convocation

Thursday, September 8 at 6 p.m.

Virginia Street Swedenborgian Church
170 Virginia Street
Saint Paul, MN 55102

Jan Spencer de Gutiérrez, Guest Speaker

From Chicks to Chalk and Beyond
Read Convocation Address

As district visual and performing arts supervisor for Saint Paul Public Schools, Jan Spencer de Gutiérrez provides leadership in arts learning and instruction. She works with educators to develop and implement curriculum and programming and partners with arts, community, and cultural organizations to offer personal and globally relevant arts experiences for students and adults. The roles of learner, artist, teacher, and leader have intertwined throughout Jan’s life. She began her career in education with Saint Paul Public Schools in 1979 teaching technical theatre at the Performing Arts Learning Center. She continued as a visual arts and elementary classroom educator in Minnesota, Alaska, and California. As an artist in California, Jan explored the chaotic and detailed beauty of storm imagery though her paintings and drawings. She exhibited and received awards for her art, she was co-director of 1078 Gallery, and also curatorial assistant at Chico State’s University Art Gallery.

In 1989 she returned to Minnesota for her painting and mono-print solo exhibition at Studio 13 and accepted a visual arts teaching position. Subsequently, she became curriculum coordinator at Museum Magnet School, which partnered with the Science Museum of Minnesota, and used the learning model of exploring, experimenting, explaining, and exhibiting to honor inquiry and the creative process.

Currently Jan serves on the Teaching Artist Professional Advisory Committee for the College of Visual Arts, is an education advisor to the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, and a board member for Project SUCCESS – a youth development organization. Jan also served as North-Central Regional Advisor for John F. Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education Program. She earned a BA with honors from Macalester College, an MA with honors from California State University, and received Administrative Licensure from the University of St. Thomas. Jan’s newest venture is setting up an encaustic painting studio and discovering what is beyond.

Last year’s Student Council President Hannah Frick gave the inaugural student address.  Her address was entitled CVA Citizenship.

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