Theater Educator Borough PL Overview

In service of deepening our theater professional learning and reaching more teachers, the Arts Office Theater Program produced 5 discrete Borough Based exchanges, focused on grade band investigation of teacher artistry, pedagogy and collaboration.  With an emphasis on teacher artistry, inspiring creativity, building connections across schools, and providing concrete tools to support  student curiosity, teachers had the opportunity to work together and learn from some of NYC's leading theater cultural partners.

This initiative aligned with the Arts Office Professional Learning Logic Model by:

• Cultivating Professional and Artistic Growth

  • Supporting theater teachers in nurturing their dual identities as both educators and artists. 

  • Expanding teachers’ sense of agency and artistic ownership through collaboration and sharing.

• Build a Collaborative and Connected Professional Community

  • Created spaces for dialogue, reflection, and exchange—such as collaborative circles, peer mentoring, and community forums.

• • Expanded teacher collaboration and exchanges through ongoing, structured opportunities for co-learning and connection.

• Offer Sustained Engagement in Professional Learning

  • Provided time and space for reflection, planning, and iterative growth aligned with the NYC Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts.

  • Ensured PL is directly translatable to classroom practice, with visible impact on student learning, artistry and engagement.

• Developing Leadership and Collaboration Across the Arts Ecosystem

  • Building networks of theater educators who exchange best practices and model innovative, inclusive pedagogy.

  • Strengthening collaboration among theater teachers within the boroughs.

BOROUGH BASED THEATER TEACHER PL EXCHANGE 2026 PROFILES

Peter Avery, Director of Theater

ARTS OFFICE, NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS

pavery@schools.nyc.gov

www.iteachtheater.com