The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Education

Welcome to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Partners in Education (KC-PIE) program for mid-Michigan. The Kennedy Center serves as the national umbrella for statewide arts education partnerships between schools and arts organizations. Currently, close to 100 partnership teams in nearly 40 states and the District of Columbia participate in the program. Ingham Intermediate School District and Wharton Center for Performing Arts have been the Mid-Michigan Partnership Team since 2006.

The KC-PIE program is based on the belief that teachers’ professional learning is an essential component of any effort designed to increase the artistic literacy of young people. The primary purpose of these partnerships is to provide teachers with professional training in arts integration.

Each year a dedicated group of administrators, teaching artists, and classroom teachers commit to expanding the role the arts play in classrooms. The KC-PIE program strives to support teachers in these efforts. We hope that you will learn more about the program, ask questions, think in new ways, and join us in this important work.

Joni Starr, Administrative Coordinator, Ingham ISD
Bert Goldstein, Director, Wharton Center Institute for Arts & Creativity

Arts Integration Preview Workshop

CALLING ALL TEACHERS: Attend a free Arts Integration Workshop at Wharton Center and receive two tickets to a non-Broadway performance.

Light a creative spark in your classroom with visual art, dance, theater, and more. Join us as Wharton Center for Performing Arts teaching artists support you with arts integrated lessons that address both core curriculum and social emotional learning. Recharge your personal creative energy and watch your students joyfully engage in learning through the arts.

This free interactive workshop will highlight The Kennedy Center Partners in Education (KC-PIE) program and invite you to join in the upcoming 2023-24 arts integration teacher community. This is a partnership between Ingham Intermediate School District and Wharton Center to provide ongoing professional development.

Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Time: 4:45-6:30 pm
Place: Wharton Center, Christman Lounge

Included in the workshop:

Introduction to the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Program.
Activities facilitated by professional teaching artists demonstrating arts integration techniques.
A light dinner will be provided.
Free parking at the Wharton Center for the workshop.
Two tickets to a performance from a select list of non-Broadway productions in the Wharton Center's fall 2023-spring 2024 season.

Arts Advocacy Breakfast

Each year, the Mid-Michigan KC-PIE Partnership Team hosts the Arts Advocacy Breakfast. This event brings together educators, superintendents, principals, politicians and artists to showcase how mid-Michigan schools are integrating arts into classrooms.

14th Annual Arts Advocacy Breakfast
Wednesday, March 22, 2023
7:30-9:00 AM
Jackson Lounge, Wharton Center

Arts Integration Summer Institute

Bring Arts & Creativity To Teaching & Learning

You are invited to participate in the 2023 Arts Integration Summer Institute where educators and guest artists come together to deepen their understanding of creativity in the classroom and arts integration through activity and conversation. The 2023 Summer Institute will be held August 1-2, 2023, at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts on the campus of Michigan State University. This summer, we welcome multidisciplinary creative (actor, dancer, musician and poet) Paige Hernandez. Attendance at the Summer Institute is required for participation in the KC-PIE program.

“It rejuvenated me just in time for school!” KC-PIE participant.

Classroom Residencies

Each KC-PIE educator has the opportunity to select from local teaching artists in the visual or performing arts to work directly in their classroom. Teaching artists collaborate with classroom teachers to plan, write, implement and assess arts integrated residency. Both educators support and engage with students as they learn through participation in the creative process. At the end of the school year, all KC-PIE participants meet for final reflection and celebration of the year’s work in arts integration.

“It pushed me to grow creatively and recognize ways to easily integrate arts in my teaching.” KC-PIE participant

Professional Learning Communities

Become part of a Professional Learning Community (PLC) where educators gather to discuss and learn about new topics in arts integration. Each PLC meeting provides for exchange between teaching artists and classroom teachers, peer-to-peer learning, and modeling of activities and workshops by specialists. There are three afterschool meetings over the course of the school year.

Only for 2022-23 KC-PIE Program participants: