Metea event to focus on arts education
By Jane Donahue For The Sun September 11, 2012 3:54PM
If you go
Who: ARTSpeaks organization
What: “The Arts Create the Competitive Edge for Students,” featuring three guest speakers
Where: Metea Valley High School Forum Room, 1801 N. Eola Road in Aurora
When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13
How much: Sponsored by ARTSpeaks, the free event is funded by the Indian Prairie Educational Foundation.
Updated: October 14, 2012 1:39PM
Charles Staley knows the important role the arts play in a public education.
The Neuqua Valley High School teacher and co-founder of ARTSpeaks sees it — and hears it — on a daily basis, and believes it’s a message worth sharing.
“The mission of ARTSpeaks is to bring to this community the awareness the role the arts play in a comprehensive education,” said Staley, an educator for 31 years. “If I can find people who can succinctly articulate the impact the arts had in preparing them for success in business, then our community needs to hear that.”
On Thursday, ARTSpeaks invites the community to attend “The Arts Create the Competitive Edge for Students: A Presentation for Parents” at Metea Valley High School. The free event includes former Microsoft manager Brian Pertl, former Leo Burnett Worldwide creative head Bob Dreveny and Alaskan music educator Roger Schmidt, who will share their personal tales about how the arts influenced their careers.
“All of the speakers are in their communities and working hard for what they believe in,” Staley said. “The arts have informed the way they operate, and they are very passionate about sharing that message.”
Part of ARTSpeaks’ biannual series, each speaker has 20 minutes to share their message, followed by a question and answer period. Speakers will also make a classroom visit to one of the three District 204 high schools.
Committee member Gordon Trafton said it’s an opportunity for parents and students to ask questions, delve in and learn more about the importance of the arts.
“These events help demonstrate to parents and students what the arts actually do,” said Trafton. “These speakers are real-life examples of what can be accomplished, and most will tell you that it has to do with their opportunities in the arts.”
Staley said it’s just another opportunity to prepare students for success.
“The greatest contribution we can make to education is to understand we are training students for their futures, not training them for an occupation,” he said. “Our job is to give students a rich experience in education so they can make a choice and are prepared for the career of their dreams.”
ARTSpeaks events feature speakers from a wide range of professions and industries who can share their personal stories about how the arts have directly impacted their lives, academically, professionally and personally.
