“Bringing out Hidden Qualities”: Teachers’ Descriptions of Emergent Student Leadership within Brilliant Storytellers Program

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 9:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Envisioning Arts Curriculum Futures

Abstract

Brilliant Storytellers is a performing arts curriculum designed to foster leadership, creativity, and reading skills among elementary students, particularly within summer programs serving low-income communities. Grounded in the Axiom of Brilliance, this study used focus groups with 19 instructors to examine how students’ talents emerged through acting, directing, and collaborative storytelling. Thematic analysis revealed Brilliant Storytellers fostered emergent student leadership by building confidence, encouraging students to develop and articulate creative visions, and providing opportunities to direct and guide their peers through collaborative performances. These findings highlight the potential of arts-based, student-centered curricula to uncover and nurture hidden talents, particularly among students who are often overlooked in traditional academic settings.

Authors

• Lisa DaVia Rubenstein, Ball State University

• Kathrin Maki, University of Florida

• Sasha Hatfield, University of Florida

• Lisa M. Ridgley Smith, University of San Diego

• Alisa Scherbakova, University of Georgia

• Theadora Vlaamster, Ball State University