Formed
as a 501(c)3 corporation in August 2005,
the Advocates for Arts-Based Education (AABE) board is the primary
oversight board for Lusher Charter School. As such, the board meets
regularly to receive reports from the school's Principal/CEO
and CFO. The AABE board hires the school's Principal/CEO and serves
as the employer of the staff brought on by the Principal/CEO. All
major budgetary and operational decisions of the school leadership
are brought before the board for final approval, and the board hears
any appeals or grievances from within the organization.
The
Advocates for Arts-Based Education board takes its name from Lusher's
philosophy of including the arts in all facets of education. This
process of Comprehensive Arts Education (CAE) and Arts Integration
has developed through Lusher's partnership with the Southeast Center
for Education and the Arts at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga.
The entire Lusher faculty is trained in incorporating the arts into
the core classes to help deepen and broaden student understanding.
Thus, a Lusher student might use dance to better understand the spatial
relationships of the planets in science class or music to gain insight
into individual experiences during a certain historical time period.
The arts help encourage Lusher students to think creatively and critically,
to gain self-confidence and accept criticism, and to celebrate theirs
and others' accomplishments.
Advocates for Arts-Based Education Board Members
Blaine LeCesne, President
Paul Barron, Vice President
Andrew Wisdom, Treasurer
Susan Krinsky
Carol Whelan
Ike Spears
Kristin Huston
Rachael Wisdom, Board Secretary