Timing is everything
Timing is Everything
LOYOLA'S NEW MED IN DANCE PROGRAM RESPONDS DIRECTLY TO THE STATED NEEDS OF THE CHICAGOLAND COMMUNITY
Timing is everything. Few understand that sentiment better than Amy Wilkinson, M. Ed., senior lecturer of dance in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts in Loyola University Chicago's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
For Wilkinson, timing isn’t limited to choreographing performances and rhythm, but rather taking advantage of an opportunity that would eventually lead to positively impacting the arts and the educational communities of Chicago.
Cue the MEd Dance Residency program, a one-of-a-kind opportunity in the state of Illinois.
“The program was conceived in 2017 when I was awarded the College of Arts and Sciences Liebentritt Fellowship to create an interdisciplinary arts education program,” said Wilkinson. “The timing of the fellowship happened to coincide with a request for proposals from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Talent Development Office.”
"The program embraces arts education as a fundamental aspect of Cura Personalis." Amy Wilkinson, M. Ed.
The CPS Talent Development Office happens to oversee the Chicago Teacher Residency Program, a large-scale, city-wide project that aims to recruit teachers to join CPS.
“CPS was looking for a university partner that would offer coursework towards a graduate degree in order to place dance teachers in the most high-need schools,” Wilkinson recalled. “It was the perfect timing. With the support of leadership from CAS and the School of Education, I submitted my proposal and Loyola was selected as the single institutional partner to launch the MEd + Dance Residency program.”
A group of students practice their dancing technique to perfect their craft before going on to share their love of dance with their own students.
MEd in Dance Education
The program responds directly to the stated needs of the Chicago community. The CPS system is approximately 160 certified teachers short, based on the most recent CPS Arts Education Plan, which calls for one arts teacher for every 350 students. Wilkinson pointed out that a majority of the understaffing has impacted arts education, namely dance and theater, in low-income communities of color.
“The program promotes an orientation towards social justice by validating multiple forms of cultural expression represented by diverse arts disciplines, potentially setting the stage for the future inclusion of music and fine arts education cohorts as well,” said Wilkinson.
Wilkinson and Loyola launched the first cohort in 2021. Students in the program experience the following benefits as they work towards their master’s degree:
- A paid year of on-site team training, plus full benefits
- Opportunity to collaborate and learn alongside endorsed and experienced mentor teachers
- Discounted University tuition, financial aid and federal loan forgiveness
- A guaranteed full-time role in CPS after successfully completing the program
Loyola's MEd in Dance Education prepares students to one day successfully teach engaging dance lessons.
The program is not only thriving, it is looking to expand.
We are set to graduate our second cohort soon and are currently in the process of recruiting for our third cohort,” said Wilkinson. “We are also expanding the program to include theater education and we're on track to have our largest cohort to-date.
As the program grows and the model continues to provide impactful success stories, Wilkinson and her counterparts in the School of Education feel that Loyola has positioned itself to be a national destination for innovative arts education programming.
Read more about Amy Wilkinson and the Chicago Teacher Residency Program.
Timing is everything. Few understand that sentiment better than Amy Wilkinson, M. Ed., senior lecturer of dance in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts in Loyola University Chicago's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
For Wilkinson, timing isn’t limited to choreographing performances and rhythm, but rather taking advantage of an opportunity that would eventually lead to positively impacting the arts and the educational communities of Chicago.
Cue the MEd Dance Residency program, a one-of-a-kind opportunity in the state of Illinois.
“The program was conceived in 2017 when I was awarded the College of Arts and Sciences Liebentritt Fellowship to create an interdisciplinary arts education program,” said Wilkinson. “The timing of the fellowship happened to coincide with a request for proposals from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Talent Development Office.”
The CPS Talent Development Office happens to oversee the Chicago Teacher Residency Program, a large-scale, city-wide project that aims to recruit teachers to join CPS.
“CPS was looking for a university partner that would offer coursework towards a graduate degree in order to place dance teachers in the most high-need schools,” Wilkinson recalled. “It was the perfect timing. With the support of leadership from CAS and the School of Education, I submitted my proposal and Loyola was selected as the single institutional partner to launch the MEd + Dance Residency program.”
The program responds directly to the stated needs of the Chicago community. The CPS system is approximately 160 certified teachers short, based on the most recent CPS Arts Education Plan, which calls for one arts teacher for every 350 students. Wilkinson pointed out that a majority of the understaffing has impacted arts education, namely dance and theater, in low-income communities of color.
“The program promotes an orientation towards social justice by validating multiple forms of cultural expression represented by diverse arts disciplines, potentially setting the stage for the future inclusion of music and fine arts education cohorts as well,” said Wilkinson.
Wilkinson and Loyola launched the first cohort in 2021. Students in the program experience the following benefits as they work towards their master’s degree:
- A paid year of on-site team training, plus full benefits
- Opportunity to collaborate and learn alongside endorsed and experienced mentor teachers
- Discounted University tuition, financial aid and federal loan forgiveness
- A guaranteed full-time role in CPS after successfully completing the program
The program is not only thriving, it is looking to expand.
We are set to graduate our second cohort soon and are currently in the process of recruiting for our third cohort,” said Wilkinson. “We are also expanding the program to include theater education and we're on track to have our largest cohort to-date.
As the program grows and the model continues to provide impactful success stories, Wilkinson and her counterparts in the School of Education feel that Loyola has positioned itself to be a national destination for innovative arts education programming.
Read more about Amy Wilkinson and the Chicago Teacher Residency Program.