From Lesson Plans to Strategic Plans: Teachers鈥 Expand Skills in Arts Administration
December 12, 2024
Veronica Nickerson and Kaleigh Rummel are Master of Arts Administration (MAA) students with area specialization in Music Leadership. They both entered the MAA program as experienced teachers and demonstrate how their teaching background informs their preparations to take on diverse roles in arts organizations.
Veronica switched her career goal from teaching to focus on arts administration, 鈥淭hough I will not be teaching in the traditional classroom anymore, I aim to provide musical opportunities to lifelong music learners.鈥 Her passion for music education, along with the desire to gain additional experience while an MAA student, resulted in Veronica becoming a work-study student at Stuart's Opera House. Veronica currently works in a dynamic role that spans multiple facets of the organization and contributes to the community in new ways.
Initially, Veronica assisted the Operations Director in attending meetings, conducting research, and participating in strategic planning, including rewriting the mission and vision statements, and a SWOT analysis. She also researched the organization鈥檚 online presence, managed inventory needs, and analyzed survey data from the 2024 Nelsonville Music Festival. These projects, along with participating in events, have resonated with Veronica鈥檚 passion for gathering insights and engaging with people.
Although the shift from being a teacher to a graduate student and working in an arts organization has been challenging, the journey has sparked new interests and opportunities. Veronica stated, 鈥淚 find that my experience as a music educator has brought valuable insights and skills to my work in the MAA program. I am seeing that my skills can be multifaceted in their application to my life.鈥 The connections being made among her teaching experience, current role at Stuart鈥檚 Opera House, and her MAA coursework emphasize broad applications beyond the classroom and support new opportunities for her personal and professional growth.
Kaleigh Rummel is an MAA student and is also in the second year of her master鈥檚 degree in flute performance. Kaleigh currently holds adjunct faculty positions at Marietta College and West Virginia University at Parkersburg. In these roles, she teaches flute, organizes events including recitals and studio classes, and collaborates closely with faculty and students. She also teaches with the Athens Community Music School (ACMS), serving as a private flute instructor for students of varying skill levels.
Kaleigh noted, 鈥淐reating a supportive environment is a key aspect of my teaching philosophy, so I make building strong relationships with my students a top priority. This relational aspect is also important within arts administration, where creating a sense of community among participants鈥攚hether students, artists, or audiences鈥攊s vital for engagement and retention. Teaching private lessons involves substantial organizational responsibilities, including managing student schedules, communicating with parents about progress and expectations, and coordinating performance opportunities. These tasks closely relate to the demands of arts administration, where efficient scheduling and clear communication are the foundation for program success.鈥
Kaleigh鈥檚 current teaching roles extend beyond flute instruction and involve critical administrative tasks that require strategic planning and awareness of organizational mission and priorities. In addition, Kaleigh is expanding her leadership skills through collaboration, navigating organizational culture, and creating learning experiences for students that demonstrate her keen ability to support teaching practices and studio management with honed administrative abilities.
Veronica and Kaleigh鈥檚 experiences offer insight into the ways that the MAA program can support students from a variety of backgrounds and with an array of career aspirations. Their journey in the MAA program reflects how each student鈥檚 unique skills and experiences are valued and can be further cultivated to contribute to the arts and culture sector.