Arts Education Conference

Empower Creativity with AI: Experience AI prompt writing & image generation. Explore how AI levels the playing field for students of all skill levels. Create an AI-aided art lesson for your classroom.

Mike Bam Tyau

At the intersection of education and creativity, Mike is a dedicated visual art educator who empowers students by blending art instruction with real-world skills. His classes encourage his students to develop a deeper understanding of how creativity and complex problem-solving prepare them for future challenges. Committed to long-term growth, Mike guides youth not only in planning for their next four years of college but in envisioning the next 40 years of their lives. His mission is to cultivate the next generation of innovative thinkers and storytellers who will shape the future through empathy, vision, and design.

Circuits require connections; this project makes the connection between art + science more accessible, and hopefully, creating this can foster connections between participants. n this workshop, you will create a watercolor painting that incorporates an LED light. This brings knowledge of circuits to your middle school students (or high school) and challenges them to figure out a way to make the light work in their composition. You will leave with an example of this project to show as a sample to your students. LED lights and coin batteries are cheap and a fun way to bring challenge and excitement to painting. I do this project in my Makerspace classes to bring art and circuitry together. It is also a nice way to connect with artists who use light in their art.       

Marlena Ramirez

Anna Kogan is the art teacher at Hillview Middle School in Menlo Park. She teaches 6th-8th graders in various fine art classes including Makerspace and Digital Photography and Animation. She has been teaching middle school art for over 25 years and at Hillview since 2010. She is excited to be part of the first San Mateo County Arts Education Conference.  

Engaging with art, we learn systems concepts experientially: framing, process interdependencies, and more. These skills help students gain more choice and flexibility in how they work as they navigate from their first idea to its final result. Participants in this interactive session will gain familiarity with systems thinking through a mix of short lecture and workshop exercises. Our discussions will include recognizing systems strengths of participants’ areas of focus, and reframing existing classroom resources.

Lisa Rosenberg

Lisa Rosenberg is the author of A Different Physics (2018), winner of the American Legacy Book Award for Poetry, as well as essays spanning travel, science, memoir, and satire. She served as Poet Laureate of San Mateo County, and has coached the region’s award-winning Poetry Out Loud competitors since 2019. A former space program engineer trained as a physicist, Lisa’s multidisciplinary work has been recognized by a Djerassi Leonardo Residency, Wallace Stegner Fellowship, and MOSAIC America Fellowship. Her writing appears in venues such as Plume, POETRY, Terrain, The Threepenny Review, The Common, and California Fire & Water: A Climate Crisis Anthology.

Culture is people made. Come learn and share how to create a culture of belonging, safety and respect for both the teacher and the student.

Maria Vlahiotis

Alejandro Vilchez is the Principal of AV Consulting, an independent consulting firm based in Silicon Valley. With over 30 years of experience, Alejandro has been a leader in street violence prevention, youth empowerment, and organizational development. Known for his dynamic, down-to-earth style, he trains, coaches, and facilitates in both English and Spanish.Well versed in Restorative Practices and creator of Off 2 Play, Alejandro designs interactive workshops that help students, educators, and teams build trust, communicate openly, and handle challenges together. His work equips people to resolve conflict, grow as leaders, and strengthen their communities, schools, and workplaces. A proud SF Bay Area native, Alejandro holds degrees in Early Childhood Education, Cross-Cultural Communications, Human Services, and Organizational Leadership. Off the clock, he’s under a classic Chevy, reading C.S. Lewis, or rooting (or yelling at) his beloved SF Giants, 49ers, and Golden State Warriors.

Teaching artists Ann Ledo-Lane and Gina Griffiths lead a hands-on, inspiring workshop exploring how cultivating a personal creative practice supports educator wellness, classroom creativity, and inclusive pedagogy. Through collective artmaking, reflection, and connection to contemporary artists, participants will explore the question: What is your creative practice? Walk away with strategies for fostering creative well-being and a renewed commitment to joy and curiosity as essential tools in inclusive and responsive classrooms.

Gina Griffiths

Gina Griffiths is an innovative and inclusive educator with over fifteen years of experience, dedicated to empowering people, teams, and programs to reach beyond their potential. She has built her career around creating student-centered, equity-driven communities where both young people and adults can thrive. Whether in the classroom, on a school leadership team, or in partnership with stakeholders, Gina brings a deep commitment to relationship-building, collaboration, and thoughtful growth. She believes in the power of art to open doors, and works every day to make those doors more accessible to all.

This interactive session will focus on an arts centered, culturally responsive approach to learning that integrates creative inquiry in a variety of settings.  By engaging in components of the SPIRAL Framework, outlined in the publication “Do Your Lessons Love Your Students? Creative Education for Social Change”, participants will experience, engage with practitioners,  and be able to apply techniques that promote artistic practices and outdoor learning.  

Wendy Brasher

Wendy Brasher (she/her) is an Art Educator and lifelong Bay Area resident. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in World History and a minor in Fine Arts. Wendy has spent the last 33 years teaching middle school students that messes and mistakes help us grow as artists and creativity leads to happiness. Since her first encounter with Studio Pathways in early 2020, Wendy has embraced their education philosophy and worked to create a culturally responsive classroom. The question, “Do my lessons love my students?” has been a guiding force in her classroom.     

Lori Lane Fox

Lori Lane Fox was born in Sacramento but has spent the majority of her life in Solano County. She has been an educator since 1986, when  she began her teaching career first as a substitute and then teaching English as a Second Language. In 1999, she started teaching college English at various colleges in Solano and Sacramento counties for over 22 years. In 2022, she decided to change careers, enrolling at Sonoma State to complete a teaching credential in special education. At the same time she began teaching special education for the Solano Office of Education. She has an MA in English. When she isn’t teaching, she enjoys gardening, hiking, reading, and doing yoga.

This interactive workshop equips K–2 educators to confidently integrate movement into daily instruction. Participants explore dance elements and movement strategies to enhance curriculum, ease transitions, support self-regulation, and build classroom community. Emphasizing student-led learning and emotional exploration, the workshop offers practical tools to promote active engagement and deeper content connections. Educators will leave with actionable strategies to make learning more dynamic, inclusive, and meaningful through movement.

Valerie Branch

Valerie Branch is the Director of Teaching Artists and Early Childhood Education, Wolf Trap Institute Master Teaching Artist and holds a National Teaching Artist Credential with Young Audiences Arts for Learning. She advocates for teaching artist representation while creating and promoting innovative strategies that will increase the visibility of teaching artists around the nation. Her mission is to use the power of dance as a catalyst to empower children to find value in the impact that their voice can have on their life and the lives of others. Branch graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maryland, College Park with a degree in dance.

A classroom is a community where everyone should feel safe, respected, and included. In this workshop, we’ll explore how music, emotional literacy, and playful connection can help create a braver, more trusting space. Music boosts emotional regulation and releases oxytocin, a hormone linked to connection and belonging. Through singing, games, active listening, and using emotional literacy tools, we’ll co-create an environment that supports growth, deeper communication, and authentic expression—for both students and teachers alike.

Austin Willacy

Austin Willacy is a community organizer and award-winning singer/songwriter who uses music to foster peacebuilding and social justice. A longtime member of The House Jacks, he has toured globally and released numerous albums. Austin’s work bridges divides—connecting people, ideas, and movements across lines of race, gender, environment, and politics. Through song, dialogue, and play, he helps communities link theory to practice and cultivate shared understanding. He’s facilitated workshops in places like Turkey, India, and Israel/Palestine, using his blend of artistry and activism to inspire connection, healing, and collective action.

This unit for grades 3-12 is an evolution of West African oral traditions which led to the creation of the African American genre of rap and the widely embraced culture of hip hop.

Veronica Talton

Veronica Talton is a performing arts educator in the San Jose with over three decades of experience in classroom music, choir, piano and musical theater. Throughout her career, Veronica has been intentional about enhancing the inner strength of African American students through the arts, history and culture while blending social emotional learning strategies. In 2020, Veronica founded an arts education consulting business which specializes in fine arts education. Veronica’s Arts Find© curriculum explores notable artists in the performing, visual and culinary arts through an African American lens. Developing creativity and self expression in others and advocating for underprivileged youth are her passions.

This workshop will give teachers tools to use in the classroom gleaned from Kathak, classical dance from Northern India, to connect with self, and the environment, using classical Indian dance techniques, such as hastaks (hand movements), ritual and rhythm to create mindful moments and tell stories.  The activities are geared towards K-5th grades. 

Charlotte Moraga

Charlotte has dedicated her life to educating people about kathak, both as a performer, a choreographer, and a teacher.  She is currently the artistic director of the Chitresh Das Institute. In addition to creating traditional Kathak works, she has collaborated on projects with many artists. Some of her collaborations: ‘Sangam’ in 2007 with tap dancer, withChloe Arnold, ‘Conference in Nine’ in 2009 with Saxophonist Prasant Radhakrishnan creating a work based on Sufi poem, Conference of the Birds, ‘Mantram’ in 2021 with musician Alam Khan, and ‘Invoking the River’  in 2022 with raga pianist Utsav lal and multimedia artist Alka Raghuram. Charlotte has developed curriculum for Young Audiences of the Bay Area, KQED, and Cal Performances. In addition to touring as a solo kathak artist and as a principal dancer with the Chitresh Das Dance Company for 20 years, Charlotte has given many lecture demonstrations at museums and universities throughout India and the US.  Her articles on kathak have been published in  Dance Spirit, Dance Magazine, Dance USA e-journal, Narthaki, and Dancers Group's indance magazine.    Charlotte was also a Visual and Performing Arts teacher for the San Francisco Unified School District for many years. 

In this interactive, “hands-on” session, participants will explore how rhythm can be a powerful tool for fostering belonging, connection, and creative expression in diverse learning environments. Through engaging and accessible drumming and body percussion activities, educators will experience the power of rhythm as a universal language that transcends words and builds community. No musical experience required—just a willingness to listen, play, and co-create.

Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR

Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR, is the dynamic founder of DRUMMM Rhythmic Events. With over 25 years of experience as a professional facilitator, educator, and performer, she engages groups of all ages and abilities through the universal language of rhythm. A Registered Art Therapist, Certified Village Music Circles Global Trainer, and REMO-Endorsed Drum Circle Facilitator, Jeni’s interactive programs blend team building, creativity, and wellness. Trusted by organizations like Google, Meta, and Kaiser-Permanente as well as educational settings, her drumming experiences spark connection, collaboration, and joy. Whether in the classroom, workplace, or community, Jeni empowers participants to discover their rhythm and come together through music.

How to get multiple schools participating in a musical. How to leverage the direction of a few adults into a production that serves hundreds of student performers and backstage crew. 

Bill Hairston

Bill Hairston is the drama specialist for the Menlo Park City School District.  He has over thirty years in the classroom and specializes in musical theater with multiple casts and multiple schools. During the 24/25 school year, Bill produced and/or directed productions including more than seven hundred student actors. He lives with his daughter and wife, the esteemed romance author "Emma Scott", in Menlo Park. Along with his day job, Bill is currently pursuing a Master's of Fine Arts in playwriting through UC Riverside's low residency program.

Learn from brief, powerful films of real students as they explore issues of respect, empathy, and communication across differences. Then, experience "gametivies" to support your own students in doing the same, utilizing arts-integrated and experiential learning techniques. The Mosaic Project’s curriculum provides tools to support students in navigating their world through the power of documentary film, participatory theater, music, and visual arts. Leave with games, tools, guidelines, and the confidence to nurture a peaceful classroom.

Sandra Martin-Dent

Sandra Martin-Dent began facilitating creative, arts-integrated SEL and diversity education with The Mosaic Project in 2007, and has returned year after year to teach people of all ages peace-building skills through experiential learning. Currently as the Learning & Training Director, she focuses on curriculum development, developing and facilitating trainings and launching our newest program, the Mosaic Classroom Project. She earned her MA in International & Multicultural Education at USF, and holds a BA in Global Studies. In addition to creating engaging, creative educational opportunities for people of all ages, she’s also worked in arts administration for several Bay Area music nonprofits and managed a critical media literacy program for adults.

Embodied learning incorporates physical movement and sensory experiences, and classroom embodiment can benefit students of all disciplines. This workshop covers two strategies: sociometric exercises and activated gestures. Relevant examples will be shared to embody and understand how these strategies can benefit curriculum, classroom management, social-emotional learning, and more. Teachers will be invited to unpack ways they may already use these tools in the classroom, and explore how to apply these strategies in new ways.

Natalie Greene

Natalie Greene is an artist and educator working at the intersections of performance, consent, and community engagement. Previously Artistic Director of the award-winning devised theater ensemble Mugwumpin, Natalie is currently Director of Education and Community Programs at American Conservatory Theater.  She is on the Board of SFArtsED and has been faculty at ODC School, San Francisco State, and University of San Francisco. Work as a choreographer and intimacy professional at Aurora Theater, Cal Shakes, Marin Theater, Portland Center Stage, Shotgun Players, Stanford University and more. Natalie's research and pedagogy focus on embodied creative experiences that build a culture of consent.

Unlocking Language: The Engaging Power of Theatre and Puppetry for EL Students  Discover how theatre and puppetry can empower English Language Learners! This interactive workshop explores using puppets to build confidence, practice language, and connect with diverse cultures in a fun, low-pressure environment. Attendees will collaborate with provided puppet sets and books after the presentation for hands-on practice.

Marlena Ramirez

Marlena is an elementary teacher dedicated to fostering creativity and social-emotional learning through the magic of puppetry. Drawing on 36 years of teaching experience, Marlena empowers young students to explore storytelling, character development, and communication using various puppetry techniques. A passionate advocate for arts integration, Marlena designs engaging curriculum that demonstrates the power of puppets to unlock imagination and enhance academic achievement. Her work highlights puppetry as a powerful tool for academic and personal growth, offering a unique and joyful approach to learning for young English language learners.

This workshop will equip teaching artists with Universal Design strategies to engage students with intellectual and physical disabilities in culturally relevant and inclusive visual art experiences.

Adriana Maritza

Adriana is a first-generation, Bay Area native and life-long artist. She taught her first art class over 20 years ago and has been leading workshops in schools, museums, and informal learning spaces ever since. She is deeply passionate about inclusive, culturally relevant lessons to center students’ identities in their creative expression. As an enthusiastic practitioner of Universal Design, she applies accessible, flexible strategies that support all learners in thriving through art.

Get ready to discover the joy of implementing the self portrait project into your art curriculum throughout the calendar year!  Participants will get an opportunity to complete a variety of self portrait projects that are adaptable at any grade level (K-8th grade) These lessons will also have opportunities for math, writing, science and social studies integration, all while allowing students to develop their skills in self awareness, artistic technique, and understanding different materials and tools. Let’s inspire your students with the self portrait project like never before!

Caitlin Liu

Caitlin is a firm believer that art sparks joy and unlocks imagination. She is an elementary art teacher in the Jefferson Elementary School District in Daly City, CA. With a Master’s in Teaching and seven years of classroom experience, she has taught all grades Transitional Kindergarten through 6th grade. Caitlin is deeply passionate about arts education, with a focus on creative exploration and joyful expression in the classroom. Her favorite medium is watercolor, and she enjoys painting, spin cycling, and making magic happen for her students every day.

Explore how literature and visual art can deepen our understanding of identity. In this interactive workshop, participants will analyze short texts and powerful artwork, reflect on their own experiences, and create a written or visual expression of self. Through guided discussion and creative practice, we’ll uncover the layers of who we are—and how the arts help us see ourselves and others more clearly.

Maria Vlahiotis

Maria Vlahiotis is the English Language Arts Coordinator at the San Mateo County Office of Education, where she champions literacy grounded in the science of reading and upholds every student’s right to read as a human right. A former language and literacy coordinator, secondary literacy coach, and high school ELA and ELD teacher, Maria promotes Universal Design for Learning and project-based learning to ensure all students have access to skills and knowledge through instruction and curriculum that honor who they are, how they learn, and what brings them joy.

Discover how to incorporate inexpensive materials to explore mental health and emotional expression in your teaching practice. Join Zan Levine for this hands-on, interactive and fun visual journaling workshop. Participants will unpack themes of resilience and empathy through applied arts-based learning. Various journaling techniques will be introduced to create meaningful connections with the subject matter. Bring your sketchbook because in this hands-on media blitz experience, we will be using watercolor, stencils, collage, stamping, printmaking, pastels, and more!

Zan Levine

Zan Levine is an accomplished art educator with 19 years of teaching experience, holding credentials in visual art and CTE. Levine teaches ceramics at both high school and community college, serves as the district curriculum council chair, and is the school department head. Levine's pedagogy integrates historical and contemporary analyses, an antiracist curriculum, and fosters inclusivity in the classroom. Trained as a sculptor and multimedia artist, Levine’s artwork currently specializes in ceramics. Deeply committed to the environment, Levine is a board member of Climate Action Now! (CAN!), and collaborates with E.A.R.T.H. Lab SF to plant trees, raise awareness, and reduce San Francisco's carbon footprint.