EMPORIUM — Members of the Leadership Elk & Cameron class recently met for Arts and Education Day.
The day began at Cameron County High School, where the first presentation was by Dr. Keith Wolfe, superintendent for Cameron County School District. He discussed the initiatives and overview of the programs, and the class took a tour of the Cameron County Junior Senior High School.
Prior to the class, all participants were asked to interview a faculty member or administration from preschool to 12th grade in the public or private school system in Elk or Cameron County. Participants learned about the strengths, challenges, trends and opportunities of the area’s education system.
Julie Mader, a teaching artist from Smethport, gave an overview of the work she has completed in this area through the Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA) Arts in Education program. Amy Goode, program manager, Community Education Center discussed the Discover Partnership Initiative, which is an initiative that connects local schools and businesses in the area. Leadership Elk & Cameron had a lunch at Cameron County High school that was sponsored by the Discovered Partnership program.
Following lunch the group traveled to Ridgway for a tour of Elkwood Arts at Dickinson Center Inc. Then Sara Frank, community outreach & gallery coordinator, presented an overview of the programs and initiatives at the Elk County Council on the Arts. Kate Brock, board secretary for the Rural Regional College of Northern PA/executive director for the CEC presented a summary on the Rural Regional College Initiative and how it will impact this region.
Rick Skellen, Ridgway High School art teacher, also joined the group to discuss all forms of art and the impact art has on students. Lastly, the class heard from PJ Piccirillo, Arts in Education artist and writer, who discussed his work in the communities and schools in the area.
Leadership Elk County is a program of the Community Education Center (CEC). Applications for next year’s class will be available in April. Anyone who would like to learn more about the class or would like to register is asked to contact the CEC at (814) 781-3437 or visit cec@communityedcenter.com or (814) 781-3437.
