Perpich-Connected Panel Earns Top Convention Award for Leadership on Federal Education Policy

April 20, 2026

A panel discussion featuring leaders connected to Perpich Center for Arts Education has received regional recognition for its timely exploration of federal education policy.

The session, titled “Navigating Recent Changes to Federal Education Policy”, was originally presented at the Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota (CTAM) conference last September in St. Cloud. Now, it has been honored with the TOP Convention Panel award from the Central States Communication Association, which recently met in Minneapolis.

Panelists were: Stephanie Lein Walseth, PhD, Education Specialist in Theater at Perpich Center for Arts Education; Allegra Smisek, Executive Director of Perpich Center for Arts Education; Joshua Streeter, Advocacy & Impact Manager at Educational Theatre Association; Deb Henton, Ed.D., Executive Director of MN Association of School Administrators (MASA); and Rose Chu, PhD, Founder & Project Lead at Elevate Teaching.

Lein Walseth shared that the recognition came as a welcome surprise. “It was a lovely surprise,” she wrote in an email to panelists, noting that the session was recommended for the award by a CTAM representative serving on the States Advisory Council.

The panel brought together a group of experienced voices to examine the rapidly evolving landscape of federal education policy under the current administration and its impact on schools and arts education across the state and the country. The panel’s collective insights, Stephanie noted, were a key part of what made the session stand out. “While the panelists were clear in sharing the new and ongoing challenges educators face in light of new federal policy, they were also inspirational in sharing strategies for moving forward,” she wrote. “Their ideas included encouraging participants to hold firm to the values they stand for, building relationships with representatives, modeling risk-taking, and channeling flexibility and strength by being like water.”

Each panelist will receive a commemorative plaque recognizing the achievement.

The award highlights not only the importance of understanding federal education policy, but also the strength of collaboration, coalition, and collective power among educators and advocates working to navigate change in education.

CTAM is an umbrella organization combining the interests of communication and theater teachers and professors across the state of Minnesota. Represented organizations include: META, MDTA, MSCA, MCFA, ITS, CSCA. Representation also extends to geographic regions of the state and educational levels K-12, College University (2 year), and College/ University (4 Year).