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Home • Champions of Change Arts Education grid

Week 15: Arts in Education

President Obama believes that the arts and humanities should be part of the education of every child in America. The power of the arts and humanities to foster creativity in developing minds, to engage and motivate students in school and to prepare all children for productive futures is essential for the future of nation’s cultural and economic life. This is an extraordinary group of actors, teachers, principals, superintendents and organizations who are creating innovative programs across the country that are benefitting their local communities.

Giselle Gigi Antoni

Giselle 'Gigi' Antoni

Giselle “Gigi” Antoni is president and CEO of Big Thought, one of the nation’s leading nonprofits devoted to closing the opportunity gap in education through creative learning.

Patricia Arquette

Patricia Arquette

Patricia Arquette is an arts education advocate.

Rachael Leigh Cook

Rachael Leigh Cook

Rachael Leigh Cook is an arts education advocate.

Tim Daly

Tim Daly

Tim Daly is an arts education advocate.

Scott Dawson

Scott Dawson

Scott Dawson, the Community Outreach and Education Director for the Clark State Community College Performing Arts Center in Springfield, OH, manages five Arts Outreach and Education programs.

Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver is an arts education advocate.

Aaron P. Dworkin

Aaron P. Dworkin

Aaron P. Dworkin is the Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization, the leading national arts organization that focuses on youth development and diversity in classical music.

Omar Epps

Omar Epps

Omar Epps is an arts education advocate.

Ramon Gonzalez

Ramon Gonzalez

Ramon Gonzalez is the founding principal of MS 223-The Laboratory School of Finance and Technology, a middle school in the South Bronx.

Christine Harrison

Christine Harrison

Christine Harrison is the principal of Millwood Arts Academy and Freshman Academy in Oklahoma City, OK.

Kevin Maxwell

Kevin Maxwell

Dr. Kevin Maxwell has been Superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland since June 2006. He has worked with the Board of Education to create a rigorous and relevant arts-oriented curriculum.

Joan Katz Napoli

Joan Katz Napoli

Joan Katz Napoli has served for sixteen years as Director of Education and Community Engagement for The Cleveland Orchestra whose education and outreach programs serve more than 70,000 annually.

Robbie Owen

Robbie Owen

Robbie Owen has been an elementary school principal for the past twenty-two years and has been principal of Rockwell Elementary School in Spanish Fort, Alabama since 1997.

Amy Rasmussen

Amy Rasmussen

Amy Rasmussen serves as the Executive Director of Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education - whose mission is to increase students’ academic success, critical thinking and creativity through research-based, arts driven education.