Saturday, March 20, 2010
Battle Creek Middle School
2121 North Park Drive
St. Paul, MN 55119


Saint Paul Public Schools' (SPPS) Center for Professional Development produces and funds its Arts for All Conference now in its 9th annual year.

In collaboration, East Side Arts Council co-plans, co-organizes and co-facilitates the event. Additional support is provided by Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.

Teachers, administrators, educators, parents, staff and artists from across the region are encouraged to participate in this day-long conference 

Conference workshops and the keynote speaker will provide participants with strategies, knowledge and skills that will lead to improved professional practice and student learning.

Participants will exchange ideas about how to best increase student engagement and achievement in and through the arts, network with other teachers and community members in the arts and in other careers, renew their creative spark and enjoy a day of professionalism and learning.

2010 Theme:
ARTS and CULTURE: Exploring the arts from multiple perspectives with emphasis on the contributions of Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities (Ojibwe, Dakota and Lakota)

Session Focus:    
Visual and Media Arts, Music, Theater, Dance, and Performance Art, traditional and non-traditional arts and arts integrated with other subject areas. And, sessions that assist participants in learning about:

• engaging strategies for working with students with varied learning styles, ability and effort levels, students who learn by doing, students at risk and from poverty, students who speak the third language of the arts and expression, students who learn in other content areas through the arts, students who need the arts to keep them engaged and in school
• diverse viewpoints and perspectives
• contributions of Minnesota American Indian tribes and communities
• traditional, non-traditional, historical and multicultural arts
• making sense of our world and personal stories through creative explorations contemporary and appropriated art forms
•  interdisciplinary connections - especially arts and literacy, math and non-fiction writing.
•  arts pedagogy, theory, practice and high academic rigor
• research studies, action research, data collection and how to use data to inform instruction and improve teaching and learning
• arts leadership

Sessions are also designed to support SPPS district goals of ensuring high academic achievement, raising expectations for accountability, accelerating the path to excellence, strengthening relationships with community and families and/or our District Strategic Plan goal of expanding and integrating visual and performing arts experiences for all students.

Registration 2010:
There is no cost to attend for SPPS staff, SPPS Site Council or School Support Organization leaders. Register on PDexpress

Minneapolis Public Schools' staff are invited to attend at no cost (fee is paid for by MPS). Register on eCOMPASS

Community members and other district or charter and private school staff are invited to attend for $20.  "Non SPPS/MPS Registration" form at the bottom of this web page.

This year, we are also accepting donations and free-will cash donations for breakfast and lunch.


Keynote Address Description:
 "American Indian Music in Minnesota's Classrooms: A primer for the 21st Century"
 
Join Lyz Jaakola (enrolled member of Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe) as she explores the role that Minnesota's educators can play in bringing Anishinaabe and Lakota music into the classroom, as mandated by recent state legislation.  Having experience as an Anishinaabe music educator (pre-K through college) and performing/recording artist, Ms. Jaakola shares many insights into successful, meaningful, culturally sensitive, and even FUN methods which educators can readily apply within their own classrooms.

Jaakola has recently worked with Perpich Center for the Arts in conjunction with the "Kevin Locke Hoopdance Curriculum" workshop, as invited faculty at Banff Centre for the Arts,  and as performing leader with Oshkii Giizhik Singers, recipients of the 2009 "best traditional recording" Native American Music Award (aka "Nammy").  She currently sits on the First Nations Composers Advisory Board, FDL Tribal College Board, and is presenting at MMEA this February while she  continues to teach Music and American Indian Studies full-time at the Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College.
 
Workshop Session Description - presented twice at the Conference:
"Native Music: Pow-wow and Beyond"

Keynote speaker Lyz Jaakola will lead participants in an interactive exploration of Minnesota's tribal music.  Although most tribal customs prohibit complete disclosure of sacred musics, do not interpret this to mean ALL  tribal music is off-limits.  There is a WORLD of Anishinaabe, Dakota, Lakota, Hochunck and other tribal music available to the non-Native listener, learner and performer. 

Knowing which music is essential, and Lyz will teach participants how to become more successful at distinguishing such music while asking educators to "step out of their comfort zone" with activities that can be transferred to the classroom.  Because music is not usually a separate disclipline in tribal communities, arts educators from all disciplines will be able to find relevance in this session.

Elizabeth Jaakola Biography:
Elizabeth "Lyz" (aka Libby) Jaakola (Anishinaabe, enrolled member of Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) has had a varied musical background, preparing her for a career in music education and American Indian studies at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Earning her Bachelor of music degree (1992) in vocal performance, Elizabeth chose teaching at a tribal school as a music specialist before embarking on a performance journey. Performing and writing in many styles/genres, she’s difficult to pigeonhole, but these cameleon-like traits are only natural for a Native woman who readily embraces her mixed heritage.

Elizabeth’s past includes performances in the Rome Operafestival (Mezzo Soprano), Choral music at Carnegie Hall, Traditional ceremony singer, Jazz scat singer, Blues siren and Regional soloist in many venues of Northern Minnesota. Her Native-based compositions have been heard on radio stations, television, video, and many stages near to her home on the Fond du Lac reservation in Minnesota.

After earning a Masters in Music from University of Minnesota-Duluth, Lyz embraced teaching full-time Music and Indian Studies at Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College. She’s currently compiling her Native-based choral pieces, striving to promote Anishinaabe music performances and education, occasionally gigging around town in her Blues band (Lyz Jaakola & the Smokin Chimokes), recording various projects such as the Native women's handdrum group, Oshkii Giizhik Singers' sweetheart CD and Anishinaabe Youth Chorus' sophomore recording, inbetween teaching and parenting 2 fabulous young sons.

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Conference Contact:    

    East Side Arts Council • 977 Payne Ave. • St. Paul, MN 55101
    651.774.5422 Phone    • 651-774-5502 • esac@visi.com

SPPS Contacts:    
  Jan Spencer de Gutiérrez,
  Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts
  651-5526 • jan.spencer@spps.org

  Becky Litzau, rebecca.litzau@spps.org, 651-744-1365