Young Audiences Arts for Learning is very pleased to announce the newest recipients of its National Teaching Artist Credential (TAC), a national initiative that articulates what high-quality arts-based instruction looks like in K-12 school-based residencies and formally endorses teaching artists who embody excellence in four competency areas: Artistry, Instruction, Preparation & Planning, and Community.
Following a rigorous application and adjudication process, the following outstanding teaching artists have earned the credential during the 2025-2026 TAC application cycle:
- Cassondra Argeros - Arts for Learning Western NY
- Bobby Beetcut - Young Audiences NJ & Eastern PA
- Kristin Brandt - Arts for Learning Western NY
- Caroline Breder-Watts - Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (Cleveland, OH)
- Pablo Contrisciani - Arts for Learning Miami
- Leland Faulkner - Arts for Learning Massachusetts
- Sandra Griffin - Springboard to Learning (St. Louis, MO)
- Ali Hardy - Young Audiences New York
- Margaret Hassenstab - Springboard to Learning
- Lily He - Young Audiences of Houston
- Dona Laurita - Think 360 Arts for Learning (Denver, CO)
- Shanna Melton - Arts for Learning Connecticut
- Natasha Mirny - Arts for Learning Maryland
- Kia Neill - Think 360 Arts for Learning
- Craig Norton - Arts for Learning Connecticut
- Mark Pagano - Springboard to Learning
- Sze Lin Pang - Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE)
- Jennifer Puig - Arts for Learning Miami
- Sophia Rabinovitz - Young Audiences of Louisiana
- Rob Santos - Arts for Learning Connecticut
- Tedd Shaffer - Young Audiences of Louisiana
- Susie Spear Purcell - ArtsNOW
- Michelle (Shelly) Svonavec - Center for Arts-Inspired Learning
- Aparna Tara - Springboard to Learning
- April Zay - Young Audiences NJ & Eastern PA
- Amelia Zontini - Arts for Learning Virginia
The TAC initiative was conceived by a working group of representatives from the Young Audiences network and developed in collaboration with an advisory committee of experts in the field of arts education. The program was piloted in 2017, with a total of 75 outstanding teaching artists from across the Young Audiences network having earned the credential since its inception.
For the latest information on the TAC initiative, including a complete list of credentialed teaching artists, please visit: www.youngaudiences.org/TAC.
