Participants

Below is a list of Leadership Academy Alumni from 2003 through the present class. Information provided for each participant includes name, district or organization, class year, arts discipline, and a brief description of the person's Action Plan.

For some participants' Action Plans, there is also a link to a Sustainability Map outlining the flow of learning and application of the Action Plan, including planned strategy, unexpected outcomes, and critical incidents.

AEC Leadership Academy Graduates

Arts and Culture Organization Graduates

Mary Brenholts, Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Focus on financial tracking and accounting of the residencies with the PCA finance dept.
Email: mbrenholts@pittsburgharts.org

Jordan Crosby, Education Policy and Leadership Center

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Produce an informative tool for Pennsylvania's education community that will reshape thinking around the role of visual art-centered, interdisciplinary learning programs for K-12 students in our region.
Email: jordancrosby@mac.com

Jara Dorsey, formerly of Carnegie Museum of Art

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Use the Teenie Harris Archive as a context to empower kids and communities to create civic change.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: dorseyj@carnegiemuseums.org

Kristin Gatch, Pittsburgh Opera

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Provide college-bound singers with an abbreviated, college-type audition process, complete with feedback, to help them assess their musical capabilities and prepare them for an actual college audition.
Email: kgatch@pittsburghsymphony.org

Lisa (Belczyk) Hoak, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Establish the PSO as a professional development resource for music educators.
Click here (PDF) to see associated Sustainability Map.
Email: lbelczyk@pittsburghsymphony.org

Nicole Longevin-Burroughs, formerly of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Create a residency program for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Musicians through Service Exchange, based on the existing ambassador program in order to serve as a resource for educators.
Email: nlburroughs@pittsburghsymphony.org

Laura McManus, Museum of Biblical Art

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create Middle School curriculum in order to legitimize middle school programming.
Email: mcmanus.laura@gmail.com

Becky Peifer, formerly of Manchester Craftsmen's Guild

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create middle school curriculum in order to legitimize middle school programming.
Email: rebeccajpeifer@gmail.com

Andrea Shockling, Carnegie Mellon University

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: 1) Establish a teacher residency at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh 2) Develop a venue for educators to discuss their tastes in visual art.
Email: shockling@gmail.com

Katie (Barnard) Switzer, formerly of Westmoreland Museum of American Art

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Use current technology to make meaningful connections to history, culture, art and social studies between students in Greensburg, PA and Oberhausen, Germany.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: kbarnard@mtlsd.net

Darnell Warren, formerly of Carnegie Museum of Art

Class of: 2005
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Connect Museum Arts programming to Pittsburgh Public Schools curriculum.
Email: crimefighter0036@yahoo.com

Sarah Williams Devereux, Carlow University

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Literary and Visual Arts
Action Plan: Determine how the August Wilson Center's education program can serve the needs of educational organizations in the Pittsburgh area, specifically K-12 schools and African American education groups.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: sejw@yahoo.com

Arts Educator Graduates

Janis Allen, Hampton School District, retired

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Raise awareness of standards and incorporate into student lessons through many venues including colleagues, students, parents, school board, and community.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: allenj@htsd.k12.pa.us

Mary Anne Andreassi, Pine Richland School District

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Make art more visually valuable by educating students, faculty, and community on why it's beneficial and academic and how it can enhance school and community.
Email: mandreassi@pinerichland.org

Judith Apple, Vincentian Academy

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Make art available to as many students as possible.
Email: realizelife@aol.com

Janice (Karenbauer) Barthen, Moon Area School District

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Create a department newsletter.
Email: jkarenbauer@masd.k12.pa.us

Amanda Bashioum, Charleroi School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Health/Physical Education/Dance
Action Plan: Create a dance unit for students in grades K-5.
Email: abashioum@charleroisd.org

Jess Beblo, Beaver Area School District

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Integrate arts instructional strategies and experiences into the kindergarten classroom, curriculum and activities to further develop and enhance literary skills and to provide teachers with additional strategies for differentiated instruction.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: bebloj@basd.k12.pa.us

Matthew Beresik, Highlands School District

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: To develop a plan to implement the recommendations of the AEC Self Assessment, enhancing arts education in Highlands School District.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: mberesik@goldenrams.com

Ashley Biega, Blackhawk School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create a web space for the arts in Blackhawk School District.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: biegaa@bsd.k12.pa.us

Michael Bockoven, North Allegheny School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Build upon recommendation for a high school level art history course through proposal, development and implementation of an advanced placement art history course.
Email: mbocke@kent.edu

Marcy Bogdanich, Hampton School District

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Strengthen the community of arts educators.
Email: bogdanich@htsd.k12.pa.us

Marylou Bushyager, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Broaden students' cultural knowledge by relating geographic regions, their musical genres, and art forms to beginning instrumental music through partnerships with community organizations.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: mbushyager 1@pghboe.net

Todd Bushyager, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Sponsor community performances designed to engage new audiences and recruit interested students.
Email: tbushyager@hotmail.com

Christy Culp, Deer Lakes School District

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Apply for the teacher in residence program at Deer Lakes Middle School to provide the Middle School students with an opportunity to learn about the ceramic art form.
Email: chedman@slsd.k12.pa.us

Adrienne Day, West Greene School District

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create a community friendly art classroom environment.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: adrienne.day21@gmail.com

Debbie Day, Moon Area School District, retired

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Organize a student art exhibit.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: dday@masd.k12.pa.us

Marian Day, formerly of Cornell School District

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Write a comprehensive K-12 curriculum.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: mday@cornell.k12.pa.us

Carol DeWitt, West Allegheny School District

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Integrate production aspects of the current art curriculum into various programs, across curriculum, within differentiated age groups along with special needs students.
Email: cdewitt@westallegheny.k12.pa.us

Amy Dresbold, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Start an after school musical theatre program.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: adresbold1@pghboe.net

Rebecca Effert, Blackhawk School District

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Promote the arts program through the development of a district wide newsletter.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: effertb@bsd.k12.pa.us

Stephen Ehrlich, East Allegheny School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Create/revise the music curriculum k-12.
Email: sehrlich@eawildcats.net

Teresa Emeloff, Highlands School District

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Align Highland's visual arts program to Pennsylvania's Standards in the Arts and Humanities and establish biannual arts festival district wide.
Email: temeloff@goldenrams.com

Laura Ferguson, Propel Schools

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Drama
Action Plan: Improve marketing, communication, and implementation of current enrichment program.
Email: lauramfergus@hotmail.com

Donna Fox, Peters Township School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Bring awareness and significance of the value of arts education for lifelong learning in the Peters Township school and community.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: foxd@pt-sd.org

Mariann Fox, Mt. Lebanon School District

Class of: 2005
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Develop an arts assessment system.
Email: mfox@mtlsd.net

Mike Fratangelo, West Jefferson Hills School District

Class of: 2005
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Use the unique architecture of the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh as a metaphor for life in the post-modern 21st century and create lessons around the history and creative design of the three buildings that comprise the museum.
Email: mfratang@wjhsd.net

Carol Froehlich, Mt. Lebanon School District

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Track and assess student aesthetic response in music.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: cpriore@mtlsd.net

Jaime Frye, Moon Area School District

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Create a district-wide choir at the elementary level.
Email: jfrye@masd.k12.pa.us

Mary Beth Gray, Shady Side Academy, retired

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Performing Arts
Action Plan: Create combined Arts Department at Shady Side Academy in order to make arts stronger and more visible.
Email: mgray@shadysideacademy.org

Cindy Gregg, Washington School District

Class of: 2005
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Form an arts support group.
Email: cgregg@washington.k12.pa.us

Lisa Griffin, Moon Area School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Visual Arts Department Collaboration.
Email: lisahgriffin@yahoo.com

Cheri Hanczar, Winchester Thurston North

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Explore and establish a connection between the architecture of Falling Water and the Orff-Schulwerk method of music.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: hanczarc@winchesterthurston.org

Kristin Hartman, Moon Area School District

Class of: 2005
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: To strengthen the incorporation and use of Pennsylvania Arts and Humanities Standard 9.2 H by providing a website resource for arts educators to use in their lesson plans.
Email: kteeple@masd.k12.pa.us

Linda Hartman, Bethel Park School District

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Develop an interdisciplinary unit empowering students to relate art to their learning community.
Email: artlady10@comcast.net

Anna Marie Joyce, Propel East

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Create meaningful lessons in music instruction for middle school students.
Email: ajoyce@propelschools.org

Amy Keller, Quaker Valley School District

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create an art program that encourages and supports the emotional development of students.
Email: kellera@qvsd.org

Rachel Koch, formerly of Imani Christian Academy

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Revive the community through the arts.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: psa3rachel@aol.com

Daniel Kovacic, Brownsville Area School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Plan, organize, and execute a concert consisting of students in the Brownsville Area School District.
Email: dkovacic@basd.org

Leslie Kunkel, Blackhawk School District

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: 1) Host a Regional Arts and Technology Mini-conference; 2) Create a list of arts educators in Beaver County.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: kunkell@bsd.k12.pa.us

Diane Lally, South Fayette School District

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Unify arts in South Fayette by creating a combined arts department.
Email: lally@southfayette.org

Deni Laskey, Bentworth School District

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Plan an arts event in collaboration with the music department at Bentworth Middle School.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: dlaskey@bentworth.k12.pa.us

Robert Lee, New Castle School District

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Literary Arts, Title I Reading Specialist
Action Plan: Develop and implement a quality professional development course for educators to aid in the formation of lesson plans/teaching strategies integrating the arts.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: rlee@ncasd.com

Paul Lennartz, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Improve communication in K-12 instrumental, choral, and visual arts (up and down).
Email: plennartz@pghboe.net

Alice Lieb, Shaler Area School District, retired

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Increase public support for the arts in Shaler Area School District.
Email: lieba45@yahoo.com

Gordon Lowry, Trinity Area School District

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Fully integrate technology into the Trinity Middle School Music Curriculum.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: lowryg@trinitypride.org

Louis Lynn, Highlands School District

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Develop a plan to implement the recommendations of the AEC Self Assessment in art and music, enhancing arts education in Highlands School District.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: lllynn@goldenrams.com

Patrick McAndrew, South Fayette School District

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Unify arts in South Fayette by creating a combined arts department.
Email: mcandrew@southfayette.org

Monica Cervone McElwain, Shaler Area School District

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Increase public support for the arts in Shaler School District.
Email: mcelwainm@sasd.k12.pa.us

Jodi McKeever, Mt. Lebanon School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Open a new avenue of communication for middle-school art students to talk about their artwork; to further our art programs' integration with technology.
Email: jodimckeever@gmail.com

Lauren McKiernan, Northgate School District

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Encourage students to become leaders in their community.
Email: lmckiernan@northgate.k12.pa.us

Susan Metelsky, Beaver Area School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Reformat the middle school open house.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: metelskys@basd.k12.pa.us

Sally Meyers, Fox Chapel School District

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Theater Arts
Action Plan: Raise visibility of Theater Arts through networking and collaborating within Fox Chapel High School.
Email: sally_meyers@fcasd.edu

Lynne Nickolls, Belle Vernon Area School District

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Develop an afterschool tutoring program.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: lynne.nickolls@bellevernonarea.net

Diane Oberst, North Hills School District

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Design and implement a literacy-based fine arts kindergarten pilot.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: oberstd@nhsd.k12.pa.us

Marsha Owens, Trinity School District

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Make ARTSDAY a permanent and more useful experience for the Trinity students and faculty.
Email: owensm@trinitypride.org

Anthony Palmieri, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Class of: 2005
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Involve the community in the children's learning process through short concerts.
Email: amp870@verizon.net

Jennifer Pecora, formerly of Steel Valley School District

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create a visual arts website for Steel Valley Middle School
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: jpecora11@yahoo.com

Russ Pedersen, Carlynton School District

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Organize a Unified Arts Day – a combined exhibition of the visual and performing arts for the community stakeholders.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: russ.pedersen@carlynton.k12.pa.us

Kristine Purcell Sacco, ACLD Tillotson School

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Designing an art curriculum for special education students.
Email: kristinesacco@hotmail.com

Ramon Riley, Pine Richland School District

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Make art more visibly valuable by educating students, faculty, and community on why it is beneficial and academic and how it can enhance school and community.
Email: rriley@pinerichland.org

Tricia Rohlf, Brownsville Area School District

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Dance and Drama
Action Plan: Educate the community about the importance of the arts, what arts educators do, and provide arts opportunities.
Email: trohlf@basd.org

Michele L. Scureman, Upper St. Clair School District

Class of: 2005
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: To reintroduce SHASDA in the Arts (South Hills Area School Districts Association) in the South Hills.
Email: mscureman@uscsd.k12.pa.us

Sharon Sherley, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Increase the quality of lesson design in order to keep students engaged in music activities.
Email: ssherley@aol.com

Charles Shipman, formerly of Highlands School District

Renee Shreffler, Highlands School District

Loretta Smith, Moon Area School District, retired

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Raise awareness of arts and humanities standards and advocate for the arts within the greater school community.
Email: lsmith@masd.k12.pa.us

Kara Stauffer, Canon McMillan School District

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Advocate for the visual arts within the school and community.
Email: staufferk@cmsd.k12.pa.us

Sara Strzempek, North Hills School District

Roslyn Stulga, Steel Valley School District

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Rewrite current arts curriculum to align with Pennsylvania standards.
Email: rstulga@svsd.k12.pa.us

Dan Stys, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create an alternative outdoor space in which the faculty can enhance the overall learning experience.
Email: dstys@pghboe.net

Jayne Sweet, South Allegheny School District

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Re-establish a ceramics program at South Allegheny.
Email: jsweet@southallegheny.org

Karla Swoger-Gearhart, Riverview School District

Class of: 2005
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Transition program to ease students through school changes at all levels. Arts integration can be utilized as the catalyst for change and adaptation.
Email: kgearhart@rsd.k12.pa.us

Rich Taylor, Gateway School District

Class of: 2009
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Obtain training, skills, and methods to implement a quality arts education program for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
Email: richtaylor71@hotmail.com

Vince Thearle, Pine Richland School District

Linda Tonetti Dugan, Ellis School

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create cohesive scope/sequence K-12 for Ellis visual arts.
Email: tonettiduganl@theellisschool.org

Linda Turner, West Mifflin School District

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Physical Education/Dance
Action Plan: Involve high school students in a presentation of a dance/fitness interactive program to elementary classes.
Click here (PDF) to see associated Sustainability Map
Email: turnerl@wmasd.org

Gail Ungar, South Allegheny School District

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create an easy-to-navigate visual arts website where parents, students, and community members can get up-to-date information about what's been going on in visual arts in all our district buildings. Parents, students, and community members will be able to access slide shows of student artwork. The website could expand to incorporate all the arts departments.
Email: gungar@southallegheny.org

Nina Giordano Unitas, Canon McMillan School District

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Organize "Evening of Art" at Kindergarten level to begin educating Chartiers Valley parents about the importance of arts education.
Email: ninagiordano@hotmail.com

Michelle (Maroni) Urbanek, McGuffey School District

Class of: 2008
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Integrate art and grades 1-5 literacy.
Email: maronim@mcguffey.k12.pa.us

Karen Vachon-Thaner, Hampton Township School District

Class of: 2007
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Develop an advocacy tool kit.
Email: kvthaner@comcast.net

Amy Wachter, Moon Area School District

Class of: 2010
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Develop a resource document that incorporates 21st Century Skills into the Moon middle school art program.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: awachter@masd.k12.pa.us

Jane Wall, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Develop and present a workshop for music educators on "Teaching the At-Risk Child."
Email: jwall@pghboe.net

Mark Weleski, Deer Lakes School District, retired

Class of: 2003
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: 1) Arts advocacy: give staff and community a better opportunity to better understand and appreciate the arts; 2) Revise/rewrite the curriculum to better align with the standards.
Email: n/a

Cindy West, formerly of Vincentian Academy

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Theater
Action Plan: Create the Vincentian Heart, Mind, and Soul gARTen, an outdoor inspirational space.
Email: west203@comcast.net

Ella Wilder Slaughter, Pittsburgh Public Schools

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Music
Action Plan: Create parent focus group at Taylor Allderdice to support music education.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: eslaughter1@pghboe.net

Dalene Wilkins, Mt. Pleasant School District

Class of: 2004
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Professional staff development for arts educators.
Click here (PDF) to view associated Sustainability Map
Email: dritter@mpasd.net

Renae Knapek Yoder, Highlands School District

Class of: 2006
Discipline: Visual Arts
Action Plan: Create a resource to utilize the arts as a means for students to write across the curriculum.
Click here (PDF) to see associated Sustainability Map.
Email: ryoder@goldenrams.com