Arts for Learning Expands Whole School Partnership to Niagara Wheatfield
- Arts for Learning
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
This Fall 2025, Arts for Learning WNY launched two in-school residencies as part of our new Whole School Partnership with Niagara Wheatfield Central School District. This program brings professional Teaching Artists into classrooms to connect students with literature, visual art, and performance, fostering creativity, self-expression, and deeper learning.
Programs in Action
Found Poetry with Robin Jordan:
Robin Jordan led two 6th-grade ELA classes in Found Poetry, using the novel Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart to guide students as they discovered and expressed acts of courage through words and collages.
“Loved it! Overall, such a success! She was fantastic, kids love her, she is a natural. I loved that she did two parts, the poetry and art!" - Jess Miller, 6th Grade Teacher, Niagara Wheatfield
Living Tableaus with Kristin Brandt:
Kristin Brandt worked with another 6th-grade ELA class on Living Tableaus, exploring Ben Mikaelsen's Touching Spirit Bear through physical scenes that deepened understanding of the novel’s themes. Students also created postcards for themselves as reminders of what resonated most from the story.
“The kids really loved it and looked forward to it every week!” - Krista Miller, 6th Grade Teacher, Niagara Wheatfield
Program Impact
Over the course of the 2025-2026 school year, the Whole School Partnership Program is expected to reach 2,500 students and 42 teachers across multiple districts. This comprehensive arts-integrated residency embeds creative learning into the school day for every student across all grade levels. Developed in collaboration with school leaders and classroom teachers, the program supports sustained, curriculum-aligned instruction that advances both academic success and social-emotional development. It also equips educators with professional development based around practical tools that allows them to seamlessly incorporate the arts into daily teaching.
If your school is interested in hosting a Whole School Partnership residency for the 2026-2027 school year, please contact Program Manager Jesi Miller at jesim@artsforlearningwny.org.
