2018-2019 TAP Anthology
Presenting the Graduates of the 2018-2019 Teaching Artist Project (TAP). This anthology is a compilation of their work, experiences, and the fun we've all had together during this academic year.
Community-Word Project's TAP is in its 21st year and is the longest-standing professional development program open to the Teaching Artist field by a non-profit organization in New York City. TAP prepares Teaching Artists to provide high-quality arts education to underserved youth in New York City public schools. The rigorous training involves intensive seminars in curriculum design and teaching techniques, led by CWP staff, Teaching Artists, and the TAP Cohort. During this yearlong training, participants gain invaluable classroom experience interning with mentor Teaching Artists, in both during-school and after-school multi-disciplinary collaborative arts residencies.
The 2018-19 class of 28 visual and media artists, writers, musicians, dancers, and theater artists learned how to transform creative processes into teaching tools, experimented with how to create lesson plans and teaching paths that meet city and state standards, explored Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, investigated the Common Core State Standards, tried out a myriad of classroom management strategies, developed co-teaching and partnership skills, incorporated inquiry and reflection in their lessons, and helped students create work, remembering to remain relevant to students' lives and to create community.
Special Thanks
TAP is made possible through the generous support of New York State Council on the Arts, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, The Wiley Fund, The Dan Paul Foundation, the Altman Foundation, the Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Trust, the William Talbott Hillman Foundation, the Wells Fargo Foundation, the TD Charitable Foundation, and the Endeavor Foundation.
TAP Facilitators
CWP Staff
Michele Kotler, Founder & Executive Director Leigh Wells, Deputy Director of Programs & Operations Craig Hayes, Deputy Director of External Affairs and Chief Experience Officer Katie Rainey, Director of Teaching Artist Project
Autumn Tilson, Program Manager, School Partnerships Kat Bloomfield, Managing Director of Development Cara Search, Development Assistant
A special thanks to this year's CWP, Marquis Studios, Arts for All, Citizen Schools & Wingspan Arts Mentors.
CWP Mentor Teaching Artists:
Jane Elias
Tanya Everett
Special thanks to all of our arts-in-education partners who make up the TAP Cohort and helped make this year a unique collaboration. This year, we were able to offer collaborative elective seminars facilitated and hosted by various arts organizations. The TAP Cohort also collaborated to host a panel called The Business & Culture of Teaching Artistry as well as the 2019 Arts in Education Job Fair.
These series of professional development seminars and panels were available to Teaching Artists outside of TAP and that was made possible by the collaborative efforts of CWP and the following organizations:
ArtistYear
Arts For All
Artists Striving to End Poverty
Brooklyn Arts Council
Carnegie Hall
The Center for Arts Education
City Lore
Community-Word Project Dedalus Foundation
DreamYard Project Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana
Lifetime Arts
Marquis Studios
National Dance Institute
Opening Act
Teachers & Writers Collaborative
Wingspan Arts
Over the year, our TAP trainees participated in a series of workshops, seminars and residencies to complete their internship. The fall workshops were dedicated to creative elements, scaffolding and presenting lessons, reflection and assessment, classroom management, exploring social justice in the classroom, exploring philosophy and pedagogy, and creating philosophical statements. In the spring, TAP held a series of elective seminars in collaboration with the TAP Cohort, and each trainee was placed in a CWP residency at various schools throughout NYC, including:
PS 132 Juan Pablo Duarte, Washington Heights PS/MS 279 Captain Manuel Rivera, Bronx PS 84 Jose De Diego, Brooklyn PS 316 Elijah Stroud, Brooklyn PS 171 Peter G. Van Alst School
IS 126 Albert Shanker School of Visual & Performing Arts
PS 17 Henry David Thoreau
PS 85 Judge Charles Vallone, Queens The Young Women's Leadership School, Queens
Many trainees also completed an after school residency in partnership with Wingspan Arts, and additional internship tracks with Arts for All and Marquis Studios.
In celebration of their creativity, we are sharing each TAP graduate's work and artistry in this anthology. This compilation includes biographies, memorable moments, photographs, quotes, lesson plans, artistic samples, and more to give you a full picture of their accomplishments this year.
A Letter from the TAP Facilitators:
Dear TAP Class of 2018-19,
Congratulations! You are all now TAP Alums and we are very excited to welcome this group of thoughtful and inspiring artists into our community. This has been one of our best years in the program and that is largely due to what each of you has brought into the group.
You have brought your spirit, your passion, and your dedication to the training, validating the importance of learning, expanding, growing, and imagining this a more equitable and inclusive world. You see each other and your students in a way that we need more of in this world. We have watched you grow as artists and educators, and we are so proud to graduate this class.
From difficult conversations and community work to lighthearted mural-making and energetic rounds of “Cowboy, Bear and Ninja”, you’ve made our Saturdays so fun and loving. We hope that you are taking away as much as we are from this year. Through your eagerness to grow and make a difference in this world, we are renewed in our hope for the future of arts education. Thank you for making the time and space to do this work. You've pushed each other as well as this program, and your talent and and integrity will enrich your own art-making as well as the field of Teaching Artistry.
We wish you joy and peace as you continue to grow. Please keep in touch as you carry your energy not only into the Teaching Artist field but out into the world. The TAP community is always here for you, whenever you need it. And never forget: you have a voice, your voice is powerful, and your voice will change this world. It has been a privilege for us all to work with you this year.
With much warmth, love, and avocados,
Katie, Karla, Amanda, Andre & Adriana
Presenting the 2018-19 TAP Graduating Class! Click on their names below to find out more about them.
Alex Becker Alexandra Neuber Amanda Newman Amy Oestreicher Bella Dapilma Benji Hom Emma Greer Francisco Roldán Hannah Beresford Ilaria Ortensi Jasmeene Francois Javana Mundy Jayquan Booker Jesus Pellot Laura Yans Mary Kinney Melissa Liu Nykemah Warren Phoenix (Courtney) Luk Saba Sebhatu Sara Knudson Sasha Warner-Berry Shakeva Griswould Thiahera Nurse Tiffany Ramos Trace Depass Yael Ben-Zion Zoe Papaeracleous
The 2018-19 TAP Anthology was designed by Katie Rainey and Amanda Newman.