About Us

The Arts Integration Framework was funded by a grant from the Robert E. Black Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation.

Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY) produces professional theatre and drama education programs that make a difference in the lives of young people, families and educators in the state of Hawai‘i. HTY believes that drama education and theatre are unique, socially-based education and art forms that help their participants and audiences walk in the shoes of others, allowing them to expand their imaginations, enrich their lives and discover the infinite possibilities in the world. HTY works towards a future for Hawai‘i in which people are culturally literate and imaginative, are critical thinkers and inventive problem solvers, with a respect for history and a sense of place in a complex world. Founded in 1955, HTY is one of the oldest and most respected children’s theatres in the country. HTY has served over five million people through school and family performances and drama education programs. www.htyweb.org

Framework Authors

Daniel A. Kelin II

Dr. Jamie Simpson Steele

(Honolulu Theatre for Youth) Kelin designs, conducts and hosts professional learning experiences across the state through his work with HTY, and in collaboration with other local arts organizations.  He also designs and conducts work shops and trainings for local teaching artists. A teaching artist with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Kelin conducts workshops across the US and internationally. He has written four books and authored dozens of articles about arts education.

(University of Hawaii/College of Education) Dr. Simpson Steele teaches both pre- and in-service teachers through her work with the University.  She has coordinated and conducted professional learning experiences across the state and in other Pacific Nations.  In addition, Dr. Simpson Steele conducts research about teacher education.  She regularly presents at arts, education and research conferences and has penned many articles about her work and findings.

Evan Anderson

Justin Davies

(Voyager Public Charter School) Anderson is principal at Voyager Public Charter School in Honolulu, HI.  He has taught in public schools for 20 years in Kindergarten through 6th Grade, and has served as music specialist and arts coach. Having benefitted from an arts-rich education throughout his school career, he now works to bring the arts into the lives of every student, every day.  Voyager is a member of the Kennedy Center’s Partners in Education program, along with Hanahau’oli School’s Professional Development Center and Honolulu Theatre for Youth.

(Honolulu Museum of Art) Combining his experience as an artist, elementary classroom teacher and science educator, Davies strives to develop place-based and arts-integrated approaches to learning for students. Through his work with the Museum, Davies designs, coordinates and conducts an extensive network of in-school programs and professional development experiences to support arts integration in Hawaii’s schools.

Special Thanks

Paul Wood, Emily McIlroy, Michael Wall, Mauli’ola Cook, Quala Lynn Young, and Maggie Costigan shared valuable field experience.

With essential contributions from Stuart Stotts, as well as Marcia Daft and John Bertles, and early input from Rae Takemoto.

Appreciation to Randy Barron and Kimberli Boyd for their wonderful work on those dance element charts included in the Resources.

Sincere thanks to Lei Ahsing, Vivien Lee, Katie Dawson, and Elila Levinson for indispensable feedback.

Website created by Fahd Lakhani as a part of the Catchafire program of the Hawaii Community Foundation.

Website design coordinated by Kathleen Young.

Images and quotes provided by Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Hawaii Arts Alliance and the Honolulu Museum of Art.