| Katherine Damkohler |
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Katherine Damkohler is a long-time
educator of inner-city children, who for more than a decade has devoted
her energy to making music education a vital component of the curriculum
for thousands of children through her work with Education Through Music,
Inc. (ETM). As principal of ETM’s first partner school, and since 1995
as the organization’s Executive Director, she has helped struggling
elementary and middle schools to improve the quality of education
available to their students both by incorporating music as a core
discipline for every child and by involving principals, teachers and
parents in school-wide reform efforts. A non-profit organization founded in 1991, ETM promotes the integration of music and other arts into the curricula of inner-city schools and schools in disadvantaged areas, in order to enhance students’ academic performance and general development. ETM addresses the lack of consistent music education in schools serving disadvantaged populations by forming long-term partnerships with schools and helping them to provide weekly in-school music instruction to every child. ETM also works to build capacity among school and community members for the long-term survival of arts education programs. ETM employs conservatory and music education program graduates to serve as music faculty in each partner school; they use ETM’s skills-based curriculum to provide students with a comprehensive music education that builds sequentially from year to year. In addition, ETM’s program encourages close collaboration between teaching artists and regular classroom teachers so that music can serve as a catalyst to improve learning in all areas. ETM’s first partner school, with Ms. Damkohler as principal, won a National Blue Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education in 1994, after three years of piloting the program. Since then, ETM has expanded to serve over 6,000 children annually. Currently, ETM partners with ten New York City area schools and oversees two pilot replication projects in Pennsylvania and Connecticut, which began in 2002 at the invitation of outside individuals and groups, including the Yale School of Music. With her background as a teacher and principal, Ms. Damkohler has guided ETM in maintaining a keen awareness of school culture and curriculum needs, so that programs will serve students effectively. She has overseen the creation of ETM’s curriculum and resource guide, and the development of ETM’s intensive, customized training, mentoring and professional development for teaching artists, academic teachers and principals – both key components of the organization’s success today. Ms. Damkohler has spoken at arts education conferences and panel discussions in New York City and around the country, addressing principals, superintendents, teachers and business and community leaders on school leadership and using the arts to help revitalize schools. She has also served as a guest lecturer in curriculum and pedagogy at the Manhattan School of Music. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the National Arts and Learning Collaborative at Walnut Hill and is Co-President of the Dalcroze School of Music in New York City. Ms. Damkohler holds an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University. |
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| ©2007 - The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony,
Inc. | Photographs © Steve J. Sherman |
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