Experience

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  P.S. ARTS

  • Los Angeles, California, United States

  • Chief Executive Officer

    • Sep 2022 - Present
    • Los Angeles, California, United States

    P.S. ARTS is dedicated to advancing equity and opportunity for children and youth by providing arts education in systemically under-resourced schools and communities. The P.S. in P.S. ARTS stands for public schools. Dr. Paul Cummins founded P.S. ARTS in 1991 with seed funding from musician and philanthropist, Herb Alpert. They recognized that a steady decline in funding since the late 1970s had produced massive resource inequities in California public schools, and arts programs were virtually nonexistent in the schools serving the highest numbers of youth affected by poverty and systemic racism. Our vision is that every child in America has access to high-quality arts education.

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  Arts Schools Network

  • Board Member

    • Apr 2018 - Present

    Arts Schools Network is a non-profit association founded in 1981 with a mission to inspire emerging and seasoned leaders in K-16 arts schools by providing quality resources, support, and networking opportunities to elevate their institutions.Arts school leaders have unique, contextual needs for professional development specific to school-type and job. By convening with peers and representatives from relevant industries, our members collectively create tomorrow’s artists and patrons.ASN's vision is to empower leaders of arts schools by connecting them regionally, nationally and internationally to raise the quality, profile, and success of the students whom they serve. Values include:RelationshipsInnovationDiversityExpertiseSustainabilityASN has provided communications, programs, services, and events to support these goals for more than 30 years. Together, ASN's members represent art leaders, schools, and organizations from around the country. Together, they share experiences and expertise in such areas as planning, facilities, finance and fundraising, admissions and recruitment, teacher training, arts integration, community and parent relations, evaluation, career development, and much more.

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  Los Angeles County High School for the Arts

  • Los Angeles, California, United States

  • Principal

    • Jul 2018 - Oct 2022
    • Los Angeles, California, United States

    LA County High School for the Arts is a specialized, tuition-free public school open to aspiring young artists throughout Los Angeles County. LACHSA was founded in 1985 under the direction of the LA County Office of Education, and is located on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles.Combining college-preparatory academic instruction with conservatory-style training in the visual and performing arts, LACHSA provides a unique high school experience for those who know they were born to create.

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  ArTES Magnet

  • San Fernando, CA

  • Principal

    • May 2011 - Jun 2018
    • San Fernando, CA

    ArTES was founded in 2011 by a team of dedicated teachers seeking the autonomy to open an innovative, model arts school. As a part of LAUSD’s Public School of Choice reform measures, ArTES was approved to open as a teacher-led Pilot school and given the autonomy to innovate and offer a first rate education in the arts. In 2014, the district acknowledged the growing demand our school was generating, and we converted to a magnet school, open to anyone living in the district’s enrollment zone. We are the first school in Los Angeles to be governed as an autonomous Pilot school while enrolling as a magnet school.At ArTES we are Students, Citizens and Artists, and, as such, we actively engage in the world, realize our best selves, and shape our communities for the better. We are here to take the world by storm as a model of scholarship and arts education. We do that by living our vision with kindness and integrity every single day. We join forces across disciplines and groups to break down barriers to learning. We engage in artistic and academic challenges and value persistent practice, innovation and personalization.

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  Self-Employed

  • New York, New York

  • Freelance Director

    • Jul 1996 - Jun 2006
    • New York, New York

    Stage director for theatre and opera; film and television writer.