Classroom Visits: Meaningful Professional Development for Arts Educators

November 19, 2025

This fall, Education Specialists at Perpich Center facilitated visits into the classrooms of arts educators at Ely Public Schools (Dance), Marcy Arts Elementary School (Theater), Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School (Music), and PiM Arts High School (Theater).

Mary Harding poses with Molly Olson and Maddie Olson and other educators during the visit in Ely Public Schools

Mary Harding, Perpich Center’s Dance Education Specialist, facilitated the visit in Ely Public Schools along with host teachers, Molly Olson and Maddie Olson. All agreed, “It was incredibly successful!” Participating teachers from Ely and Silver Bay explored lessons that connected dance to computer science, math, physical education, Spanish, and English Language Arts. In addition to observing the work of students, teachers focused on reflection, discussion, and lesson planning for dance integration. Harding brought her expertise to the group by helping participants identify common errors in teaching movement, break down physical concepts, scaffold instruction, and make creative choices.

One of the participants reflected, “The facilitators provided not only creative and inspiring ideas and lessons, but a welcoming and supportive forum to brainstorm and share activities and lessons amongst the participants.” Another visiting teacher said, “My biggest ‘ah-ha’ today was just a big reintroduction into Dance overall!” A great day!

Theater educators observe during Molly McElroy’s drama classes at Marcy Arts Elementary School in Minneapolis Public Schools

Dr. Stephanie Lein Walseth, Perpich Center’s Theater Education Specialist, and a group of theater educators visited Molly McElroy’s classroom at Marcy Arts Elementary School in Minneapolis Public Schools. They observed Kindergarteners, 5th graders, and 1st graders in various drama experiences. At the end of the day, visitors were able to debrief the lessons with McElroy and Lein Walseth, and think more about applying some of the strategies they observed in their own teaching. One visitor shared, “My biggest ‘ah-ha’ today was that I realized how well I’m actually doing in my classroom. A lot of what I saw in these elementary drama classes, I’m doing in mine as well. And yet I still came away with more ideas to improve.” It was a day of learning for the host teacher, as well. McElroy reflected, “I loved getting feedback from my peers! It was so encouraging to have people who are doing my same job be able to be in the room with me. I am so grateful for this opportunity.”

Dr. Michael Buck, Perpich Center’s Music Education Specialist, and a small group of elementary music educators visited the classroom of David Davis at Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School in St. Louis Park Public Schools. They observed 2nd graders, 3rd graders, and 5th graders across a wide range of learning activities. Buck shared, “It was clear to see the intentional use of standards-based concepts and the appropriate benchmarks in each grade level. Foundational skills were a definite focus, and students applied those skills to engage and respond in higher order thinking activities.” The visitors also noticed that students, while working on challenging music concepts, were engaged and motivated to learn because of the creative and fun ways Davis presented them.

Students engage in a lesson during a theater class at PiM Arts High School

Dr. Stephanie Lein Walseth also facilitated a visit to PiM Arts High School in Eden Prairie. On this day, the host teachers were Rachel Brady, William Leaf, and Rob Thompson. Visitors sat in on three classes: musical theatre 2, senior musical theatre seminar, and improv. Following their visit, participants, the host teachers, and Lein Walseth had time to discuss the classes and their observations, especially noticing routines, rituals, and community building. The group also considered practical implementation ideas focused on the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards in Theater. As a result of the workshop, one participated shared, “I plan to let my students lead their response to a performance in progress.”

Educators attending each of the classroom visits plan to continue to connect via email for more collaboration, problem-solving, and sharing of resources.

“Teachers learning from teachers” is at the heart of Perpich’s Classroom Visit program, facilitated by the Professional Development and Resource Programs team. A classroom visit is a half- to full-day experience with a small group of job-alike arts educators. Participants are provided with the day’s lesson plans, then observe up to three hours of classes. The afternoon is focused on debriefing the morning’s observations with the host teacher and one of Perpich’s Arts Education Specialists. Participants and the host teacher ask questions, share reflections and wonderings, and create collaborative conversations to spark ideas for everyone to bring back to their classrooms. Watch for more opportunities to observe in arts classrooms across the state in the coming months!

Mary Harding, MAED, BA, National Dance Teacher of the Year (2002), has been head of the dance program at Perpich Arts High School in Minnesota since 1990. Her award-winning research, “Peer Coaching in the Arts Classroom” (2009), and her article “Assessment In The High School Technique Class-Creating Thinking Dancers” (2012), were both published in JODE. Mary received the SURDNA Arts Teachers Fellowship (2002) and was a teaching artist for the Annenberg Art of Teaching the Arts (2005). Mary was a writing team member of the Minnesota Standards and the National Core Arts Standards for Dance. She serves as Dance Education Specialist at Perpich, supporting K-12 Dance Educators across Minnesota. She served on the policy board of NDEO (2020-2023) and worked on the Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion audit, the By-laws Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. She is currently a supervising teacher for candidates in the University of Minnesota’s Arts in Education program. She wrote a pilot lesson for the NCAS Community for All Learners Lesson Piloting Team. She is also a participant in a national Professional Learning Community through Connected Arts Network. These opportunities build skills and knowledge that Harding uses to support the Minnesota dance educators. Her interests lie in K-12 dance standards, equity and access in curriculum development, highlighting student voice, supporting emerging K-12 teachers through professional development and encouraging leadership at every level.

Stephanie Lein Walseth, Ph.D. is a theater educator, artist, administrator, and scholar with over 20 years experience working with students and artists of all ages. She is a founding core artistic group member of Full Circle Theater Company, and she has served tenures with Penumbra Theatre Company, Mu Performing Arts, Mixed Blood Theatre, and Sod House Theater, among many other professional companies in Minnesota and across the country. Stephanie received her Ph.D. in Theatre Historiography from the University of Minnesota, and her research focuses on theaters of color and issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. She has served as an instructor and curriculum developer at Augsburg University, the University of Minnesota, and Penumbra. Her writing has appeared in HowlRound, Theatre Topics, e-misférica, The Baylor Journal of Theatre and Performance, and the anthology Theater, Performance and Change.

Michael Buck, Ph.D. currently serves as the Music Education Specialist for Perpich Center for Arts Education and Director of the Norseman Band at St. Olaf College. Previously, Dr. Buck held higher education posts at The College of St. Scholastica and Augsburg University. Prior to entering higher education, Dr. Buck served over twenty years as a K-12 instrumental music educator in Minnesota and in two overseas American international schools. Dr. Buck has presented peer-reviewed research projects and workshops in local, regional, national, and international settings. His work includes appearances at the International Symposium of Assessment in Music Education (ISAME), the International Society for Music Education/European Association for Music in Schools (ISME/EAS), Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA), the South Asia International Schools Association (SAISA), the College Music Society/Association for Technology in Music Instruction (CMS/ATMI), the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), the Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) and Perpich Center for Arts Education. Dr. Buck’s leadership roles include chair of the Minnesota chapter of the College Band Directors National Association (MN CBDNA), MMEA Band Vice President, MMEA All-State Band and Orchestra section coach, and Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony section coach (GTCYS). Dr. Buck holds degrees in music education and conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi, VanderCook College of Music, and St. Olaf College.