Tickets are now on sale for the Asbury Park Dance Festival, a benefit evening featuring the Martha Graham Dance Company in its centennial year, choreographer Kyle Abraham, Dance Theater of Harlem alum Ingrid Silva, tap sensations Demi Remick, Dario Natarelli, and Jessee Robinson, and a premiere by Broadway choreographer Nick Alvino, all in support of Arts Ed NJ. This issue also brings a new professional learning workshop on the legal side of arts education, a published article from our own Kira Rizzuto on artistic SEL practices, a call for arts educators to be featured in our spotlight series, and student news from around the state.
Oct. 8, 2026; 9 am - 3 pm at FEA, 12 Centre Drive, Monroe Township, NJ 08831 Fee: $195 Members/Non-Members (breakfast and lunch included)
In Partnership with FEA Professional Learning and Arts Ed NJ
Arts activities in schools play an important role in the development and success of students. The Arts provide a place where students of all learning levels can participate in the same activity, and the opportunity to meet other students that are in different grades and classes. This workshop includes discussions about many of the important issues involved with developing and maintaining successful Arts Programs in your School District.
Presenters:
Sandra L. Jacques, Esq., LL.M., Assistant Director of Legal Education
John Worthington, Esq., Coordinator of Special Education Law
Mary M. Reece, Ed.D., NJPSA/FEA Director of Special Projects & Co-Liaison to NJPSA District Equity Leaders Committee
Dr. Kimberley Markus, Former NJDOE Commissioner
Wendy Liscow, Executive Director, Arts ED NJ
Nikki Van Ess Supervisor of Social Studies Grades 6 - 12, Business, and Visual Arts Grades 9 - 12, Mahwah Public Schools
Courtney Carrelha, K-12 Gifted and Talented Supervisor, K-12, English Second Language Supervisor, 6-12 World Language Supervisor, Mahwah Public Schools
Rosie Grant, Executive Director, Paterson Education Fund
Kira Rizzuto Director of Learning Programs, Arts Ed NJ, Director of Programs & Partnerships, ArtsEdSEL
In this episode, listeners will learn about the key legal requirements to provide Arts Education in New Jersey Schools. Listeners will gain information about the benefits that a School District and its students gain in areas including Special Education, reducing chronic student absenteeism, improving graduation rates and academic success, improving school climate and culture, mental health benefits, improving student communication skills, providing inclusive environments open to all students, providing leadership opportunities for students, and increasing student engagement.
Host - Sandra Jacques, Esq., LLM., Assistant Director of Legal Education/LEGAL ONE
Guests - Wendy Liscow, Executive Director, Arts Ed NJ; Kira Rizzuto, Director of Learning Programs, Arts Ed NJ; John Worthington, Esq., Coordinator of Special Education Law/LEGAL
Social and Emotional Learning: Research, Practice, and Policy
Artistic SEL core practices and processes: Practical implications from teaching artist professional learning
By Susanne Harnett, Scott Edgar, Yorel Lashley, Melissa Gawlowski-Pratt, and Kira Rizzuto
This practice-based article presents insights from a five-year project in which teaching artists (professional artists who work in school and community settings) were provided with ongoing, intensive, and sustained professional learning toward embedding artistic social emotional learning (SEL) into their instructional practice. The article identifies core practices for embedding SEL in arts education organized into three levels: foundational pillars and tenets, broad categories of classroom practices, and specific classroom practice examples and learning experiences. The professional learning model emphasizes community building, peer teaching, and the development of peer leaders.
Across New Jersey, arts educators are showing up for students every day, bringing creativity, rigor, and joy into their classrooms. Arts Ed NJ wants to celebrate that. We are looking for K–12 arts educators across New Jersey to feature in our Arts Educator Spotlight blog series. If you are an arts educator who wants to share your story, or if you know one who deserves recognition, we would love to highlight what you are doing.
