This unique program was created initially by Marnie Paul Arts Center in collaboration with Dougherty Arts Center and VSA Texas, in order to bring the expressive arts to AISD special education classrooms. The program is an introduction to the benefits of the arts to both students and teachers. An art, music or dance therapist collaborates with a classroom teacher to create an experiential arts curriculum that meets the needs of students as well as integrates into the class’ regular curriculum. Teachers report that students look forward to this fun, dynamic and interactive time!

The arts are used to address such classroom goals as: improved communication and social skills, group cooperation, impulse control, gross and fine motor skills, self and body awareness, self-regulation, self-esteem and confidence, and improved cognitive functioning. The goal is for teachers to learn ways of applying the arts to address diverse student abilities and for the teacher’s implementation of the arts to continue upon completion of the ten week program.

This program provided me with a variety of ways to encourage my students to be creative and to let kids be independent and create on their own.

--Natasha Kendrick, Teacher, Joslin Elementary

The program is currently being administered by Greenlights for Non-Profit Success. For more information, please contact them at www.greenlights.org or contact Kalila Homann.
Project Supervisor for the Accessible Arts School Outreach Program:

Kalila Homann, MA, LPC, ATDR, Dance Therapist

Kalila Homann MA, LPC, ADTR is the clinical supervisor for the Marnie Paul Arts Center and has been with the Center since it opened in 1997. As an undergraduate student at Hampshire College, Kalila studied human development and dance. She went on to graduate school at Lesley College in Cambridge, MA, becoming a certified dance therapist and licensed professional counselor. Her training includes psychiatric, chemical dependency, eating disorders, and special needs population.