Our Mission

The mission of the Office of Arts Education, part of the CPS Office of Teaching and Learning, is to provide more students with access to a quality arts education with meaningful arts experiences inside and outside the classroom. We are a resource for teachers, principals and arts organizations on arts curricula and discipline-based learning strategies, arts integration, professional development for teachers and principals, arts partnerships and arts teaching credentials. We are also passionate advocates of greater funding in arts education.

While the staff advises and manages special projects and city-wide exhibitions, competitions and adjudications, its work is also to direct and produce The Chicago Guide for Teaching and Learning in the Arts, a PreK-12 curricular map of the major arts disciplines that will allow schools and partnering arts organizations the opportunity to align their programs against standards applicable throughout the system as a measure of success. With the goal of providing a hub of communication for the CPS arts education community, the Office of Arts Education has also developed a user-friendly website and a monthly e-newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter and other announcements, click here.

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Meet the Staff

Mario R. Rossero

The Interim Director of the Office of Arts Education.

Nancy A. Cortes

Our Visual Arts Curriculum Supervisor, joined the staff after 11 years as Senior Program Specialist for Arts and Culture at the Chicago Park District, where she worked with cultural partners to bring special arts offerings to neighborhood parks. Prior to that time, she worked at the Chicago Historical Society developing visual and performing arts programs, and as an educator for the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum. She has served on various city arts panels and cultural advisory committees and attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Jesus Esquivel

Our Field Supervisor for Having a Ball, a ballroom dance program funded by the Department of Education. Jesus joined the staff after several years of coordinating grant projects with CPS' Office of Language and Culture. He has also worked in the not-for-profit arena managing multiple education and workforce development projects with public and private institutions. Jesus currently serves as vice president of an education and civics focused community-based organization that serves Chicago's Latino community.

Rosalinda Fierro

Currently in her fourth year of service at CPS, is our Office Manager. Rosalinda provides executive assistance to the director; processes payroll, purchase orders and reimbursements; and acts as internal liaison for the department. Prior to joining the Office of Arts Education, she served as an administrative assistant in the Office of Literacy.

Emily Hooper Lansana

Is our Theater and Literary Arts Curriculum Supervisor. Before coming to CPS, Emily served as Arts-in-Education consultant for eta Creative Arts Foundation and has taught at Columbia College, Chicago State University, the University of Chicago, and DePaul University. She has also worked as Director of Education at New York's Lincoln Center Theater. Emily serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Black Storytellers and as President of the Chicago Association of Black Storytellers. She received her BA in Theater Studies with a certificate in Teacher Preparation/Education from Yale University and an MA in Performance Studies from Northwestern University.

William Braddan McClellan

Celebrating 35 years with CPS, is our Music Curriculum Supervisor, Bill is also chief administrator of the nine CPS All-City Performing Groups and the coordinator of all CPS music contests. He was a member of the US Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and was a band director at both the elementary and high school levels. Bill is a product of CPS' Wendell Phillips High School and holds degrees from Northeastern Illinois State College, Vandercook College of Music, and Roosevelt University