In his work with the National PTA (Parent Teacher Association), Ethan Clark is an advocate for music education in our schools. He’ll share some of his strategies during a visit to West Virginia University.

Clark, who earned a degree in music education from WVU, will visit the university’s College of Creative Arts on Monday, Sept. 21. He’ll make the case that “It Takes a Village” to support arts education at 4 p.m. in Bloch Hall, 200A Creative Arts Center.

Clark’s presentation will focus on new research and updated policies supporting arts education that can help advocates promote music in schools. He’ll offer best practices for collaboration between advocates and community members, breaking down the music education ecosystem of school partners, players and policymakers.

In a morning session with music education students, he’ll discuss “The Art of Family-School Partnerships,” discussing national standards for family-school partnerships and how they relate to music program goals and overall school improvement initiatives.

Clark joined the National PTA in 2012 and oversees the development and implementation of programs and partnerships that help local PTAs enrich educational experiences. Prior to that, he worked for several organizations like the Arts Education Partnership and the National Endowment for the Arts. Clark began his career as a music educator at Southwestern High School in Hanover, PA.

Clark’s visit is part of the College of Creative Arts Alumni-in-Residence series, featuring graduates of the Schools of Art and Design, Music, and Theatre and Dance.

-WVU-

dw/09/09/15

CONTACT: David Welsh, WVU College of Creative Arts
304-293-3397; David.Welsh@mail.wvu.edu

Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.