Arts Integration in Principal Preparation Programs: The Influence on Support of K-12 Arts Education

• In Event: Developing Leaders that Address Issues that Matter: Arts and Race

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to determine how an educational leadership course in a principal preparation program that uses arts integration instruction changed participants’ support of K-12 arts education. “Arts integration is an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form” (Kennedy Center, n.d.). An open ended questionnaire and interviews of graduate students who have completed arts integration course work in a principal preparation program explored the participants’ understanding of the benefits and value of the visual arts, design, and creativity in K-12 educational programming. The research sought to describe how an arts integration experience impacts the pre-service principals’ decision making as school leaders regarding arts education, and the research proposes a theoretical model for arts integration in educational leadership preparation course work.

Author

• Eric Dimmitt, Cardinal Stritch University