Press Release Fun: A New Education Director at The Carle

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Announces New Director of Education

Amherst, MA (July 25, 2013) The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is pleased to announce that Courtney M. Waring will be joining the staff in July as the Director of Education. Waring takes over the helm for Rosemary Agoglia, who retired in June after more than ten years with The Carle.

For the past ten years, Waring has worked at the Delaware Art Museum, serving in the role of Director of Education since 2007. Prior to that, she was an educator at The Barnes Foundation and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In addition to her extensive museum education work, she has experience as a classroom teacher at an elementary school in Pennsylvania.

Waring has served as a grant reviewer for The Institute for Museum and Library Services and the Smithsonian Community Grants. She has been an Education Committee representative for the American Alliance of Museums, where she has made numerous presentations, and received awards for her work. She was also a contributing author to a book entitled An Alliance of Spirit: Museum and School Partnerships. Waring holds a Bachelors of Arts in Art History from Rosemont College, a Masters of Arts in Art History from The Pennsylvania State University, and a graduate level certification in elementary education from West Chester University.

“We are delighted to welcome Courtney to this important position. She brings a passion for teaching, art history, and museum work,” said Alexandra Kennedy, executive director. “The Carle has a talented education team doing some very exciting, innovative work, which was all spearheaded by our very talented founding education director, Rosemary Agoglia. Courtney comes to us with the experience and the creativity to further grow and develop our educational reach.”

As the Director of Education, Waring will direct the Museum’s educational programming and represent The Carle in the national and international dialogue about the educational value of picture books.  The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year, has been expanding its educational programs every year. This year, the Museum received two important awards for its educational work. In February, The Carle accepted the Massachusetts Commonwealth Award, the state’s highest honor in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences. The Museum was recognized in the category of Creative Learning, highlighting The Carle’s work in early literacy and art appreciation. In April, The Carle received its second Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. This $20,000 grant will immerse teachers and young students and their families in the arts, open doors to reading, and bring nationally-acclaimed artists to schools.

“The Carle is still a young museum,” says Kennedy, “But we are clearing making a difference in the lives of educators, parents and children. We look forward to having an even greater impact on early literacy,” Kennedy said.

About the Museum
The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a nonprofit organization in Amherst, Massachusetts, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. In addition to underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form, The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy.

Eric and Barbara Carle founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since opening, the 40,000-square foot facility has served more than half a million visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren. Its extensive resources include a collection of more than 10,000 picture book illustrations, three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and schoolchildren. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Open Mondays in July and August and during Massachusetts school vacation weeks. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-658-1100 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org

Filed under: Press Release Fun