A Partnership Conversation
with Marsha Dobrzynski, Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio
and Karen M. Clark-Keys, Ph.D., Cleveland Municipal School District
Partnership Basics
Why is the partnership of the Cleveland Schools and Young Audiences successful?
Time. Teams take time to talk and build relationships.
Focus. Teams target specific skills in the arts and other academic areas.
Structure. Teams articulate what they hope to achieve and develop timelines.
Commitment. Principals and district administration are invested and engaged.
Professional Development. Teams learn how to partner.
Community Support. Foundations and other community groups play an active role.
Reputation. The partners strive to do good work and document results.
Cleveland, Ohio's vibrant cultural institutions and diverse array of artists have been sharing their riches with students in the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) for decades. But for Karen M. Clark-Keys, Ph.D., who administers the district's Initiative for Cultural Arts in Education (ICARE), the important question is "How do we use those resources in meaningful, rigorous, wellplanned and sustained arts learning?"
That strong focus on student learning characterizes the district's relationships with a variety of arts and cultural partners, most notably Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio (YANEO). The nonprofit arts education organization is known for providing high-quality performances, workshops, artist residencies and professional development through its partnerships with an array of artists. But putting artists into classrooms is not the mission, says YANEO Executive Director Marsha Dobrzynski. "What we're looking for," she says, "is to make an impact on the kids."
ICARE is reaching that goal. With YANEO as manager and fiduciary agent, the CMSD program supports collaborative partnerships between schools and a variety of arts organizations. A 2005 evaluation by Rob Horowitz, Ed.D. of Teachers College at Columbia University found a strong correlation between rising achievement test scores and the length of groups' involvement in ICARE.
Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio offers its services to schools in 18 counties. For details go to www.yaneo.org.
This article was published in June 2007.
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