Professional Development
A West Coast Home for Kennedy Center Workshops
Teachers and Artists Discover New Ways to Make Learning More Engaging
Bright eyed and engaged students, that’s the goal of every good teacher. At Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, local educators discover how to make learning more dynamic, in-depth, and fun!
Each year, the Arts Center presents a series of professional development workshops in conjunction with the esteemed Kennedy Center for the Arts Partners in Education program. The workshops, which feature the nation’s finest teaching-artists, help local educators learn...
new ways to integrate the arts into their classrooms. Recent programs featured techniques to help students improve their writing by creating dialogue through drama, offered art as a means for exploring and understanding prejudice, and explored drama strategies for motivating students who are learning English as a second language.
Each three hour professional development session includes targeted lesson plans that meet California Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards. The Center's Professional Development program also offers classroom modeling, coursework, and a summer institute for teachers. The Center's program is presented in partnership with Healdsburg Unified School District.
2008-2009 Professional Development programs
Order Form (PDF)
Coursework: Engage, Support, and Motivate
English Language Learners through Drama
with Lenore Blank Kelner
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 • 4 – 7pm
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 • 4 – 7pm
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 • 4 – 7pm
Saturday, March 28, 2009 • 9am – 2pm
For Teachers of Grades K-5 • Maximum number of participants: 45
Fee: $150 per person. (Fee includes text books, classroom modeling, and coaching.)
Participants must plan to attend all four sessions.
Writing the Hero’s Journey: Building Writing Skills
Through Storytelling and Oral Language
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 • 4 – 7pm
For Teachers of Grades: 4-8 • Maximum number of participants: 30
Fee: $30 and you can bring a friend for free!
Revelations: Linking the Arts to Literacy
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 • 4 – 7pm
For Teachers of Grades: K-12 • Maximum number of participants: 40
Fee: $30 and you can bring a friend for free!
Writing by Storm: Overcoming Obstacles to Writing
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 • 4 – 7pm
For Teachers of Grades: 1-5 • Maximum number of participants: 30
Fee: $30 and you can bring a friend for free!
Summer Institute: Creative Connections
with Sean Layne & Melanie Layne
Monday, July 13, 2009 – Friday, July 17, 2009 • Daily, 9am – 5pm
For Teachers and Administrators of Grades 2-8 • Maximum number of participants: 40
Fee: $250 per person (Fee includes $50 for supplies: textbooks, CDs, and other teaching tools.)
Participants must plan to attend all five days.
Limited classroom modeling opportunities are also available.
To learn more please email
Tracy Sawyer, Arts & Education Manager
or call 707-527-7006, ext. 154.
We extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the Kennedy Center Partners in Education program for helping us to provide life-long learning through the arts in Sonoma County.
