Kala Art Institute (Project Partner)
Since 1993 the Kala Artists-in-Schools Program has provided public school students the opportunity to work with professional artists on a variety of visual and performing arts projects. Instruction in animation, printmaking, book arts, digital media, ceramics and mural painting are among the techniques offered in the visual arts. Performing arts instruction includes drumming, dance, theatre and storytelling. Kala currently conducts Artists-in-Schools programs in Emeryville, Berkeley and Oakland public schools, in addition to summer camps. Each year more than 2,000 young people are served by the program.
The purpose of the Artists-in-Schools program is to stimulate creativity, to expand visual understanding and vocabulary, to cultivate spatial and narrative thinking and to provide experience with sensual manipulation of art materials. Our program also aims to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills and to prepare students to meet current California State Content Standards in the Visual and Performing Arts. Kala works with classroom teachers to develop and implement Integrated Curriculum programs with English Language Arts, History-Social Science and Mathematics. Additionally, the program provides an opportunity for students to meet the arts education requirement now necessary for admission into the University of California system.
Bay Area Mathematics Project –BAMP (Project Partner)
BAMP is one of 19 California Mathematics Project sites supported by the State of California and administered by the University of California Office of the President.
Established in 1983, BAMP continues to provide a forum for professional growth for mathematics teachers of students in grades kindergarten through middle school in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. BAMP is a part of the Center for Excellence and Equity in Mathematics (CeMEE) at the Lawrence Hall of Science on the UC Berkeley campus. BAMP endeavors to enhance the quality of mathematics education in the Bay Area by increasing teachers' mathematical content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge through summer institutes, workshops, seminars, and site-based and district-level work. BAMP programs include: 1) Intensive mathematics institutes for teachers and teacher leaders, 2) School based professional development, 3) Teacher coaching, and 4) A network for mathematics teachers from throughout the Bay Area.
Risa Wolfson (Teaching & Project Consultant)
Risa works for the Bay Area Mathematics Project (BAMP) coaching mathematics and providing professional development for Bay Area teachers.
Matthew Jervis (Teaching Artist & Project Consultant)
Matthew is an artist, designer and educator living and working in the San Francisco Bay Area. Matthew graduated with distinction from the California College of the Arts with a degree in graphic arts. In addition to his creative consultation, graphic design work and studio residencies, Matthew has developed an after school program, “McGyvverClass!” for students in Kindergarten-5th grade. Currently in his 4th year working with elementary schools in Berkeley, Ca., this creative problem solving program engages kids through creating solutions to random challenges and materials. Matthew continues to seek out opportunities to bring his experience in art, theory and design into the classroom.
Victoria Scott (Teaching Artist & Project Consultant)
Victoria is a visual artist who works with digital media and sculpture. For over a decade she has researched and created large-scale installations, objects and prints. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Scott graduated from the New Media/Photo Electric Arts Dept., at The Ontario College of Art & Design. She attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago within the Art and Technology Department where she completed her MFA. As a visiting artist and instructor, she has developed and taught several electronic media art and sculpture workshops and community projects for youth, street-identified women, and university level art students.
Jamila Dunn (Coordinator for Kala's Artists-in-Schools program & Project Consultant)
Jamila brings curriculum development and teaching experience from museum education programs at Seattle Art Museum, The Children‘s Museum (Seattle), Honolulu Academy of Arts. Ms. Dunn holds an MA in Art History (Curatorial Studies) and a BA in Art and French. She is also co-chair of the Berkeley Art Education Steering Committee (BAESC).
Harold Asturias (Project Consultant)
Harold is Director of the Center for Mathematics Excellence and Equity at the Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley. He has extensive experience providing professional development and teaching the standards and assessment in math for teachers. Recently he has focused on designing and implementing professional development for K-12 California math teachers who teach English Language Learners. (MD, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala; Elementary School Teaching credentials, UCLA)