Perpich News

Allegra Smisek

  • 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…

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  • Student Voices Take Center Stage During Governor’s Office Visit

    April 16, 2026

    Perpich Center for Arts Education welcomed representatives from the Governor’s office to campus on April 16, 2026, for a visit that highlighted the agency’s mission, student leadership, and community engagement.
    Student leaders Ajay Nicholas (Visual Arts 2026), Jalena Gumban (Literary Arts 2026), and…

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  • MSBA Leadership Conference Provides Great Opportunities for Perpich to Connect

    January 26, 2026

    Perpich Center for Arts Education had a strong presence at the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) Leadership Conference January 15-16 at the Minneapolis Convention Center, engaging with school board members and education leaders from across Minnesota.

    Dr. Wendy Barden…

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  • Perpich Center Selected to Represent Minnesota in Kennedy Center’s National Scrollathon

    November 5, 2025

    On Wednesday, November 5, Perpich students, staff, and Board members experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: they represented the state of Minnesota in the Kennedy Center’s collaborative visual art project, the National Scrollathon®, part of the Kennedy Center’s yearlong celebration of the 250th anniversary…

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  • Bridging Cultures Through Education and the Arts

    July 28, 2025

    Last month, I had the extraordinary honor of representing Perpich Center for Arts Education and the State of Minnesota as part of an education delegation to China. Sponsored by the Chinese government and the Confucius Institute of Minnetonka, the trip brought together…

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  • Perpich Arts High School Graduation 2025

    May 23, 2025

    The Perpich Arts High School Class of 2025 graduated on May 23 in a ceremony at the Ames Center in Burnsville, Minnesota. The ceremony was also livestreamed on Facebook. Perpich is proud to announce that 100% of the Class of 2025 graduated. Danny…

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  • Nine School Districts Selected for Minnesota’s 2025-2027 Comprehensive Arts Planning Program

     The 2025-2027 award recipients for CAPP: Academias La Paz, Alexandria Public Schools, Big Lake Schools, Brainerd Public Schools, International Spanish Language Academy, Inver Grove Heights Schools, Kasson-Mantorville Schools, Little Falls Community Schools, and Waconia Public Schools.

    May 5, 2025

    Perpich Center for…

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  • Allegra Smisek Named Executive Director of Perpich Center for Arts Education

    March 26, 2025

    We are happy to announce that Allegra Smisek (smee-sheck) was offered and accepted the role of executive director for Perpich Center for Arts Education after a public interview on March 25, 2025. Allegra has most recently served as Perpich’s interim executive director…

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  • Board Members Leslie LeCuyer and Janet Mohr Say Farewell

    January 24, 2025

    Perpich Board Members Leslie LeCuyer and Janet Mohr attended their final official Board meeting on January 23, 2025. LeCuyer was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton in 2017 and reappointed to the Board in 2021 by Governor Tim Walz. Mohr was appointed by…

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