The Opening Nights in Class Education Committee furthers Opening Nights’ education mission by providing expert knowledge, input, feedback, and support to ensure the delivery of high-quality educational programs for K-12 audiences in collaboration with Opening Nights and visiting artists.

The Committee assists Opening Nights in developing curricular-based educational materials for Opening Nights in Class events to support the development of artistic understanding and appreciation of K-12 students in our community.

The Committee steers the educational mission and goals for ON in Class.

Committee Chair

  • Scott Leaman – Curriculum Developer for LCS Secondary Music

Committee Members

  • Sally Ash – 2021 Arts Advocate Award Winner and Program Specialist at Healthy Families Florida
  • Lewis Blessing – Leon County Schools Director of Curriculum Services
  • Dr. Benny Bolden – 2022 Arts Advocate Award Winner and Nims Middle School Principal
  • Ashley Chandler – Art Teacher at Apalachee Tapestry Magnet School of the Arts
  • Dr. Michael Douty – Band Director at Fairview Middle School
  • Brooke Hobbs – Community Volunteer
  • Lakeisha Johnson – Director of The Village at FCRR
  • Jonathan Klepper – FSU Research Faculty
  • Dr. Christopher Small – Director of Educational Leadership Administration at College of Education
  • Carlos R. Villa – Director of K-12 Education Programs at National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
  • Stacy Weaver- Raa Dance Director and Leon Dance Coach
  • Tasha Weinstein – WFSU Public Media Education & Engagement Manager
  • Dr. Joe Williams – Rickards High School IB Coordinator

Current Resources

Sonia de Los Santos


 

Past Educational Materials

2022-23 Resources

tenThing Brass Ensemble

MOMIX presents Alice

PRISM

2021-22 Resources

2020-21 Resources

K-12 Educational Materials

Opening Nights in Class series of educational programs provide students and the community with once-in-a-life time opportunities through master classes, workshops, school tours, Q&As, and panels with world-class performers at no cost to participants. Events are designed to educate, illuminate and inspire.

Opening Nights at FSU and Florida Center for Reading Research work closely with our visiting artists to meet the educational needs of our diverse K-12 school communities by creating support material so teachers and students can continue learning in the classroom after the performance.

For more information on the Florida Center for Reading Research, please contact Nathan Archer at narcher@fcrr.org.


  1. Poster – for teachers to start a classroom discussion before the performance.
  2. Program – for students to have during the performance.
  3. Handout – for students and teachers to complete after the performance.

2019-20

Hiplet Ballerinas

Shana Tucker

Slocan Ramblers


2018-19

Barefoot Movement

DakhaBrakha

Graeme James

Mandy Harvey

The New 76ers

Prague Philharmonic Children’s Choir

Soweto Gospel Choir