HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas Alliance for the Arts in Education is sponsoring its Third Annual Professional Development Conference at the Smithsonian affiliated Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Museum in Hutchinson, KS on September 20. The title is “Arts, Science, and Beyond; STEM to STEAM. Keynote speaker, Janet Ivey creator of Janet’s Planets, a 12 time Regional Emmy awardee, 5 time Gracie Allen Awardee and a Buzz Aldrin Share Science Ambassador, is spending the day sharing her expertise and providing hands on experiences creating learning environments for teaching science through art, dance, music and story. Janet’s Planet is quality, educational children’s entertainment that can be viewed on PBS.
In addition, Kansas educators and artists are presenting on integrating the arts in all of the STEM subjects. Workshops are being held by Kansas State University faculty including Fred Burrack (Engineering & Arts), Katie Kingery-Page and Kathrine Walker Schlageck (Science/Technology & Arts). Tracey Tomme from the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center is presenting (Science & Arts); Jeanine E. Murphy and Linda Stecher (Math & Arts) of USD #449; and Lisa Lund (Technology & Arts) of USD #458. The agenda is planned to offer an inspiring day integrating the ARTS into the STEM curriculum. This event is supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission.
The Kansas Alliance for the Arts in Education (KSAAE), a nonprofit established in January 2012, adopted a mission to ensure the arts are an integral part of quality pre K-12 education as a means of promoting students’ personal development and academic performance.