To further the work of the Sonoma County Arts Education Alliance (AEA) and the Arts Education Framework, the AEA offers professional development in critical areas of arts education policy, development, and advocacy to form a Cohort of arts education leaders.

Cohorts formed in 2022 and 2020 to develop shared knowledge, as well as increase their network of support and resources. Projects and goals were developed by individuals of the Cohort that are implemented to support the work of the AEA and the Arts Education Framework. 

Gratitude to the 2020 planning chairs of this Cohort:

         Ashleigh Worley, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

         Angelica Blancas-Mims, CHOPS Teen Club

         Debbie Yarrow, Creative Sonoma

2022 Arts Ed Leadership 101 Cohort:

Cheryl Coldiron, Sonoma Valley USD

          Genevieve Farr, Eastside Friends of Music

          Gibson Collard, Arts Advocate

          Heidi Aarts Michels, Windsor USD

          Jack Kastrop, Sonoma County Museum of Art

          Jessica Ruskin, Schulz Museum

          Kirsten Guerrero, Life on Earth Art

          Rick Nowlin, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

          Therese Menzel, Arts Advocate

Gratitude to the 2020 planning chairs of this Cohort:

          Ashleigh Worley, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

          Brandon Krueger, Windsor USD (retired)

          Chuck Wade, Sonoma County Office of Education

          Debbie Yarrow, Creative Sonoma

          Robert Bullwinkel, Big Idea Arts and Education Consulting

2020 Arts Ed Leadership Development Cohort:

          Alexander Ackleson, Transcendence Theater Company

          Angela Sturr, Teaching Artist

          Becky Cale, Green Music Center

          Eileen Parent, Printmaker

          Erika Conaway, Transcendence Theater Company

          Gena Richman, Teaching Artist

          Heidi Aarts Michels, Windsor Unified Schools

          Isabel Lopez, Raizes Collective

          Jill Valavanis, Sonoma Community Center

          John Sappington, ArtQuest

          Laura Leipzig, Arts Administrator

          Lisa Damico, Teaching Artist

          Martin Contreras, SSU Student

          Sarah Parker, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art

          Klara Crean, Valley Vibes Orchestra

          Marcela Mejia Ronan, Teaching Artist

          Meg Mizutani, Sonoma County Taiko

          Megan Fonseca, Rincon Valley Education Foundation

          Meredith O’Connor, Musician

          Miki Hsu Leavey, Teaching Artist

          O’Meara Cover, Petaluma Schools

          Pamela Van Halsema, P Van Halsema Consulting 

          Sandra Novia, Teaching Artist

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