Opening Minds through the Arts
Opening Minds through the Arts | 2025 E. Winsett, Tucson, AZ 85719 | (520) 225-4900
Metropolitan Opera Educational Partner, HD Live Broadcasts 10-2019
Administrators Conference 2018-19 SY
Governor's Arts Awards, January 2017
ART After Dark, Tucson Children's Museum, 11-2017
National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Conference is the only music education conference where you can connect with music educators from all over the world. Collaborate, educate, and network with individuals, and programs, and services that support music educators and the important work they do. Dallas, 11-2017
National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Conference, The NAMM Foundation celebrates and promotes the intrinsic value of music education. 1-2018
For the 3rd consecutive year, TUSD Music programs received the Best Communities for Music Education award by the National Association of Music Merchants for its outstanding commitment to music education. TUSD is the only school district in Arizona to receive this recognition, 2016
"It's Time for Opera" a handbook for OMA Teaching Artist written by OMA Opera Teaching Artists Kimberly Chaffin, Juan Aguirre, and Gregg Reynolds, self-published 2016
Presenters for the Arizona Joint Arts Education Conference (JAEC) produced by the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona Commission on the Arts, October 2016. Presenters included Joan Ashcraft, Trista Tamura, Jacob Landi
Selected as Arts Hero for November 2016 by On Media Publications and Act One. This award recognizes those behind-the-scenes players whose dedication and expertise in the arts helps enrich the lives of South Arizona children, arts patrons, and artists.
Participation in Act One Culture Pass, 2016
TUSD's Music Education Program Receives National Recognition
Tucson Unified School District named a Best Community for Music for the 3rd time Tucson, Arizona. (March 31, 2016) – The Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. Acknowledged for the third consecutive year, TUSD is the only school district in Arizona to receive this recognition.
"It's Time for Opera" a handbook for OMA Teaching Artist. Throughout this handbook, we will impart our knowledge from over 12 years of experience in the Opening Minds through the Arts (OMA) Program. Welcome to the most challenging job you will ever love!
Selected as a visitation site by Educational Leadership Learning Exchange Program between Vanderbilt University and the International Department: School of Professional Development and Research, South China Normal University of Guangzhou, China, Fall 2014
OMA staff has been asked to present a Arizona Department of Education's MEGA Conference entitled Arizona's Rising Stars. Best practices will be shared building on the STEAM theme featuring OMA Visual and Performing Arts lessons tied to Core Content areas of math and science.
OMA staff, Thom Lewis and Rome Hamner will present at the Joint Arts Education Conference produced by the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. This year's conference focuses on the role of arts education in our schools. We know that the arts are an essential part of every student's education. They help us learn how to communicate expressively and provide us with work-place skills such as discipline, determination and confidence. Thom and Rome will present research collected by Dr. Pamela Clarridge through Strengthening Schools Through Arts Partnerships Grant provided by the Arizona Commission on the Arts.
Best 100 Communities for Music Education, American Music Conference, April 2014
Survey was conducted by: The American Music Conference, MENC: The National Association for Music Education, Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, Music for all Foundation, Music Teachers National Association, NAMM: International Music Products Association, National School Boards Assoc., Yamaha Corp. of America, and VH1 Save the Music Foundation
Good Music, Brighter Children, Dr. Sharlene Habermeyer, published 2014
Arizona Art Tank Grant: Not Business as Usual, Business Unusual from the Arizona Commission of the Arts, $7,500 (1st Runner-Up) awarded February 3, 2014
Arizona Commission on the Arts grant, strengthening schools through arts partnerships initiative with Maxwell K-8 School, $15,000 July 2013
Participation in Jump Start Program for TUSD pre-kindergarten children July 2013
OMA Colloquium: Making Learning Visible, University of Arizona School of Music, March 2013
Presentation on OMA to Louisville Symphony Orchestra and Louisville School District, October 2012, Louisville, Kentucky
OMA eBook published entitled OMA: Where Integration Meets Innovation: A Model for Rethinking Education; September 2012 (available on Amazon.com)
OMA Expansion: Mentor Schools (15), Affiliate Schools (4) and Exploratory Residency Schools (24); increased staff to assist with this expansion hired, August 2012
Harvard Project Zero participants in Making Learning Visible conference, OMA AIS Julie Patrick selected to apply as a Fellow for 2013, Boston, Massachusetts, July 2012
Presentation on OMA to the National Association for Music Education: Music Education Leadership within Professional Learning Communities, June 2012, Baltimore, Maryland
Education Nation: Six Leading Edges of Innovation in Our Schools; Lucas Foundation's Executive Director, Emeritus, Dr. Milton Chen, foreword by George Lucas, published 2010 (pages 194 and 195).
Formalization of Professional Development Model: Arts Integration Academy, Intensives, Master Class Week, and Afternoon school site PDs, 2009
Selected as the staff favorite for year end edition of Edutopia's online newsletter, 2009
Consultations with Whiteriver Unified School District and Mesa Unified School District, 2009
Target Corporation Grant, 2009
OMA Artist Series premier concerts, 2009
Arizona Community Foundation Grant, 2009
Innovate the Pixar Way: Business Lessons from the World's Most Creative Corporate Playground, Bill Capadagli and Lynn Jackson, published 2009
Harvard Project Zero Qualities of Quality: Excellence in Arts Education, and How to Achieve It Research Study, Steve Seidel, Shari Tishman, Ellen Winner, Lois Hetland, Patricia Palmer, published, 2009
Presenter at National Conference of Charter Schools, 2009
OMA Presents premier event, 2009
Site visit by Carol Lawrence with video production, 2009
Interviewed by Linda Ronstadt in preparation for her presentation on the Value of Arts Education for U.S. Congress, 2009
Selected as feature organization for McGraw-Hill book entitled Pixar Passion: Getting to Creativity, authors Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson, 2009
Featured in Edutopia, February 2009, and as a documentary on George Lucas Education Foundation website, Edutopia.org
OMA Program dissemination materials finalized by OMA Design Team, printed for distribution, 2008
Joan Ashcraft received Woman On The Move – Leadership award, for her work in OMA, presented by the YWCA, 2008
Eugene H. Jones finalist for the Purpose Prize: for Americans leading with experience, by Civic Ventures, 2007
Presenter at the National Staff Development Conference, 2007
Pima Cultural Plan Leadership Coalition – lead organization and model program, 2007
Spotlight on Success Award presented by Arizona State Superintendent, Tom Horne, 2007
Presentation to Education Committee of the Arizona State Legislature, 2007
Arizona Governor's Arts Award in the category of Arts in Education, 2007
Emerald Foundation Grant, over a 3-year period of 2007-2009.
Harvard Project Zero Qualities of Quality: Excellence in Arts Education and How to Achieve It, Research Study 2006
OMA Founder, H. Eugene Jones, nominated for Governor's Arts Award – Individual 2006
Arts Education Partnership The Power of Partnerships in Higher Education2006
Lumie Award – Arts Volunteer to Active Volunteers for the Arts (AVA), Tucson Pima Arts Council, May 4, 2006
$10,000 donation from the Big AZ Music Festival, It's Happening Downtown, Inc., April 2006
Arts Education Partnership Third Space Where Learning Matters 2005
$10,000 donation by the Tucson Federal Credit Union, 2005
Professional Development for Music Educators Grant, U.S. Dept. of Education, 3 year grant from October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2008, totaling $1,001,700.00
Teacher to Teacher Workshop Presenter, U.S. Dept. of Education, 2005 and 2006
Workshops were presented in fourteen cities across the United States.
Finalist for Impact, The ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS, awarded by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, April 14, 2005
Bronze Telly Award to U.S. Dept. of Education for their program, Education News Parents Can Use episode titled, "Arts Education: Improving Students' Academic Performance" featuring the Opening Minds Through The Arts (OMA) Program. Episode aired nationally on PBS stations, March 2005
Promising Practices Technical Provider, Arizona State Dept. of Education, spring 2004
$40,000 donation by the Marshall Foundation, 2004
$15,000 and $10,000 in donations by the Stocker Foundation, 2004 and 2005
Named as a Resource for Arts Education, by Rod Paige, U.S. Dept. of Education, July 2004
Featured in The Education Innovator, January 26, 2004, Volume II, Number 3
Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant, U.S. Dept. of Education, 3 year grant from October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2004, totaling $1,343,874.00
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Dr. Joan Ashcraft, Director
2025 E. Winsett
joan.ashcraft@tusd1.org