Perpich Center’s Leadership & Data Specialist runs the Regional Arts Teacher-Leader Network (RAT-L), manages Minnesota’s participation in the Arts Education Data Project, and serves as the liaison to PELSB, MDE, and Creative MN. The Leadership & Data Specialist also offers consultations and workshops focused on the Arts Education Data Project.
LEADERSHIP AND DATA IN THE ARTS
Perpich Center’s Leadership & Data Specialist works across all arts areas providing leadership development and professional development centered on arts education data. The Leadership & Data Specialist also collaborates with the Minnesota Department of Education and Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board to facilitate review of the teaching standards in the arts.
Max Clark-Vail is Perpich Center’s Leadership & Data Specialist. His work focuses on the following topics:
- National and state arts education access and participation data
- Minnesota’s teacher education standards in the arts
- Teacher Leadership
- National and state arts education access and participation data
- Minnesota’s teacher education standards in the arts
Max Clark-Vail, Leadership & Data Specialist
Max.Clark@pcae.k12.mn.us | 763-279-4288
Max Clark-Vail joined the Professional Development and Resource Programs team at Perpich Center for Arts Education in 2018. His background includes serving as a high school administrator, school board chair, K-12 visual & media arts teacher, and arts education instructor for Augsburg University. Max has also served as a member of the Creative MN team. In 2022, Art Educators of Minnesota named him Art Administrator of the Year. Max maintains a wide array of creative pursuits as a game designer, musician, writer, bookbinder, and printmaker.
ARTS Education data project
The Arts Education Data Project is a national endeavor currently working with more than 30 states to increase arts participation with the goal of providing arts education data to empower citizens in all 50 states.
Perpich Center leads Minnesota’s involvement in the national project and supports the development of the Minnesota-specific dashboards.
The Minnesota Arts Education Data Project provides access and participation data for the arts across all Minnesota public schools including traditional districts and charter schools. Data is sourced from the Minnesota Department of Education, using both Minnesota Common Course Catalog data and MARSS data. Minnesota was the first state in the nation to develop student demographic dashboards, leading the way in the ability to use the data to examine issues of equity and access in arts education.
REGIONAL ARTS TEACHER-LEADER NETWORK
The Regional Arts Teacher-Leader Network (RAT-L) was founded under the premise that leadership development among arts educators is a long-term investment in the health and efficacy of Minnesota’s arts education landscape.
This virtual program offers an ongoing professional development series to a limited number of arts educators from all across Minnesota. The cohort studies both leadership skills, and continued growth in discipline-specific pedagogy and practices.
Leadership development includes topics such as;
- Identifying personal leadership strengths and growth areas
- Understanding and applying emotional leadership styles
- Navigating difficult conversations with colleagues
- Crafting compelling advocacy for the arts
- Leading for change
- Consensus-building and working with stakeholders
Sign up here to receive notifications about the next application window.
REGIONAL ARTS TEACHER-LEADER APPLICATION
Eligibility
Apply to join Perpich Center’s virtual Regional Arts Teacher-Leader Network (RAT-L), a cohort of arts education teacher-leaders ready to learn and grow together! Over the course of this multi-year professional development program, this cohort will collaborate to deepen their understanding of arts education practice & policy while honing personal leadership skills.
**Next application round expected in early 2026.**
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCE PROGRAMS DIGITAL RESOURCES