Arts Academy in the Woods and Oakland
University
An Intellectual Partnership for the
Benefit of Student Learning
Purpose Of Luncheon and
Presentation
• Define and describe the AAW/OU
relationship
• Spread the word regarding AAW to
students and parents who may benefit
from our services
• Build a base of support among Detroit and
Macomb area art and education boosters
Defining the Oakland University, Arts
Academy in the Woods Relationship
As partners, AAW and OU believe that
through intellectual and professional
engagement, through shared development
of resources, and through unrelenting
pursuit of improvement in student learning,
we can not only benefit AAW and OU
students, but also build an exemplary
model of learning through the lens of the
arts.
Defining the Oakland University, Arts
Academy in the Woods Relationship
Opportunities for partnership
• Model integrated arts and
academic curriculum
• Teacher development
• Early college, dual enrollment,
Macomb to Oakland, AAW to
Oakland
• Performance and exhibition
opportunities for OU and AAW
students
• Resource sharing and
development
AAW Today
AAW Today
• 274 students
• 31% male, 69% female
• 57% white, 30% black, 10% multiracial
• 40% eligible for free or reduced lunch
• 13% IEP or 504,
• ~1 student per year exited from special education on
average during the past 3 years
• Substantial LGBTQ population
AAW Today
Art Programs
•
Guitar
•
Jazz band and combos
•
Chorus
•
Musical Theater (moving to
straight theater)
•
Multimedia Art and Digital Imaging
•
2D and 3D Art
•
Ballet
•
Modern Dance
•
Jazz and Hip Hop Dance
•
Senior Project in art major
AAW Today, Academic Programs
Michigan Merit Curriculum Base
Above and Beyond
•
4 Years ELA
•
•
Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II
and Senior Math
Trig, Pre-Calc and dual enrollment
Calc
•
3 Science Credits from Physical
Science, Biology, Chemistry or
Physics
Full year Creative Writing
experience
•
Model United Nations for Credit
•
Advanced Biology (Eligible for AP
Exam)
•
Unlimited academic catalog
through Macomb Dual Enrollment
•
•
World and American History, Econ
and Civics
AAW Today
Measurable objectives
• Michigan Merit Exam Proficiency Rates
Reading
Writing
Math
Science
Social Studies
2007
66%
30%
29%
41%
88%
2008
51%
28%
24%
38%
70%
2009
62%
42%
39%
57%
82%
2010
63%
37%
33%
54%
79%
AAW Today
AYP History
2007
AYP NO
2008
AYP NO
2009
AYP YES
2010
AYP YES
2011
AYP ?
AAW Today
Graduation and Dropout Rates
2008 (6 year cohort)
Grad
Dropout
84%
14%
2009 (5 year cohort)
Grad
Dropout
88%
10%
2010 (4 year cohort)
Grad
Dropout
79%
8.8%
AAW Today
The Best Atmosphere in Macomb County, perhaps in
Michigan
• New student orientation
• Peer mediation
• RTI
• Friday assemblies
• Caring staff
• Measurable: only 5 fights
in 2010-2011 school year
AAW and OU Tomorrow
AAW and OU Tomorrow: Leadership
Our Board believes in high expectations. They
have high expectations for our
administrators, our teachers, parents and out
students. They are not hypocrites and
therefore have high expectations for
themselves as a Board. Together we have
created a vision and commitment to what our
school will become.
--William Seikaly, Chair
AAW Board of Directors
AAW and OU Tomorrow: Lenses for
Learning
Renewed commitment to authentic,
personalized learning through arts and
academics
• All adult and student learners strive to
understand the world through the lens of an
artist (mathematician, scientist, author…)
• All learners are known well, are engaged where
they are, and bring their prior knowledge to their
learning
AAW and OU Tomorrow: Planning for
Excellence
Renewed commitment to professional excellence and
learning structures that serve students
• Organically integrated standards-referenced art and
academic curriculum (2012-2014)
• Commitment to instructional strategies to engage
students in active, reflective learning (2011-2014)
• Commitment to continuous professional growth
(immediate)
AAW and OU Tomorrow: Learning by
Doing
Renewed commitment to students learning
through the arts in authentic settings
• Each AAW student will exhibit or perform in an
authentic, external setting twice a year
• Create partnerships with 12 organizations in 12
months which stress the importance of arts
education as part of their mission (2011-2012)
• Provide recognition to student artists through
authentic press and public relations (2011-2012)
AAW and OU Tomorrow: Resource
Development
Renewed commitment to providing first class
resources for the benefit of student learning
• Hiring a development director (2011)
– $75,000 campaign in 2011-2012
– write 4 substantially approvable grant applications yearly
– coordinate twice yearly performance opportunities for each
student and 12 yearly partnerships with outside organizations
• Appropriate material resources (2011-2015)
• Appropriate facility (2016)
Why?
Why? Economic Development…
Nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture
industry generates $166.2 billion in
economic activity every year—$63.1 billion
in spending by organizations and an
additional $103.1 billion in event-related
spending by their audiences.
--Americans for the Arts,
Arts and Economic Prosperity III
Why? Economic Development…
(A)rtistic activity is a major and varied contributor to
economic vitality. We suggest that the productivity of and
earnings in a regional economy rise as the incidence of
artists within its boundaries increases, because artists’
creativity and specialized skills enhance the design,
production and marketing of products and services in
other sectors. They also help firms recruit top-rate
employees and generate income through direct exports
of artistic work out of the region.
--Ann Markusen and David King,
The Artistic Dividend:
The Arts’ Hidden Contributions to Regional Development
Why? A Larger Purpose
We will be part of the rebuilding of
Metropolitan Detroit by contributing
our talents to these efforts, and by
creating talented leadership
committed to the Arts.
Detroit Lives
Why? Our Mission
Arts Academy in the Woods graduates the
next generation of Artistic, Academic,
Creative and Civic leaders.
Questions?
Thank You
• Louis Gallien, Linda Tyson, OU Art Infused
Education Task Force
• Michael DeVault, Dr. Judith Pritchett,
MISD
• AAW Board of Directors
• Teachers, Staff, Parents and especially
STUDENTS of AAW
Follow Up
Max Spayde
spayde@artsacad.net
586-294-0391
www.artsacad.net