For our Arts Integration Specialists, the week spent as participants in the Arts Education Partnership 2019 conference was an opportunity to network with other leaders in arts education and learn about what is happening nationally around arts integration and arts education. It was exciting to learn that Right Brain is seen nationally as a progressive leader working regionally in Oregon. We were honored to be called out by Mary Anne Carter, the Chair for the National Endowment for the Arts in her welcoming remarks at the plenary, citing her visit with Congresswoman Bonamici to RACC, for working creatively to engage the community by embedding professional develop across many district to promote arts integration. We invested our time into learning about data collection methods and reports from the Kennedy Center; creative leadership structures of A+  Schools, and STEAM as a way to engage communities outside of the school building. 

Of course, our amazing team didn’t mind the opportunity to spend time together and taking advantage of the wonderful learning resources, museums, and exhibits in Washington, D.C.. We’re glad to have them back in Portland and back in schools, and are eager to learn from all they gleaned!