About the TAC Initiative
Young Audiences Arts for Learning’s National Teaching Artist Credential (TAC) articulates what effective, high-quality teaching artistry looks like in K-12 school-based residencies, and formally endorses exceptional teaching artists who embody excellence in four competency areas: Preparation, Artistry, Planning, and Instruction.
This nationally recognized credential validates teaching artistry as a field and advances arts-in-education by providing quality assurance for schools, promoting collaboration between classroom teachers and teaching artists, and above all, ensuring successful learning outcomes for students.
Who Are Credentialed Teaching Artists (CTAs?)
CTAs are professional Teaching Artists with proven skill in implementing school-based residencies. Committed to the ongoing development of their teaching practice, CTAs seek professional learning opportunities in their art form and around topics that are important to the educational field, staying current so as to better serve all students equitably. CTAs support, serve, and advocate for their arts and educational communities, lifting up, above all, the right of all students to have access to high-quality arts education regardless of geography or background.
Complete List of Young Audiences Nationally Credentialed Teaching Artists 2018-Present
| Marcus Allen | Arts for Learning Connecticut |
| Drew Anderson | Arts for Learning Maryland |
| Cassondra Argeros | Arts for Learning Western NY |
| Carrie Sue Ayvar | Arts for Learning Miami |
| Nate Barnes | Arts for Learning Connecticut |
| Bobby Beetcut | Young Audiences NJ & Eastern PA |
| Renee Benson | Young Audiences of Louisiana |
| Sarah Osburn Brady | Arts for Learning Virginia / Young Audiences NJ & Eastern PA |
| Kristin Brandt | Arts for Learning Western NY |
| Valerie Branch | Arts for Learning Maryland |
| Caroline Breder-Watts | Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (Cleveland, OH) |
| Harlan Brownlee | Kansas City Young Audiences |
| Diarra Clarke | Arts Ed Collaborative (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Pablo Contrisciani | Arts for Learning Miami |
| Katherine Dilworth | Arts for Learning Maryland |
| Joseph Dixon | Young Audiences of Houston |
| Norah Dooley | Arts for Learning Massachusetts |
| Sharon DuBois | Arts for Learning San Diego |
| See Christian Ellauri | Young Audiences of Northern California |
| Azia Ellis-Singleton | Arts for Learning Indiana |
| Janet Erlick | Arts for Learning Miami |
| Chris Espinosa | Young Audiences of Northeast Texas |
| Tom Evert | Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (Cleveland, OH) |
| Aaron Fowler | Arts Partners Wichita |
| Ja'Nese Galathe | Young Audiences of Louisiana |
| Shameka "Sallay" Gray | Young Audiences of Louisiana |
| Sandra Griffin | Springboard to Learning (St. Louis, MO) |
| Ali Hardy | Young Audiences New York |
| Margaret Hassenstab | Springboard to Learning (St. Louis, MO) |
| Lily He | Young Audiences of Houston |
| Ali Hoefnagel | Arts Ed Collaborative (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Melli Hoppe | Arts for Learning Indiana |
| LaTeesha Jackson | Kansas City Young Audiences |
| Sarah Grace Jackson | Arts Ed Collaborative (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Molly Johnson | Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern PA |
| Quynn Johnson | Arts for Learning Maryland |
| Dona Laurita | Think 360 Arts for Learning (Denver, CO) |
| Dana Leon | Young Audiences of Louisiana |
| Erika Loyola | Arts for Learning Miami |
| Barry Stewart Mann | ArtsNOW Learning (Atlanta, GA) |
| Laura Marchese | Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern PA |
| Kathleen Marleneanu | Arkansas Learning Through The Arts |
| Ray McNiece | Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (Cleveland, OH) |
| Melissa Kate Miller | Arts for Learning Western NY |
| Shanna Melton | Arts for Learning Connecticut |
| Natasha Mirny | Arts for Learning Maryland |
| Kayla Montes de Oca | Young Audiences New York |
| Karim Nagi | Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern PA |
| Kia Neill | Think 360 Arts for Learning (Denver, CO) |
| Craig Norton | Arts for Learning Connecticut |
| Mark Pagano | Springboard to Learning (St. Louis, MO) |
| Sze Lin Pang | Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) |
| Emma Parker | Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (Cleveland, OH) |
| PDVNCH PDVNCH | Arts for Learning Indiana |
| Jennifer Puig | Arts for Learning Miami |
| Sophia Rabinovitz | Young Audiences of Louisiana |
| Brittany Roger | Arts for Learning Maryland |
| Malke Rosenfeld | Arts for Learning Indiana |
| Rob Santos | Arts for Learning Connecticut |
| Christopher Sheard | Young Audiences of Louisiana |
| Susie Spear Purcell | ArtsNOW (Atlanta, GA) |
| Daniel Ssuuna | Arts for Learning Maryland |
| Michelle (Shelly) Svonavec | Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (Cleveland, OH) |
| Aparna Tara | Springboard to Learning (St. Louis, MO) |
| Jaisson Taylor | Kansas City Young Audiences |
| Maria-Ines Tripodi | Arts for Learning Maryland |
| Born Walters | Arts Ed Collaborative (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Drekkia Writes | Arkansas Learning Through The Arts |
| April Zay | Young Audiences New Jersey & Eastern PA |
| Alison Zapata | Arts Ed Collaborative (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| Amelia Zontini | Arts for Learning Virginia |
Questions?
If you have questions about the program or application process, please contact Melissa Gawlowski Pratt, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Network Relations, at melissa@ya.org.
