Cincinnati Arts Association and Kenton County School District Chosen for Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education Program

In April 2012, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will host the 13^th Partners in Education Institute. The four-day intensive is designed for arts organizations and school districts interested in partnering together to initiate or expand professional development programs for teachers. The Kennedy Center selected 12 teams of arts organizations and school systems from across the nation – including the Cincinnati Arts Association and Kenton County School District – to participate in the Partners in Education Institute, April 25-28, 2012.

The Institute promotes partnerships in communities across the nation between arts organizations and local schools, focusing on the development of education programs for teachers. The information learned at the Institute has proven invaluable to past participants who leave the Kennedy Center with more confidence in their ability to develop their own professional development programs for teachers.

While at the Kennedy Center, each team develops a plan specific to their community for the partners to establish or expand arts-based professional development programs for teachers. Teams receive a detailed planning guide, attend performances, and meet with national education leaders and guest artists while at the Kennedy Center. The new teams will join the 100 teams from 45 states and the District of Columbia already participating in the Partners in Education program, now in its 22^nd year. At the Institute, participants will examine the variety of educational offerings for teachers developed and refined at the Kennedy Center since 1976. The newly-selected teams met the criteria for selection by effectively demonstrating the potential for the arts organization and school system to initiate or expand programs for teachers and the stated commitment by both partners to collaborate on developing programs.

"CAA is delighted to broaden and expand what is already a strong relationship with Kenton County Schools," said Steve Finn, Director of Education and Community Relations, Cincinnati Arts Association. "We are truly excited to attend the Partners in Education institute where both organizations will acquire additional training and skills in support of not only our collaborative relationship, but also the children of the Tri-state.  We look forward to working with Kenton County Schools over the next few years to develop exciting new professional development programs for their teachers. We are also thrilled that CAA will have access to a variety of Kennedy Center programming as part of the Partners in Education program."

"We are beyond thrilled and honored to be collaborating with CAA in the Partners in Education Institute at the Kennedy Center!" said Debbie Brown, Gifted & Talented Coordinator, Kenton County Schools. "For many years, we have experienced countless CAA programs, and have appreciated the quality of not only the performances, but also the exceptional details in the study guides/teacher resources. This new commitment in partnership is a clear investment in the support of our teachers to provide professional development that will in turn foster quality resources and programs for our students. We are so grateful that CAA recognizes the value in supporting our teachers and students through the arts. We look forward to the endless possibilities that may arise from this new connection with the Kennedy Center!"

The Kennedy Center's workshops for Washington, D.C.-area teachers serve as a focus for the Partners in Education Institute. Since its establishment in 1972, the Kennedy Center's Education Department believes the inclusion of the performing arts in a broad-based curriculum improves the quality of a child's educational experience. The Kennedy Center's Education Department is committed to its leadership role in promoting higher standards of national performing arts education programs and policy. For more information about the participating teams and the Partners in Education program, visit www.kennedy-center.org/education/partners.

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