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2007 Arts Education Awards
MCAC Recognizes Outstanding and Creative Arts Education
The Monmouth County Arts Council (MCAC) congratulates the winners of the 2007 Arts Education Awards. The awards intend to bring recognition to creative arts programming, talented teachers and administrators, and arts infused schools in Monmouth County. A reception was hosted by the Middletown Arts Center, entertainment provided by teens from the Teen Arts Festival with videos from students from Eisenhower School, and included a monologue by Reid Henderson, Oak Hill Academy, entitled "To Be or Not to Be".
Three arts educators receiving awards were Kathy Kokoll, H.W. Mountz School of Spring Lake, Marianne Petty of CPC High Point Adolescent School, and Barbara Calvo of Ocean Township Elementary School. Each teacher was lauded for the unique ways of teaching, motivating and inspiring her students in a classroom atmosphere of creativity and acceptance. One student expressed it best, "she teaches us things we will remember for a lifetime."
Communications High School's James Gleason, principal since 2000, received an arts administrator award in recognition of his leadership and the "cultivation of an academic curriculum that is saturated with the arts". He has supported arts education, utilizing art in education, and extracurricular activities in the arts.
Red Bank Regional High School established the Visual and Performing Arts Academy in 1983, almost twenty-five years ago, was the recipient of the "arts infused school" citation. One-fourth of the student body belong to the Visual and Performing Arts Academy, the only state approved and certified VPA Instructional Program. The school's philosophy believes that the arts are critical and crucial to understanding diversity and cultures around the world.
Retiring MCAC Board member Lorraine R. Hilton was recognized for her decade long dedication to the MCAC. Her award was presented by Alice Berman, past President of the board of MCAC. Lastly, Tara Durkin Rochford was awarded a certificate of recognition for her service and energy as Coordinator of the Teen Arts Festival 2007. Both received "Champion of the Arts" awards.
A testament to the strength of arts education programming/curriculum, the Arts Education Committee and this year's juror, Luba Corichi, had many outstanding nominations to review and evaluate to select the winners. All of the recipients received framed "Your Bridge to the Arts" award certificates from the Monmouth County Arts Council.
The event was sponsored by Kultur International, www.kultur.com, an online DVD and video retailer specializing in performance art, art documentaries and cultural programs. Debbie Boenig of Kultur, presented each winner with gift certificates.
The Monmouth County Arts Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the county by providing resources to support, inspire and foster the growth and development of the arts. For more information, visit www.monmouthartscouncil.org or call 732-212-1890.
The Arts Education Awards is made possible through funding from the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, through the County Historical Commission, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment of the Arts.
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