CDEAdance.org E-Blast Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2009
For more information visit CDEAdance.org
CDEA NEWS

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
and
EMAIL CAMPAIGN TO KEEP OUR VAPA CONSULTANT

What you have heard is true: the position of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Consultant has been eliminated at the California Department of Education (CDE)!

"Who cares?" Are you a teacher, parent, artist, citizen? Then you do! This critically important position covers dance, music, theatre and visual arts/digital arts in preK-12 education. Without it, we lose our most valuable ally, advocate, and support at the CDE. The VAPA position insures that the needs of the arts respond to the education code and legislature so that our children, present and future, will have the opportunity to participate in and realize the promise of California as the creative capital of the world!

"And...?"  While it is true that the state budget has pushed CDE to reorganize, it is noteworthy that a number of other areas have not been eliminated, including Foreign Language, Drivers Education, History/Social Science, and Outdoor Education. Why eliminate VAPA and not these other areas?  Keep in mind the following facts: UC/CSU require one year of VAPA; dance, music, theatre and visual arts-digital arts are No Child Left Behind core academic courses and require highly qualified teachers; High School students need one year of VAPA (or Foreign Language) to graduate.

"Why act now?" Our VAPA Consultant is the only person at the CDE who keeps the arts and these issues alive at CDE. Without full-time 100% VAPA representation at CDE, all arts education in California preK-12 (and beyond!) is at risk and the future of dance teacher certification, in particular, is seriously weakened.

"OK, I GET IT." Please know that nothing is etched in stone yet. The best way that you can act is to email the individuals listed below ASAP. Let them know that WE know what they have done and that the loss of this position is catastrophic for Arts Education in California and more importantly for the present and future of our great state.

In the subject line, we recommend putting "Keep VAPA consultant position at 100%"

1.  Phil Lafontaine, Division director (plafonta@cde.ca.gov)
2.  Gavin Payne, Chief Deputy Supt. and Superintendent Jack O'Connell's right hand man (gpayne@cde.ca.gov)
3.  Superintendent O'Connell's office (superintendent@cde.ca.gov)

Thank you for your continued support and timely action on behalf of Dance Education in California!

Best, Ted Warburton
Co-President

CDEA is one of the partners of the California Dance Network, an online resource for dancers, companies and teacher. The purpose of the CADN website is to strengthen, connect, unify and promote our state’s thriving dance field.

The website empowers the California dance community by gathering census data about the dance field (which is vital toward our efforts for a dance teaching credential), compiling state-wide and national news about dance, and providing online tools to promote dance events and activities.
It is vital that you your dance voice be counted and heard. You can easily create a dance profile. Just click on the link below.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DIFFICULT PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES WEBINAR

Dear Educator,

Join us at our industry leading 60-minute webinar. I am now pleased to send for your review the Conference Agenda which profiles this comprehensive program:

"Difficult Parent-Teacher Conferences: How to Handle Any Parent or Topic"
Wednesday, September 16, 2009- 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

http://www.pb-conferences.net/JN/0/2/p2QA99c/p34U7293i/p0e

Keys to Handling the Hardest Parent-Teacher Conferences

  • How and when to bring up difficult issues - grades and behavior
  • Ways to handle "you aren't treating my child fair"
  • Communication Tips to keep in control of the conference

Tips for Stopping Difficult Parents in Their Tracks

  • Ways to stop helicopter behavior early on
  • Tips to get parents to understand your expectations for the year
  • Ways to collaborate with parents positively through the year

Secrets of Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences

  • Stop Difficult parents in their track - create a welcoming environment
  • How classroom arrangement can improve your meetings
  • Learn when to listen and when to zip it

Live question and answer session – Hear expert answers to all your Parent-Teacher Conference questions.

Dr. Douglas J. Fiore is recognized as a leading authority on parent-teacher relationships. He is a sought after speaker, workshop presenter and the author of several trade books and textbooks for educators.

  • In "Dealing With Difficult Parents: And With Parents in Difficult Situations", Doug Fiore and Todd Whitaker offer strategies and techniques that make it easier for educators to deal with difficult parents and with difficult situations.
  • He is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences, and he has delivered countless workshops to school districts, individual schools, and various educational groups.
  • Dr. Fiore brings humor and real-life practitioner examples to his presentations. He has been described as "energetic" "passionate", and "real."

Hosted by Progressive Business Publications, a leader in fast-read actionable advice on workplace issues, the webinar gives you the opportunity to add immediate, impact to your NCLB compliance efforts in a manner that is:

FAST - No wasted time here. Get right to the heart of the matter in a 1-hour block designed to easily fit into your busy schedule.

CONVENIENT - No airlines. No travel. No time out of the office. Listen from the comfort and convenience of your desk.

EASY - A telephone is all the equipment you need. Just dial in, punch in your access code, and you're in. That's it. Follow along with the audio conference handouts provided in advance.

ACTIONABLE - Our webinars provide money-saving tactics you can start using right when you hang up the phone.

IDEAL FOR MULTIPLE LISTENERS - Use a speakerphone and as many people as you want can listen in - at no extra cost to you. Many professionals use these sessions as a cost-efficient, time-efficient means of training supervisors, managers, and staff and reinforcing key issues in a fresh new manner that they will remember and act on.

AFFORDABLE - Priced at $199, it is a fraction of the cost of travel and attendance fees for other high-priced conferences or seminars.

Difficult Parent-Teacher Conferences: How to Handle Any Parent or Topic

Live, 60-Minute Webinar

Wednesday, September 16, 2009- 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET

Register now for this exciting event by clicking the following link or
calling 800-964-6033.
http://www.pb-conferences.net/JN/0/2/p2QA99c/p34U7293i/p0e

We hope you'll join us.

Sincerely,

Progressive Business Audio Conferences
384 Technology Drive
Malvern, PA 19355

P.S. As usual we offer a full refund if not satisfied from now until 7 days after the event.


TAKE THE "TEACHING ARTIST" SURVEY!!!

Dear TEACHING ARTIST,

Your work at the cutting-edge of arts education brings meaning and joy to thousands of lives.  Now, despite the grim economy, significant new national and local developments are emerging that will change the shape of the field for better or worse for teaching artists. Strategies are being implemented to expand arts education –- in schools and in the community -- in dozens of cities. Will teaching artists be a key element of those strategies?

Colleges and conservatories are developing programs to train young teaching artists and to “certify” teaching artists for work in the field. Will those programs meet your needs and serve your interests?

TARP will help us understand your perspectives on how to shape these, and other, new developments to work best for you. So, please give us fifteen minutes of your time and take our managers’ survey! 

https://uofcsurveylab.uchicago.edu/TARPMGR

We will be happy to send you a CD of stories about teaching artists’ work from the archives of Ira Glass’ This American Life as a thank you. 

Please let us hear about your experiences soon.  Thank you. 

Sincerely,

The TARP Team

More info at: http://teachingartists.uchicago.edu


TANDY BEAL'S "MIXED NUTZ!" FOR THE HOLIDAY'S

The Nutcracker REMixed
. . . with circus, dance and song, returns to Santa Cruz this fall!  Directed by Tandy Beal, this treasured holiday favorite has an exuberant and elegant twist with its multi-arts, multi-cultural cast. The production is co-presented with UCSC Theater Arts.

UCSC's Mainstage Theater
Nov 20th - Dec 6th

For tickets call: UCSC Ticket Office: (831) 459-2159

Santa Cruz Civic: (831) 420-5260
www.santacruztickets.com


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