 he was named Principal of Windsor Hill Arts Infused Elementary School. During his leadership there the school has had fantastic student growth, outpacing the state and district for a number of years. WHAIES is now an ABC Model School and has been a Capturing Kids Hearts Showcase School for the last three years. Robert lives in Summerville, South Carolina with his wife Stephanie, who is an art teacher at Summerville High School. He is proud to be the father of two sons, Freddie and Charlie.

H E Bonner Elementary

H.E. Bonner Elementary’s Partial-Magnet Program was established in 2018 to offer an innovative instructional program to Berkeley County families located in Moncks Corner in the northern area of our district. Our mission was, and continues to be, to include the arts as an essential component of the curriculum to optimize student achievement through a variety of learning experiences that facilitate the development of our students as lifelong learners and productive citizens. In addition to the core academic subjects, the HBE philosophy includes standards-based instruction in dance, theatre, music, visual art, and physical education. Students will have the opportunity to experience the arts through arts integration in their core subjects, exploratory classes, after school clubs, and other arts opportunities not typically found in a traditional elementary school. HBE is a considered a “partial-magnet” as we continue to have a traditional attendance zone like all other BCSD schools. Bonner Elementary is a Title 1 school with 74% pupils in poverty. Melissa has been principal at H E Bonner Elementary since 2018. H E Bonner Elementary was awarded SC SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE IN ARTS EDUCATION in 2020.

South Carolina Arts Commission

Putting her theatre background to good use, Ashley Brown serves a dual role at the agency. In addition to her leadership with Arts Grow SC, she serves as the SCAC deputy director over grants and arts learning. Ashley has worked throughout the Southeast as a nonprofit and higher education administrator, public school teacher, stage manager, and teaching artist. She received her Bachelor of Arts in theatre from Winthrop University and her Master of Fine Art in theatre management from Florida State University.