News & Updates

Danielle Collins

Danielle Collins is the Popular Music Chair at the Academy for the Performing Arts at Huntington Beach High School. She currently serves on the Board of Directors as the President of Pulse Percussion, Inc. Danielle is the Audio Production Lead for the CA State Department of Education CTE Arts, Media, and Entertainment Sector. She has served as the Innovations Chair for the California Music Educators Association and on the board of the California Band Directors Association for six years. She has a Master’s Degree in Music Education from CSU Long Beach, and a CTE Credential in Arts, Media, and Entertainment. She has taught in the music education departments at CSULB and CSU Los Angeles, and she worked as a contract consultant for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Her non-profit organization, Pulse, is a force to be reckoned with in the competitive percussion community, as four-time world champions and in the top 5 of their class for the last 12 years. The experience has given Danielle opportunities to work with countless high schools, non-profits, and music industry partners. Danielle has written classes that integrate student compositions with student-designed and directed multimedia productions and she has helped develop Career Technical Education Programs in other schools. Danielle has presented nationally many times on subjects including blending work with traditional and commercial groups, personalized learning, and developing popular music ensembles, and was named as one of Yamaha’s 40 Under 40 nationally in 2022. Danielle is a friend of VicFirth, Zildjian, Remo Drumheads, Yamaha, and Soundtrap.

Jack Mitchell

Jack Mitchell is the former Arts, Media, and Entertainment industry sector lead at the California Department of Education. With over 35 years of experience in both the classroom and creative industry, Jack recently founded AME Consulting, LLC, to strengthen or build strong, industry-connected AME programs and pathways.

Simone Price

Simone Price is a Manager on the Social Impact and Sustainability Team at Dolby Laboratories. As an influential program designer with a focus on Dolby’s partnerships in K-12 STEAM Education, Simone creates programs and experiences that pair the next generation of innovators with Dolby talent, technology, and industry resources to help them explore careers and develop skills at the intersection of technology and entertainment.

Shari Holly

Shari began her work in the diversity, equity, & inclusion space at PromaxBDA. She implemented several development and training programs to prepare emerging talent to transition into the entertainment marketing industry and the early stages of their creative careers. Other programs and events led include: Creative Coach program, HR Roundtable, Student Portfolio Night, Executive Mentorship Program, panels and workshops with TV network partners, and various programs through strong academic and industry partnerships nationwide. She was the Program Administrator for the first-ever Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP); created and endorsed by both the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) and the Directors Guild of America (DGA). There, she made an immersive program that provides more access and opportunity to underrepresented directors in commercial production.

Currently, she runs operations for Pipelines, a mobile app and web platform that connects underrepresented talent directly to jobs and training opportunities, and companies to a vast pool of historically-excluded talent. Pipelines also offer mentorship and scholarship opportunities, educational workshops, and events through the Pipelines Foundation.

She is a Detroit native, board member of ArtworxLA and the BRIC Foundation and on the advisory councils for the CSU Entertainment Alliance and the CA Department of Education Arts, Media, and Entertainment sector.

Ashley Adams

Ashley Adams began working in California arts education over 20 years ago and has spent her professional career supporting high-quality arts for all students. As the Founding Executive Director of the AME Institute non-profit organization, Ashley is committed to supporting AME teachers and administrators through professional learning experiences that are relevant, engaging, meaningful, and transformative.

After positions in the educational departments of the Old Globe Theatre and Pasadena Playhouse, Ashley taught high school theatre in the San Dieguito Union High School District in San Diego. She was a founding staff member at Canyon Crest Academy and its first Envision Director. Later, Ashley began consulting with various districts and schools throughout California (Rancho Santa Fe, Vista Unified, Oakland School for the Arts, etc.) on strategic initiatives in the arts.

In 2017, Ashley began working with the California Department of Education on the AME Institute- the largest professional development event for AME educators. That work has expanded over the years and Ashley is extremely proud of the organization that has grown out of these efforts. Ashley is constantly learning about the creative industries and pushing her own understandings of what exceptional AME professional learning can be.

Ashley holds a BA in English and Theatre from Middlebury College and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education. She and her husband Ryan have twins, a dog, and a fluctuating number of chickens.

Gayle Nicholls-Ali

2018 La Cañada USD’s Teacher of the Year, Gayle Nicholls-Ali is a CTE AME teacher, fine arts photographer, and Girls Who Code advocate. Gayle has been teaching at La Cañada H.S. for 15 years and is also an adjunct professor at Pacific Oaks College. On California Educators Together, she is currently serving as this year’s CTE AME Ambassador.

Dan Dark

Dan Dark serves as Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Worldwide Studio Operations (WBSO). Dark oversees all studio operations both in Los Angeles and the UK. This oversight involves all production services, including stages, offices, workshops, set lighting, grip, costume, property, archives, transportation, and construction, as well as continuing to drive WBSO’s ongoing investment in creating additional facilities and services to meet the ever-growing production demands.

Dark is responsible for supervising all operations across WBSO’s multiple Los Angeles-based facilities, anchored by the historic Warner Bros. Studios Main Lot in Burbank, a significant fixture of the Burbank community dating back nearly a century, the 110-acre main lot is widely renowned as one of the world’s foremost production and post-production facilities, providing state-of-the-art production resources that include 31 soundstages and 11 exterior sets ranging from a rainforest jungle to a bustling metropolis. Dark also oversees business operations at the nearby Warner Bros. Ranch lot, a 32-acre property featuring an additional five soundstages and three exterior sets

Prior to relocating from London to Los Angeles for his current position, Dark served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director at Warner Bros.’ UK-based production facility, Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (WBSL), where he was responsible for overseeing the Studio’s production facility and the award-winning visitor attraction Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter.

Dark’s association with WBSL predates Warner Bros.’ purchase of the property in 2010—in the mid-1990s, he was employed to develop the Leavesden Aerodrome into a production facility for the James Bond film “Goldeneye.” He continued to run the site as a film studio, which became home to all eight “Harry Potter” films before opening as WBSL in 2012. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2022, the ever-growing UK studio is now home to 19 sound stages, an extended backlot covering over 100 acres of clear horizon exterior landscape, and V Stage, a cutting-edge virtual production stage that opened in 2021 with HBO’s “Game of Thrones” prequel, “House of the Dragon,” as its first occupant.

Possessing a rich body of experience rooted in the film industry, Dark started his career in working in production before segueing into special physical effects, where he was a member of the Oscar©-winning Special Effects team on James Cameron’s “Aliens.” In 1992, he oversaw the construction and management of a 30-acre site in Spain, creating and operating a new television studio facility.

From the first days of his 20-year tenure at Leavesden to his continued efforts today, Dark has long been dedicated to serving to the community around him. In the UK, he serves as a co-chair of Visit Herts, a member of the Watford Cultural Leaders Forum, a founding member of Skillmakers, and an active contributor to the Chamber of Conscience. Dark’s commitment to fostering skills development for the creative industries led to his work with
the University of Hertfordshire, where he developed many opportunities for students from mentoring and work-shadowing to a bursary program. His contributions were recognized in 2017, when he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree by the University. Additionally, Dark spearheaded efforts on behalf of Warner Bros.’ to support additional needs for the Collett School for Children, which were recognized in 2018 with a Careers and Enterprise award for Innovative Partnership of the Year.

In January 2021, Dark was named in Queen Elizabeth’s New Year’s Honours List and awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his service and contributions to the UK film and television industry.

Dario Calmese

Sitting at the nexus of art, fashion and academia, Dario is an artist, urbanist, director and brand consultant currently based in New York City. He received his master’s in photography from the School of Visual Arts and his bachelors in psychology at Rockhurst University in Kansas City. Classically trained in the performing arts, he uses his knowledge of movement, gesture, and psychology to create complex characters and narratives that explore history, race, class, and what it means to be human.

In 2020 he made history as the first Black photographer to shoot a cover for Vanity Fair in it’s 106-year history with his portrait of Oscar-winning actress, Viola Davis. 2020 also saw the launch of his widely-acclaimed podcast, The Institute of Black Imagination, featuring conversations from the Pool of Black Genius through the lens of design. Most recently, he collaborated with Adobe Lightroom to design presets specifically for people of color.

Dario serves on the global advisory board for Estee Lauder Companies and is a professor at The New School’s Parson’s School of Design in New York City. He is currently a NYC Urban Design Forum Fellow and his show direction for the fashion brand Pyer Moss has been consistently hailed in Vogue and The New York Times as the “best show of Fashion Month.”

AME Institute 2022 Preview Video

Nonny de la Peña, Ph.D

Nonny de la Peña, Ph.D. is the founder of Emblematic Group where she uses cutting-edge technologies to tell stories — both fictional and news-based — that create intense, empathic engagement. A Yale Poynter Media Fellow and a former correspondent for Newsweek, de la Peña is widely credited with pioneering the genre of immersive journalism. She is a WSJ Technology Innovator of the Year, one of CNET’s 20 Most Influential Latinos in Tech, a Wired Magazine #MakeTechHuman Agent of Change and Fast Company named her “One of the People Who Made the World More Creative.”

As a journalist and filmmaker, de la Peña has more than 20 years of award-winning experience, writing for publications such as Time Magazine, New York and LA Times, and working in feature documentary and film production. Her paper in the MIT journal Presence, “Immersive Journalism: Immersive Virtual Reality for the First-Person Experience of the News,” is the second most downloaded article in the journal’s history, and her TED talk, which describes the use of cutting-edge technologies for putting viewers on scene at real news events, has garnered more than 1,300,000 views.

Under her leadership, Emblematic has built a critically acclaimed body of work using a range of technologies from VR, AR, and XR to 360 video, AI and machine learning. Emblematic’s diverse roster of world class clients includes Cartier, Google, Lenovo, Italian fashion brand GCDS, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the World Economic Forum. Emblematic’s WebXR platform REACH.Love, a no-code toolset that creates scalable distribution in the medium, democratizes content authorship and empowers new voices to share their stories.

Nonny recently joined Arizona State University as the founding director of the new Narrative and Emerging Media center located in downtown Los Angeles where she leads a best-in-class research and graduate program with a focus on new narratives developed using emerging media technologies including virtual, mixed and augmented reality, virtual production and spatial content in the areas of arts, culture and nonfiction.

At ASU, de la Peña oversees a new master’s degree and a research, events and policy space focused on creative practice and critical understanding of immersive experience across XR with the goal of shifting and diversifying the demographics of those working in the technology landscape.

Vince Kadlubek

Vince Kadlubek is a Founder of Meow Wolf, an art collective that has transformed into an award winning Art and Entertainment Production Company that specializes in immersive, open-world walk through experiences. Vince acted as leader and CEO for Meow Wolf though its formidable years, having created the business plan for Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return and leading the team towards the project’s completion in March of 2016. In January of 2017 Kadlubek formed Meow Wolf, Inc as a full fledged arts production company and creative studio positioned to create the largest, most innovative and audacious monumental art exhibits in the world. After raising series A funding he announced two new Meow Wolf exhibits in Las Vegas and Denver, opening in 2021. Kadlubek has been a force of vision in the realm of experiential art, and in 2020 launched a creative consulting agency called Spatial Activations as a platform to usher in a new era of experiential art in modern developments and everyday life. Vince is most passionate about co-creating fully-realized alternative realities that bring paradigm-shifting transformation and inspiration to the world.

Meow Wolf: Immersive Experiences as a Tool for Transformation from Future Of StoryTelling on Vimeo.

Event Registration

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Alterations to Program- Cancellation/Postponement of Event

1. The CDE Foundation reserves the right to alter the AME Institute program, speakers, or timing.

2. In the event it is found necessary, for any reason, to postpone or change the dates of the AME Institute, the organizers shall not be liable for any expenditure, damage, or loss incurred by Participants.

3. If by re-arrangement or postponement the AME Institute can take place, the booking between the Participant and the organizers shall remain in force and will be subject to the cancellation schedule.

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Participants should advise of any special access requirements when registering for the AME Institute. We will do our best to accomodate all special needs. Please send your requirements to Ashley Adams at ameleadershipinstitute@gmail.com.

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Confirmation with all pertinent information will be sent to registered participants by email upon completion of registration. Any participant who has completed registration but has not received a confirmation should contact us by email at ameleadershipinstitute@gmail.com.

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Marysville Charter Academy for the Arts

1917 B Street, Marysville, CA 95901

Coordinator: John Pimentel, jpimentel@mjusd.k12.ca.us

Principal: Tim Malone, tmalone@mjusd.k12.ca.us

Demographics:
www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/58727365830138/2020

School Website: www.charter.mjusd.com

Pathways:
Stage Technology Calpads codes 7240-7242, Professional Dance and Choreography Calpads code7233-7235, Professional Music Calpads codes 7233-7235, Professional Theatre 7236-7238, Media Arts Calpads codes 7219-7221

School Model:
Charter, Magnet, and/or Conservatory, Bridge School, Grades 7-12

Burbank High School

90 N Third St Burbank CA 91502

Coordinator: Jonelle Pickett, jonellepickett@burbankusd.or

Principal: Dr. Thomas Crowther, thomascrowther@burbankusd.or

Superintendent: Dr. Matt Hill

School Website: www.burbankhighschool.com

Program Website: www.youtube.com/c/BHSanimation

Pathways:
Animation Calpad codes 7213-7215

School Model:
Comprehensive/ High School (with elective pathways)

Cesar Chavez High School

2929 Windflower Lane Stockton CA, 95212

District Coordinator: Cindy Wildman, cwildman@stocktonusd.net

Site Coordinator: Patti Rivera , privera@stocktonusd.net

Principal: Dr. Sherry Jackson, sjackson@stocktonusd.net

Demographics: www. caschoolddashboard.org/rep orts/39686760108159/2018

School Website: www.stocktonusd.net/Chavez

Pathways:
Stage Technology Calpads codes 7240-7242, Film and Video Production Calpads codes 7243-7245, Professional Dance and Choreography Calpads codes 7233-7235, Professional Music Calpads codes 7233-7235, Graphic Design Calpads codes 7210-7212

School Model:
Comprehensive/Traditional High School (with elective pathways)

Ramón C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts

Visual Arts and Theatre Arts

450 N. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Coordinator: Jorge Caridad, jec3741@lausd.net

Principal: Lori Gambero, lori.gambero@lausd.net

Demographics: www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/19647330119727/2020

School Website: grandartshigh.org

Program Website: vapavisual.com, grandartsfilm.com

Pathways:
Stage Technology Calpads codes 7240-7242, Film and Video Production Calpads codes 7243-7245

School Model:
Comprehensive/Traditional High School (with elective pathways)

Hillside Middle School

Hillside STEAM Academy

2222 Fitzgerald Rd. Simi Valley, CA 93065

Coordinators:
Irene Silbert, irene.silbert@simivalleyusd.org
Michael Wozniak, michael.wozniak@slmivalleyusd.org
Kimberly Tomimitsu, kimberly.tomimitsu@simivalleyusd.org
Kristy Roy, kristy.roy@simivalleyusd.org

Principal: Mr. Timothy Bednar, timothy.bednar@simivalleyusd.org

School Website: www.hms.simivalleyusd.org

Pathways:
Stage Technology Calpads codes 7240-7242, Film and Video Production Calpads codes 7243-7245, Professional Dance and Choreography Cal pads codes 7233, 7235 Graphic Design, Calpads codes 7210-7212, Visual and Commercial Art Calpads codes 7216-7218, Media Arts Calpads codes 7219-7221

School Model:
Middle School Charter, Magnet, and/or Conservatory

JC Montgomery

1144 West Lacey Blvd Hanford, CA 93230

Coordinator: Elizabeth Norris, elizabeth.norris@kingscoe.org

Principal: Elizabeth Norris, elizabeth.norris@kingscoe.org

School Website: www.kingscoe.org/domain/136

Pathways:
Multimedia/Audio Production Calpads codes 7246-7249

School Model:
Juvenile Court and Community School

Katherine L. Albiani Middle School

9140 Bradshaw Road, Elk Grove, CA 95624

Coordinator: Michelle Campbell, MMCampbe@egusd.net

Principal: Brie Bajar, gbajar@egusd.net

School Website: kams.egusd.net

Pathways:
Art I Calpads code 9000, Art II Calpads code 9000, Band I, Band II, Computer Technology I Calpads code 9228, Dance Calpads code 9080, Design Thinking I Calpads code 9228, Digital Photography Calpads code 9228, Exploring Arts, Media, and Entertainment Calpads code 7000, Film Studies Calpads code 9228, Future Quest Calpads code 9228, Guitar Calpads code 9292, Introduction to Programming Calpads code 9228, Musical Theatre Calpads code 9296, Public Speaking: Speak Your Story Calpads code 9110, Theatre Arts I Calpads code 9090, Theatre Arts II Calpads code 9090, Video Production: KAMS TV Calpads code 9000

School Model:
Middle School

LAUSD/USC Media Arts & Engineering Magnet

822 West 32nd Street Los Angeles, CA. 90007

Coordinator: Matthew Waynee

Principal: Kerry Kehrley

Superintendent: Veronica Moscoso

School Website: 32ndstreet-uscmagnet.schoolloop.com

School Model:
Comprehensive/ High School (with elective pathways)

Marshall Fundamental

Academy for Creative Industries

990 Allen Ave, Pasadena, CA

Coordinator: Kristina Turley, turley.kristina@pusd.us

Principal: Mark Anderson, anderson.mark@pusd.us

School Website: www.pusd.us/marshall

Pathways:
Professional Dance and Choreography Calpads codes 7233-7235, Professional Music Calpads codes 7233-35, Graphic Design Calpads codes 7210-7212

School Model:
Middle School, Comprehensive/Traditional High School (with elective pathways), Academy (California Partnership, Specialized Secondary, Linked Learning or other)

Oakland School for the Arts

90 N Third St Burbank CA 91502

Coordinator: Jean-Francois Revon

Principal: Mike Oz

School Website: www.oakarts.org

San Diego County Office of Education, Juvenile Court and Community Schools

6401 Linda Vista Rd, San Diego, CA 92111

Coordinator: Amanda Wallace, VAPA Technician, awallace@sdcoe.net

School Website: www.sdcoe.net/jccs/Pages/default.aspx

Demographics:
www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/37103710128538/2020

Pathways:
Multimedia/Audio Production Calpads codes 7246-7249

School Model:
Juvenile Court and Community School

Sierra Preparatory Academy

Sierra Arts

2021 N. Grand Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705

Coordinator: Gerardo Ramirez, Gerardo.Ramirez@sausd.us

Principal: Ryan Ramirez, Ryan.Ramirez@sausd.us

School Website: www.sausd.us/sierra

Program Website: www.sausd.us/domain/2111

Pathways:
State Technology Calpads codes 7240-7242, Professional Music Calpads codes 7233-7235, Graphic Design Calpads codes 7210-721

School Model:
Middle School

Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools

School for the Visual Arts and Humanities

701 South Catalina Street, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Coordinator: Jonathan Webb, jonathan.webb@lausd.net

Principal: Andrew Conroy, ajc82721@lausd.net

School Website: www.svah-rfk.org

Demographics: www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/19647330117762/

Pathways:
Animation Calpad codes 7213-7215

School Model:
Comprehensive/Traditional High School (with elective pathways)

Culver City High School

4401 Elenda St. Culver City, CA 90230

Coordinator: Heather Moses, heathermoses@ccusd.org

Principal: Dr. Lisa Cooper, lisacooper@ccusd.org

Pathways:
Stage Technology Calpads codes 7240-7242, Film and Video Production Calpads codes 7243-7245, Professional Dance and Choreography Calpads codes 7233-7235, Professional Music Calpads codes 7233-7235, Professional Theatre 7236-7238

School Model:
Comprehensive/Traditional High School (with elective pathways)

Alison Trope, PhD

Alison Trope, PhD, is a clinical professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and director of undergraduate studies for the School of Communication. She is founder and director of Critical Media Project, a web based media literacy resource focused on representation and identity (gender, race, class, sexuality, disability, religion, age). Critical Media Project is used in Los Angeles Unified School District and other secondary and higher education institutions across the country. Trope serves on the Board of the National Association of Media Literacy Educators (NAMLE) and is faculty director of the Institute for Diversity and Empowerment at Annenberg (IDEA). Trope is the author of Stardust Monuments: The Saving and Selling of Hollywood (Dartmouth, 2012), which explores the enduring efforts to memorialize and canonize the history and meaning Hollywood takes on in our everyday lives. She has also written about the history and current state of Hollywood philanthropy and activism. Trope received her PhD in Critical Studies from the School of Cinema-Television at the University of Southern California in 1999, and has since taught a range of courses in the Annenberg School for Communication in media and digital literacy, popular culture, visual culture, fashion, gender, and social change.

Sebastien "Seb" Elkouby

Sebastien “Seb” Elkouby is a Hip Hop culture educator who started out as a Hip Hop artist in the 80’s. After high school, he leveraged his experience as an artist to pursue a career in the music industry working in publishing, journalism, promotion, talent search, production, publicity, radio and consulting. In the early 2000s, Sebastien used the knowledge he gained over his years in the music industry and as a working artist to create Global Awareness Through Hip Hop Culture (GATHC), the nation’s first full-time, UC/CSU approved, CTE Hip Hop culture course for high school students. The course was designed to explore the intersection of social justice, history, media, and business through the lens of Hip Hop culture. Since 2015, Sebastien has taught GATHC and Digital Music Production at View Park High School in South Central Los Angeles, California. In 2020, he was invited by the Arts, Media, and Entertainment division of CTE at the California Department of Education to train Hip Hop artists to become AME CTE instructors through the historic Hip Hop and Equity (H2EQ) Initiative. Sebastien is now working hard to ensure Hip Hop education is available to students across the state and beyond!

Danielle Drake, PhD

Danielle Drake, PhD is Associate Professor, Program Chair, and alum of the Counseling Psychology, Expressive Arts Therapy MA program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fielding Graduate University Dr. Drake’s clinical work as an Expressive Arts Therapist engages clients in creative writing, music, and visual arts processes. She uses a liberatory informed theoretical approach that incorporates Womanist (black feminist), and Black/African-centered psychologies with Narrative Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, and contemplative practices. Dr. Drake is co-author of book chapter, “Womanism, Creativity and Resistance,” published in American Psychological Association publication, “Womanist and Mujerista Psychologies: Voice of Fire, Acts of Courage.” As a spoken word artist Dr. Drake is a former Oakland Poetry Slam Champion, and author of Cast Iron Life: A collection of poems and recipes.

Dr. Denise Boston

Dr. Denise Boston is an international scholar/practitioner on how to creatively implement culturally responsive and arts-based interventions in diverse systems. For over 30 years, her passion for integrating mental health care, systems thinking, and community-centered research to achieve systemic change has been illustrated through her work on multiple implementation projects in China, the U.S., Seoul, Korea, and Peru. In addition, Dr. Boston is recognized for transforming the landscape of antiracist training by integrating emancipatory theoretical concepts into actionable resources.

Recent highlights of Dr. Boston’s work include supporting the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, San Mateo Collaborative Practice Group, and Trinity Washington University on their trauma-informed and expressive arts objectives.

Dr. Boston emphasizes equity-driven approaches as much of her work focuses on supporting underinvested populations. She strives to ensure that all perspectives are valued along the implementation pathway with a particular understanding of the need for collective and restorative actions to create system-level change.

She holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology from Walden University, MA in Psychology and Counseling from Goddard College, and a BFA in Drama from the University of the North Carolina School of the Arts. She is a Registered Drama Therapist and a board member of Be Strong Families.

Critical Media Project

Seat Limit: 50

When: June 21 9am-1pm (breaks included)

Using Media and Communication to Create Inclusive School Communities

Our students live in and through media saturated worlds that shape how they think and behave as well as how they understand themselves and others. How can we foster school communities where students navigate this media saturated world—decoding the media around them, while empowering them to be communicators and harness the power of their own voices? This 3-part workshop will explore different ways media and communication literacies can be incorporated into curricula and other school programs. Part 1 will introduce attendees to Critical Media Project, a free web resource used in several Los Angeles area schools designed to promote critical media literacy around identity representation. Part 2 will feature an interactive exercise led by Dasha Kelly Hamilton, Spoken Word Artist and Wisconsin Poet Laureate, focused on the power of language. The series will conclude with reflection facilitated by Center for Council–small group circles designed to share and listen non-judgmentally. Each part of the workshop is designed to expose attendees to resources, exercises and practices that can be integrated into classrooms, advisory, counseling and after school programs with the goal of deepening student understanding and analysis of everyday media and communication, challenging conventions and breaking down barriers in order to facilitate greater social emotional development, equity and opportunity.

CA Film Commission

Seat Limit: 20

When: June 21 9am-4pm (breaks included); June 22 9am-11am

VFX Society/CA Film Commission VFX Externship

Are you ready to learn more about Visual Effects? This externship from the Visual Effects Society will take teachers through a series of workshops and panels that address different aspects and facets of VFX. You will explore how VFX is integrated in live action and animated films: from prep, physical production and post. Discover the different roles of VFX personnel (design, on-set, technical, and creative) and discuss the future of VFX and virtual production. During the externship teachers will be working in Adobe After Effects. Teachers who do not currently have access to this software will be provided with a free 90 day trial from our AME Institute Sponsor Adobe.

Pensado's Place

Seat Limit: 30

When: June 21 9am-4:00pm (breaks included); June 22 9am-11am

Externship in Audio Production

Join Herb Trawick, creator and co-host of global juggernaut Pensado’s Place, for a look inside his weekly show that covers engineering, mixing, and “all things audio”. Pensado’s Place has produced over 500 episodes and has reached viewers in over 190 countries. Trawick will be joined by Quentin Gilkey (Grammy winning mixer and engineer for Eminem, Anderson .Paak, The Game, Dr. Dre, and Kendrick Lamar), Dave Pensado (Grammy award winning engineer and co-creator of Pensado’s Place), Laura Escude (artist and live show designer for Kanye West, among others), and more special guests. Participants in this externship will receive a special Pensado’s Place Pack- including high-end plug-ins from Pensado’s Place audio partners.

Kerstin Emhoff

Kerstin Emhoff is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PRETTYBIRD, a hybrid production company with a diverse roster of directors, creatives and collaborators generating inspiring content for all forms of entertainment — and Ventureland, a creative studio and idea accelerator, developing entertainment properties, advertising campaigns and original IP alongside filmmakers, studios and brands.

Recognized for her successful and enduring relationships with top agencies, clients, artists and managers, Emhoff has built PRETTYBIRD into one of the world’s most prestigious production companies in branded storytelling. The company has won numerous industry awards including a Cannes Grand Prix, Grammys, MTV VMAs and Emmys, among others. With Ventureland, Emhoff is expanding her focus on creating compelling and meaningful original content across genres and platforms.

Emhoff’s previous film credits include Netflix’s XOXO; Atlas Entertainment and A24’s THE MONSTER, following a troubled mother and daughter’s fight to save their lives against a malicious creature; HBO’s 2013 Primetime Emmy Award winner MANHUNT: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE HUNT FOR BIN LADEN; and THE TILLMAN STORY, which uncovers the propaganda that emerged from the untimely death of NFL football player Pat Tillman.

Most recently, Emhoff produced Showtime’s READY FOR WAR, which premiered at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and made its U.S. debut at the 2019 AFI Fest.

Currently, Emhoff is in post-production for AMERICAN RAPSTAR, a feature doc on hip-hop’s new wave of “SoundCloud rappers” and FX’s AKA JANE ROE, a feature documentary revealing the truth behind Roe v. Wade plaintiff Norma McCorvey’s journey from pro-choice to pro-life activist, set to premiere May 22 on FX and will be available the following day on FX on Hulu.

Emhoff is also the founder of Pipelines, a platform designed to connect underrepresented talent with opportunities in the entertainment, tech and creative industries, launching in 2020.

AME Institute Content Schedule

Day/Time	Main Stage	Sponsor Spotlights	Visual Sessions	Performing Sessions	Production Sessions	GD/Animation Sessions	Program/Pathway Development Sessions and Other
6/22/2021 1:00 PM	Opening Session
2:00 PM	FC- VFX, Arnon & Jinko	Wix		Utilizing Professional Artists in an AME Curriculum (Santa Susana Team)	Capture Student Creativity with WeVideo (Greg Gardner)		CTE Funding (Jack Mitchell) Hacking Group Work, How to to TEACH Collaboration (Lorna Miller)
3:00 PM	FC-Theatre, Phil and Derek	Soundtrap	The Artist’s Roadmap to Multiple Streams of Income (Fahim Niaz)	Upcycling Your Ideas (Dave Qualls)	A High School and Film Industry Collaboration Finds Their ‘Sweet Spot.’ (Robin Kincade & Katie McQuone-Botello)		AME in the Middle Schools (Jack Mitchell)
4:00 PM	The Future of School Adobe Panel
6/23/2021 9:00 AM		Adobe, USITT		Pandemic Survival Guide – Hybrid Edition (Javier Alcantara-Rojas)	The BACKstage Exam (Pre-Test,Post-Test, Where to Next?) (Dana Taylor)	Animation Recruiter Roundtable (Alison Mann)	Join the Hip Hop Education and Equity Movement (Martha Diaz) Articulation with Elementary (Erik Speth)
10:00 AM		Canva, Toon Boom		Marketing and Recruiting for Your Arts Program (Nicole Robinson) Music Forward (Laura Clark)	Stories in Motion (Tom Antl)		Credentialing Pathways AME CTE Credential (Bridget Mondt)
11:00 AM	The Future of Work Dolby Panel	Editmentor, Wacom	How to Build Digital Media Articulation & Dual Enrollment Through College & Career Access Pathways Partnerships (Angela Gomez-Holbrook)	The Rebound Year Ahead: Social-Emotional Learning in Arts, Media and Entertainment Classrooms (Kim Hoj)			Articulations within a CTE Department (Aaron Moss)
12:00 AM	FC- Music, Keatly & Bruce	Wurrly, Clip Studio Paint		Documentary Theatre (Robert Shields)	LIGHTS, CAMERA, SYNERGY! Building and Strengthening your Professional Partnerships (Matthew Waynee)		VAPA to AME (Gayle Nicholls-Ali & Lanisha Kelly)
1:00 PM	FC- AP, Herb & Friends	Autodesk	Supporting Your Students: Portfolio Development Tips for College Applications! (Courtney Richter)	How to Create a Social-Emotional Learning-based Performance for a Live or Virtual Audience (Kim Hoj)	Free Media Toolkits: Inspire CTE and Career Pathways (Larissa Hoffman)		Student Voices Campaign: Artistic Expression as Activism (Caitlin Lainoff)
2:00 PM	FC- Film Shari & Kirsten	Dolby	Introduction to UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface)or Digital Media Careers (Jeff Larson)	Industry Networking for Music Educators (Gabe Kubanda)	Film and Technical Arts Curriculum Accelerator (Robyn Charles)		Pathway, Sub-Pathways and Sequential Course Development (Jack Mitchell)
3:00 PM	Closing Session

Center Theatre Group

Seat Limit: 30

When: June 21 9am-1pm (breaks included)

Re-Entering Theatre Spaces

How do we re-enter communal spaces as theatre practitioners, educators, and audiences? Even if all participants are vaccinated and precautions are taken, the emotional weight of the past year is going to make the things we lean on in theatre education—eye contact, touch and weight, intimacy, vulnerability, etc.—particularly difficult. In our re-entering, we must also center the safety and wellness of BIPOC-identified individuals and others from marginalized groups. Join Dr. Nisha Sajnani, Director of the Program in Drama Therapy at NYU, and a team of teaching artists from Center Theatre Group to discuss these important issues and develop healing-centered practices for re-entering the classroom, rehearsal room, and performance space. Although this workshop is developed with theatre teachers in mind, other performing arts teachers are welcome to join.

BANDALOOP

Seat Limit: 20

When: June 9am- 2pm (breaks included), June 22 9am-11am

BANDALOOP Externship: Developing a Site-Specific Production

As a performing arts organization, BANDALOOP collaborates with cities, arts presenters, private property managers, risk management teams, and other industry partners to present free, outdoor live performances in public spaces around the world. This externship will give a glimpse into BANDALOOP’s unique collaborative cycle of pre-producing, presenting and post-production reflection of site-specific performances in non-traditional spaces. Lead by Artistic Director Melecio Estrella, Executive Director Thomas Cavanagh, and founder/Special Projects Director Amelia Rudolph, in collaboration with BANDALOOP’s brand representatives at Sozo Artists, BANDALOOP will curate a day that dives into the business and administrative logistics of how to present hybrid, site-specific work on a national scale.

Erin Breslin Garcia

Early Careers Recruiting Manager

Activision Blizzard

Erin Breslin-Garcia graduated from the University of Redlands with a degree in Psychology. She has been with Activision Blizzard since 2013 and currently oversees the recruiting efforts for the company’s summer internships in North America.

Tasha Ross

With more than 13 years of experience within campus recruitment and career services, Ms. Ross is an experienced talent acquisition manager specializing in developing campus recruitment strategies, internship program management, strengthening academic and organizational partnerships, and career counseling. Prior to joining WarnerMedia, Tasha managed entry-level recruitment and created an internship program post-merger for the newly formed Fox Corporation, uniting Fox Sports, Fox News and Fox Entertainment interns, into one program. Prior to Fox, she spent five years at Viacom where she oversaw the recruitment and retention of three full-time post-graduate rotation programs for Advertising Sales, Content Distribution, and MBA talent. Currently, Tasha Ross serves as a University Relations Manager on WarnerMedia’s Talent Acquisition team. Tasha is responsible for leading a national team of four, managing internships within the technology, business support, and revenue and distribution functions.

Anita Stokes

Anita Stokes has managed the Dolby U internship program as the Senior Manager for University Relations for the past three and a half years. She has helped students launch their careers at companies like EA, Apple, Lucasfilm, and PlayStation throughout her career. As a first-generation college graduate, she earned a Master’s degree in Communications Management from the University of Southern California.

Matt Cauthron

Matt Cauthron is the coordinator and Digital Imaging pathway teacher for the Digital Arts Technology Academy (DATA), a California Distinguished Lighthouse Academy. Beyond his normal Academy CTE duties, he is also a practicing photo-based artist and works with many educational agencies such as Adobe Education, Apple Education, the California Department of Education, and The California Arts Project.

UCLA Arts and Healing

Seat Limit: Unlimited

When: June 21 1:30pm-4:30pm (breaks included)

Social Emotional Arts Tools for Connection and Self-Expression in Real or Virtual Environments

In this interactive workshop, participants will experience creative activities to enhance the innate social-emotional benefits of the arts and support self-care. Click here to view a snippet of this workshop posted by the Young Musicians Foundation in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Seat Limit: 20

When: June 21 9am-4pm (breaks included); June 22 9am-11am

LACMA Externship in Collections Management and Art Preparation and Installation

Join LACMA’s Collections Management and Art Preparation and Installation departments to discuss art handling and collections care in a museum environment. Explore these roles within the larger museum, some of the pathways for entering this line of work, and the skills needed to be successful in art handling and collections management. Teachers will get “hands-on” experiences in art handling, packing, storage, and installation. Once we’ve reviewed handling, we will provide a demonstration of storage box fabrication and customization for an art object and discuss a long term storage plan. Additionally, we will present a variety of audio/visual examples of installations of 2D and 3D art objects within LACMA’s exhibition galleries and outdoor spaces. There will be time for discussion, and teachers leave with knowledge of the skills needed and basic responsibilities of art handlers and collections management technicians, as well as adjacent related fields. Resources and opportunities within the field will be provided.

Otis College of Art and Design

Seat Limit: 50

When: June 21 9am-4pm (breaks included); June 22 9am-12pm (breaks included)

Digital Storytelling

Designing and communicating information requires students to deepen their understanding of content while increasing visual, sound, oral language, creativity, and thinking skills. Making meaning out of an experience deepens the communication for both the author and the viewers. The author’s narrative voice is the center of all the multimedia decisions. Telling stories together about things that really matter has an extraordinary effect on people. Digital media and digital distribution to the world community is reshaping the power of the verbal matching the visual – enabling us to unfold a highly sensory experience that dances between a narrative voice with images, sound, and music into illuminated understandings. Through a series of prompts, participants will design a campaign based on a concept of person, place, or thing, in a medium of choice. Via reflection and sharing the group will learn from each other’s ideas and discover new ways to translate this to the classroom.

United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)

Seat Limit: Unlimited

When: June 21 9am-1pm (breaks included)

Prop and Costume Making

Are you ready to work with your hands? The best way to create items on a budget is to transform something you already own. Costume Designer La Beene from Utah Valley University and Properties Head of Baltimore Center Stage, Jeffery Bazemore, will each guide you through a project of transforming everyday items into something new. Materials for this workshop will be common items found at home or in the theatre. A list of project items will be shared prior to the workshop. Join us to learn, make connections, and have a great time transforming things.

Nickelodeon

Seat Limit: 30

When: June 21 9am-4pm (breaks included); June 22 9am-11am

Nickelodeon Animation Externship

What is it really like to work at Nickelodeon? Get exclusive access to Nickelodeon writers, production team members, studio team members, and character designers as they share insights into their work and provide one-of-a-kind experiences developed for the AME animation teacher including:- Story- Where It All Begins: Join a Nickelodeon Writer as they discuss their journey, break down story structure and talk about what it’s like to be in the writer’s room.- How to Make a Cartoon: Sit down with Nickelodeon Production team members as they guide us through both the 2D (traditional) and 3D (Computer Generated) Production Pipelines at the studio. This session will cover every facet of the production process and acquaint you with a number of roles you probably didn’t know existed.- Behind the Curtain: There’s a myth that the only people who work at an animation studio are artists, writers and voice actors. Dispel that myth by joining us for a panel discussion with a group of studio team members who are often hidden from the public eye but play an essential role in creating our content.- Character Components: Learn how Nickelodeon Character Designers use line, shape and contrast to create unique and engaging characters.

Bruce Waynne

Bruce Waynne (born Waynne Nugent) is half of the Grammy Award Winning Production Duo MIDI Mafia. The music production team established in 2003 is most notable for their production of 50 Cent’s number-one single “21 Questions”, as well as the producer for artists such as Frank Ocean, Justin Bieber, Fantasia, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, to name a few.

Also working with Brandy and James Fauntleroy II, the MIDI Mafia met and began to collaborate with Frank Ocean, who was then working as a songwriter and collaborated with the duo consistently. While working with MIDI Mafia, Frank Ocean wrote the songs “Quickly” for John Legend, “Bigger” and “Mamma’s Boy” for Justin Bieber. MIDI Mafia spearheaded the creation process for Frank Ocean’s mix tape, Nostalgia Ultra, producing the song Swim Good, and collaborated extensively on Ocean’s debut album, Channel Orange”, producing the lead song “Bad Religion” and garnered their Grammy Award. Other notable accomplishments are MIDI Mafia’s, The MADE Series. MADE is their Premiere Urban Music Library for Television & Film via their partnership with Extreme Music and Sony ATV. They are currently the number one urban music library in the industry and providing opportunities for rising stars. Waynne joins us from Sound Royalties, an innovative company that offers artists, songwriters, and producers non-credit based financing and funding without having to deal with loans from banks or traditional lenders, drawn against future royalty earnings with no credit hassles. Musical professionals retain the rights to their music and receive royalty financing in a structured manner so that income is still received, and not as 100% recoupment as is typical in the industry

Bruce Waynne (Waynne Nugent) from Brooklyn, New York, formed Midi Mafia with Dirty Swift (Kevin Risto) from Ottawa, Ontario. Other then producing their own music, both Waynne and Swift have worked together to produce for artists such as Nelly, Brandy, Jennifer Lopez, Sha Stimuli, Capone-N-Noreaga (“Yes Sir“), Bravehearts, Gemma Fox, Jean Grae, Talib Kweli, Young Buck, Miri Ben-Ari, Lloyd Banks and many more.

Bruce Waynne met Dirty Swift at Makin’ Records Studio in Brooklyn, NY, while working on a project for Bad Seed. Swift was the in-house project engineer and beat maker while Waynne pitched beats and helped compose/perform choruses for Bad Seed. They later formed Midi Mafia and did spec work for various people, including Sylvia Rhone, who was the president of Elektra Records at the time.

In 2002 Dino Devalie, who was preparing to sign 50 Cent to his label, approached Midi Mafia, resulting in the use of Midi Mafia’s produced beats for “21 Questions”, which was featured on Get Rich or Die Tryin. They ended up signing a publishing deal with Sony/ATV and a label and production deal with Elektra Records. 2003. They are most recognized for writing and producing 50 Cent‘s number-one single “21 Questions“.

In 2006, Waynne and Swift created FamilyTies, an imprint label that allows them to sign and develop their own roster of talent. This allowed the two to dive into the Pop/R&B world when they produced “When I See U“, (song originally written for Tori Kelly when she was signed to Geffen Records) the second single from Fantasia Barrino‘s self-titled album Fantasia, which held the number one spot for eight weeks on the U.S. Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[3] The song was written by Grammy award-winning songwriter Waynne, Jane’t Sewell and Erika Nuri.

In 2007, the duo worked with Jennifer Lopez on her track “Hold It Don’t Drop It”, contributing as both writers and producers. Not too long after, the duo collaborated with American Idol contestant David Archuleta, contributing a track on his self-titled debut album that was released in November 2008.

While working with Brandy and James Fauntleroy II, Waynne and Swift started working with Frank Ocean, While he was with Midi Mafia, the three of them wrote the songs “Quickly”[6] for John Legend, “Bigger” and “Mamma’s Boy” for Justin Bieber. In 2010, Midi Mafia recorded Frank Ocean’s mix tape, Nostalgia Ultra, in which Midi Mafia produced the song “Swim Good”.

In 2010, Bruce Waynne and Dirty Swift worked together to release their own album, Vegas Lights, via FamilyTies. The songs “PHamous”, “Last Call” and “2 Piece” were included on the album and were featured on Season 3 of MTV’s hit show, Jersey Shore. The song “Lucky Tonight” was featured on Jersey Shore vs American Reunion, an MTV video used to cross-promote the new season of Jersey Shore and the release of the movie, American Reunion.

Phil Miller

Phil Miller is the first Artistic Director in the history of The School of Arts & Enterprise (The SAE), appointed in 2017. Under Miller’s dynamic leadership, The SAE has been named an Arts School Network National Exemplary School (2018-2022), the recipient of a California Department of Exemplary Arts Award (2021) and continues as an Arts, Media and Entertainment Professional Development Site (CTE). Phil’s commitment to dynamic cross circular arts education, expansive programming, professional marketing branding practices and arts accessibility + equity is at the core of his artistic philosophies championed at The SAE. Miller is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer’s Society and an alumnus of Lincoln Center’s Directors Lab West. Phil is a Board Member of the Inland Valley Repertory Theatre , the Arts School Network National Board of Directors and the vice president of The Friends of The SAE Foundation.

Jinko Gotoh

Jinko Gotoh is an Oscar-nominated producer and consultant for the animation industry. Her strengths and passion include the discovering and nurturing of diversified and creative talent, and charting new technologies and creative processes.

Jinko is currently producing her second animated feature for Netflix with Mark Osborne directing. Her other producing screen credits include: 2020 BAFTA winner and Oscar-nominated Klaus, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, The Little Prince, Oscarnominated The Illusionist, 9, and Oscar-winning Finding Nemo.

Jinko serves as the vice president for Women in Animation, an advocacy organization dedicated to advance women and all underrepresented people in the industry. She is also as a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences representing diversity and inclusion on various committees. Beyond that, she is the PGA’s co-lead of the BIPOC working group for animation and VFX, and is co-president for Symphonic Jazz Orchestra, which provides K-4 music education to underserved neighborhoods.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Math and MFA in Film from Columbia University.

Jinko is also a published poet and the happy rescuer of many, many dogs.

Arnon Manor

Arnon Manor is a filmmaker and Vice President of Visual Effects at Sony Pictures. Through his career, Arnon has collaborated with the industry’s most talented filmmakers on over 60 features and has been a studio executive for the last 10 years. He heads the Education Committee of the Visual Effects Society, with the purpose of creating opportunities and increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in VFX through education, as well as engaging in other similar industry initiatives. He recently created the Netflix animated short, Cops and Robbers, which tackles the issue of police violence against African Americans. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures, the Producers Guild of America, the Visual Effects Society and the Academy of Television.

Keatly Haldeman

Keatly Haldeman, CEO of Riptide Music Group, co-founded sync licensing and music publishing company pigFACTORY prior to its merger with Riptide Music. Throughout his career as a music entrepreneur he has been hands-on with every aspect of the publishing business from A&R, creative, marketing, publishing, royalties, legal, finance, mergers, acquisitions and fundraising. He has been responsible for identifying, negotiating and signing hundreds of artists, songwriters and catalogs, including songs recorded by GRAMMY award-winning and iconic artists. The companies he has led have proactively generated over $25 million in income from the licensing of music to picture. Keatly is a lifelong musician, having played in rock bands since he was 11 years old and producing music for over 20 years.

Derek Klena

Derek Klena can currently be seen on Broadway in Jagged Little Pill in his Tony Nominated role of Nick Healy. Derek has also been seen on Broadway as Fiyero in the 10th Anniversary production Wicked, Michael in The Bridges of Madison County (Original Broadway Cast) and Dmitry in Anastasia (Original Broadway Cast). His off-Broadway credits include originating the role of Eddie Birdlace in Dogfight and Carrie. Regionally, he has appeared in Anastasia (Hartford Stage), Diner (Signature Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company), Unknown Soldier (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Hairspray (Hollywood Bowl) and Jagged Little Pill (A.R.T.). His TV credits include Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Blue Bloods, Quantico, Law & Order: SVU and The Carrie Diaries.

Herb Trawick

Herb Trawick is the creator, executive producer and co-host of hot internet show Pensado’s Place. Seen in over 203 countries by over 6 million people a year, Pensados Place is the leading digital media show in the audio space. Creativity combined with taste, strategic overview and relentless execution are Herbs tools. One label chief said, “Herb has the rare ability to see around corners”. From manager to label exec, Broadway producer to author, exec producer to talent scout, co-host to advisor, Trawick remains true to his vision. With real results. As manager and executive producer, Herb built Brian Mcknight into an R&B superstar with 20 million albums sold, global tours and 30 plus Grammy, American Music, Billboard, Emmy and Image award nominations. Client Dave Pensado is a mixing legend who has hits with Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Shakira, Wiz Khalifa, Christina Aguillera, Afrojack and Jill Scott among others.

Through Trawick strategic vision, Dave is now the premier audio educator on the planet. Herb was a partner of the legendary creator of Earth, Wind and Fire Maurice White. He took the EWF catalog to Broadway and was a producer of the play Hot Feet. Herb is a multiple winner of the Manager of the Year award. From marketing chief at Solar records to running imprints at Interscope, RCA, Mercury and Capitol along with consultancies at Motown, Def Jam and Primary Wave publishing and advising creative shops like the 1500 Sound Academy, Blackbird and Musicians Institute. Herb received the Living Legend award as the 2016 Creative Visionary. He was also nominated in the categories of Entrepreneur, Digital Media and Executive of the year. He joins the ranks of other legends like Quincy Jones, Russell Simmons, LA Reid, Clarence Avant and more.

In 2020 Herb and his partner were inducted into the prestigious TEC Hall of Fame along with Joni Mitchell. Other members include Arif Mardin, Herbie Hancock, Phil Ramone, Les Paul and many more… Herb has been asked to lend his expertise his entire career. When asked why such a diverse career arc, Trawick replied “Why not? Its an honor, a privilege and a blast.”

Tacy Trowbridge

Tacy Trowbridge leads Adobe’s Education Strategies Team. Her team inspires educators and students around the world to become creators, not just consumers, of digital media. Prior to Adobe, Tacy taught in classrooms, led and designed professional development, developed curriculum, and conducted research. She offers unique insights into the intersection of learning, design and technology and the ways students today create media.

Michael Hernandez

Michael is an award-winning cinema and journalism teacher in Los Angeles whose work focuses on digital storytelling, media literacy and social justice. As an author, speaker and consultant, he helps educators empower students to find passion and purpose in their learning so that they can make a positive impact in their communities. Michael believes in the transformative potential of technology in the classroom, and fostering an innovative mindset based on student curiosity, creativity, and passion. His presentations at conferences in the U.S. and abroad for ISTE, SXSW EDU and Apple Education focus on tech integration and innovative teaching and learning strategies. He also leads students and teachers on documentary trips to Asia and Latin America as part of an experiential learning program.

Michael was recently selected by National Geographic and Lindblad Expeditions as a Grosvneor Teacher Fellow for 2021. He is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Adobe Education Leader, and PBS Digital Innovator. Follow him on Twitter: @cinehead, Instagram: @changing.the.narrative, and at www.michael-hernandez.net

Sam Kary

Sam Kary is the founder of The New EdTech Classroom, a blog and YouTube channel dedicated to showing teachers how to authentically integrate technology into their classrooms. Sam has worked as a middle school teacher and instructional coach for over a decade, and believes students learn best when given the opportunity to use technology to engage with content in creative, authentic ways. Sam is a Google for Education Certified Trainer and National Geographic Certified Educator, and his YouTube channel has been featured in Forbes and One Day Magazine for supporting teachers during emergency distance learning.

Nueva School for the Arts and Arete Media Academy

8695 Windsor Rd. Windsor, CA 95492

Coordinator: John Richards, jrichards@wusd.org

Lead Teacher: David Beal, dbeal@wusd.org

Principal: Lamar Collins, lcollins@wusd.org

Superintendent: Jeremy Decker, jdecker@wusd.org

Demographics

School Website: windsorhs.com

Program Website: nuevaarts.com

Instagram

Pathways

Introduction to Film and Video Production 7243, Intermediate Film and Video Production 7244, Advanced Film and Video Production 7245, Introduction to Media Arts 7219, Introduction to Visual and Commercial Art 7216, Intermediate Visual and Commercial Art 7217, Advanced Visual and Commercial Art 7218, Introduction to Dance/Choreography 7230, Intermediate Dance/Choreography 7231, Advanced Dance/Choreography 7232, Introduction to Professional Theatre 7236, Intermediate Professional Theatre 7237

School Model

Comprehensive High School (1000-2500 students), Charter 9-12, School Within a School (Small learning communities or conservatory), California Partnership Academy, Suburban

San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts

2425 Dusk Dr, San Diego, CA 92139

More Information coming soon

Information Coming Soon

Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts

1905 Main St, Huntington Beach, Ca 92648

Coordinator: Stacy Robison, srobison@hbuhsd.edu

Lead Teacher: Danielle Collins, dcollins@hbuhsd.edu

Principal: Daniel Morris, dmorris@hbuhsd.edu

Superintendent: Dr. Clint Harwick, charwick@hbuhsd.edu

Demographics

School Website: hbapa.org

Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube

Pathways

Introduction to Stage Technology 7240, Intermediate Stage Technology 7241, Advanced Stage Technology 7242, Introduction to Film and Video Production 7243, Intermediate Film and Video Production 7244, Advanced Film and Video Production 7245, Introduction to Multimedia Production 7246, Intermediate Multimedia Production 7247, Advanced Multimedia Film/Video Production 7249, Advanced Multimedia Sound Production 7248, Introduction to Media Arts 7219, Intermediate Media Arts 7220, Advanced Media Arts 7221, Introduction to Dance/Choreography 7230, Intermediate Dance/Choreography 7231, Advanced Dance/Choreography 7232, Introduction to Professional Music 7233, Advanced Professional Music 7235

School Model

Comprehensive High School (1000-2500 students)

Coronado School of the Arts

650 D Ave, Coronado, CA 92118

Coordinator: Catherine Burling, catherine.burling@coronadousd.net

Lead Teacher: Karrie Jackson, karrie.jackson@coronadousd.net

Principal: Shane Schmeichel, shane.schmeichel@coronadousd.net

Superintendent: Karl Mueller, karl.mueller@coronadousd.net

Demographics

School Website: cosasandiego.com

Program Website: cosasandiego.com/ame-demo-site/cosa-curriculum

Facebook
Twitter

Pathways

Introduction to Stage Technology 7240, Intermediate Stage Technology 7241, Advanced Stage Technology 7242, Introduction to Film and Video Production 7243, Intermediate Film and Video Production 7244, Advanced Film and Video Production 7245, Introduction to Multimedia Production 7246, Intermediate Multimedia Production 7247, Advanced Multimedia Film/Video Production 7249, Advanced Multimedia Sound Production 7248, Introduction to Media Arts 7219, Intermediate Media Arts 7220, Advanced Media Arts 7221, Introduction to Graphic Design 7210, Intermediate Graphic Design 7211, Advanced Graphic Design 7212, Introduction to Animation 7213, Intermediate Animation 7214, Advanced Animation 7215, Introduction to Game Design 7260, Intermediate Game Design 7261, Advanced Game Design 7262

School Model

Comprehensive High School (1000-2500 students)

thumbnail_PhotoCollage_1601504636804 (1)

Great Academy

12555 Navajo Rd. Apple Valley CA 92308

Coordinator: Javier Alcantara-Rojas, javier_alcantara@avusd.org

Lead Teacher: Cherie Glisson, cherie_glisson@avusd.org

Principal: Chuck McCall, chuck_mccall@avusd.org

Superintendent: Trenae Nelson, trenae_nelson@avusd.org

Demographics

School Website: sites.google.com/avusd.org/granitehillshighschool-new

Program Website: ourgreatacademy.com

YouTube Channel

Pathways

Introduction to Stage Technology 7240, Intermediate Stage Technology 7241, Advanced Stage Technology 7242, Introduction to Film and Video Production 7243, Introduction to Multimedia Production 7246, Introduction to Media Arts 7219, Introduction to Visual and Commercial Art 7216, Introduction to Dance/Choreography 7230, Intermediate Dance/Choreography 7231, Advanced Dance/Choreography 7232, Introduction to Professional Music 7233, Intermediate Professional Music 7234, Advanced Professional Music 7235, Introduction to Professional Theatre 7236

School Model

Comprehensive High School (1000-2500 students)

Arcata Arts Institute

1720 M Street, Arcata, CA 95521

Coordinator: Johanna Mauro, jmauro@nohum.k12.ca.us

Lead Teacher: Melanie Zapper, mzapper@nohum.k12.ca.us

Principal: Jim Monge, jmonge@nohum.k12.ca.us

Superintendent: Roger Macdonald, rmacdonald@nohum.k12.ca.us

Demographics

School Website: arcatahighschool.nohum.org

Program Website: artsinstitute.net

Facebook
Instagram

Pathways

Introduction to Media Arts 7219, Intermediate Media Arts 7220, Advanced Media Arts 7221, Introduction to Graphic Design 7210, Intermediate Graphic Design 7211, Advanced Graphic Design 7212, Introduction to Visual and Commercial Art 7216, Intermediate Visual and Commercial Art 7217, Advanced Visual and Commercial Art 7218, Introduction to Professional Theatre 7236, Intermediate Professional Theatre 7237, Advanced Professional Theatre 7238

School Model

Comprehensive High School (550-1000 students), School Within a School (Small learning communities or conservatory), Rural

Santa Susana High School: Performing and Visual Arts

3570 Cochran St., Simi Valley, CA 93063

Coordinator: Irene Silbert, irene.silbert@simivalleyusd.org

Lead Teacher: Aimee Spurbeck-Boian, aimee.spurbeckboian@simivalleyusd.org

Principal: Matthew Guzzo, matthew.guzzo@simivalleyusd.org

Superintendent: Dr. Jason Peplinski, jason.peplinski@simivalleyusd.org

Demographics

School Website: www.santasusana.org/academies/academies

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

Pathways

Introduction to Stage Technology 7240, Intermediate Stage Technology 7241, Advanced Stage Technology 7242, Introduction to Film and Video Production 7243, Intermediate Film and Video Production 7244, Advanced Film and Video Production 7245, Advanced Multimedia Film/Video Production 7249, Advanced Multimedia Sound Production 7248, Introduction to Graphic Design 7210, Intermediate Graphic Design 7211, Advanced Graphic Design 7212, Introduction to Visual and Commercial Art 7216, Intermediate Visual and Commercial Art 7217, Advanced Visual and Commercial Art 7218, Introduction to Dance/Choreography 7230, Intermediate Dance/Choreography 7231, Advanced Dance/Choreography 7232, Introduction to Professional Music 7233, Intermediate Professional Music 7234, Advanced Professional Music 7235, Introduction to Professional Theatre 7236, Intermediate Professional Theatre 7237, Advanced Professional Theatre 7238

School Model

Comprehensive High School (550-1000 students), Suburban

Renaissance Arts Academy

2558 N. San Fernando Los Angeles CA 90065

Coordinator: Erik Speth, cte@renarts.org

Lead Teacher: Erik Speth, erik@renarts.org

Principal: Sidnie Gallegos | PK Candaux, office@renarts.org

Superintendent: PK Candaux | Sidnie Gallegos, office@renarts.org

Demographics

School Website: www.renarts.org

Pathways

Introduction to Stage Technology 7240, Intermediate Stage Technology 7241, Advanced Stage Technology 7242, Introduction to Dance/Choreography 7230, Intermediate Dance/Choreography 7231, Advanced Dance/Choreography 7232, Introduction to Professional Music 7233, Intermediate Professional Music 7234, Advanced Professional Music 7235

School Model

Charter 6-12, Urban

CAST Academy and Game Design Academy

1000 Cayuga Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112

Coordinator: Jeff Larson, larsonj@sfusd.edu

Lead Teacher: George Lee, LeeG1@sfusd.edu

Principal: Freedom Siyam, siyamf@sfusd.edu

Superintendent: Dr. Vincent Matthews, matthewsv@sfusd.edu

Demographics

School Website: sfusd.edu/school/balboa-high-school

Program Website: castacademy.online

Pathways

Introduction to Animation 7213, Intermediate Animation 7214, Introduction to Game Design 7260, Intermediate Game Design 7261, Introduction to Professional Music 7233

School Model

Comprehensive High School (1000-2500 students), California Partnership Academy, Urban

The School of Arts + Enterprise

295 N. Garey Ave., Pomona CA 91767

Coordinator: Phil Miller, Artistic Director, pmiller@thesae.k12.ca.us

Lead Teacher: Carol Goldwater, cgoldwater@thesae.org

Principal: Johnny Anderson, janderson@thesae.org

Superintendent: Jon Gundry, jgundry@thesae.org

Demographics

School Website: thesae.org

Instagram: @thesaeschool

Pathways

Introduction to Stage Technology 7240, Introduction to Film and Video Production 7243, Intermediate Film and Video Production 7244, Introduction to Graphic Design 7210, Intermediate Graphic Design 7211, Advanced Graphic Design 7212, Introduction to Visual and Commercial Art 7216, Intermediate Visual and Commercial Art 7217, Advanced Visual and Commercial Art 7218, Introduction to Dance/Choreography 7230, Intermediate Dance/Choreography 7231, Advanced Dance/Choreography 7232, Introduction to Professional Theatre 7236, Intermediate Professional Theatre 7237, Advanced Professional Theatre 7238

School Model

Charter 6-12

ICEF View Park Preparatory High School

5701 S Crenshaw Ave., Los Angeles CA 90043

Coordinator: Dr. Michael Farber, mfarber@icefps.org

Lead Teacher: Sebastian Elkouby, selkouby@icefps.org

Principal: Charles Lemle, clemle@icefps.org

Director: Parker Hudnut, phudnut@icefps.org

Demographics

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram

School Website: vphs.icefps.org

School Model

Charter 9-12

Pathways

Introduction to Dance/Choreography 7230, Intermediate Dance/Choreography 7231, Advanced Dance/Choreography 7232, Introduction to Professional Music 7233, Intermediate Professional Music 7234, Advanced Professional Music 7235, Introduction to Professional Theatre 7236, Intermediate Professional Theatre 7237, Advanced Professional Theatre 7238

School Model

Grade 6-12 Independent Charter School

Certiport is excited to present Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) exams free of charge to all AME Virtual Institute attendees. (The best part? The exams will be administered through Certiport’s Exams from Home solution, meaning you’ll be able to take your exam at the comfort and safety of your home.)

So, what is Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)? The Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) certification is a critical tool for educators that are preparing students for careers in digital media and design. It is an industry-recognized credential that effectively validates students’ expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud. The ACA certification is evidence that students have the skills and knowledge to meet the demands of today’s design industry.The certification is available for Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, AfterEffects, Animate, and Premiere Pro. All exams are 50 minutes in length.

CAST Academy

Creative Arts for Social Transformation

Balboa High School

1000 Cayuga Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94112

(San Francisco USD)

Phone: 415-469-4090

Email: larsonj@sfusd.edu

Contact: Jeff Larson, CAST Coordinator

Pathways

Design, Visual, and Media Arts; Game Design and Integration

Career Areas

Featuring: Art/Design; Music/Audio Production; Video/Photography Production; Animation/Motion Graphics Production; Game Design; Broadcast/Communications

School Model

School-within-a-School (Partnership Academy), Wall-to-Wall Academies

The School of Arts and Enterprise

295 N. Garey Ave., Pomona CA 91767

Phone: 909-622-0699

Contact: Phil Miller, Artistic Director

Email: pmiller@thesae.k12.ca.us

Executive Director: Lucille Berger

Director: Germaine Nesbitt

Website: https://www.thesae.org

Pathways

Design, Visual, and Media Arts; Performing Arts; Production and Managerial Arts

Career Areas

Featuring: Musical Theatre and Drama; Classical and Contemporary Dance; Instrumental Music and Music Audio Production; Technical Theatre; Visual Arts; Film Production; Graphic Design

School Model

Grade 6-12 Independent Charter School

AME Workforce Training Programs

AME Demonstration Programs

Hip Hop Education and Equity Initiative (H2E2)

Creative Youth Development Initiative

About Us

The AME Institutes

CA-AME-EO

Professional Learning Services

CA-AME Video On-Demand

AME Sponsors

CA Film Commission

AME Coalition

Events & Resources

Early Career Opportunities