Susan Lipp of Full Compass Appointed to Participate in First NEA Education Leaders Institute Conference
July 30, 2008

Middleton, WI – Susan Lipp, President of Full Compass Systems, has been dedicated to promoting music and arts education throughout the state and nation for many years. She has worked to develop several initiatives to keep the arts accessible to all children, giving them the skills they need to succeed in today’s ever-changing economy. With an increasing emphasis on reading and math, art teachers and art programs are in a constant struggle for funds and support from local and state leaders. Because of this, Susan and others like her are determined to take the necessary steps to keep arts education in the forefront.

Susan was recently appointed by State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster to participate in the pilot session of the Education Leaders Institute, an event sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with the Illinois Arts Council. Five state teams were selected to participate, including Alaska, Nebraska, North Carolina, Kentucky and Wisconsin. At the Institute, located in Wheaton, Illinois, work sessions with individual teams and combined state groups took place and speakers from different creative industries were featured. Topics ranged from funding, training, and delivery of arts programs to exploring methods of boosting creativity using new technologies. As a part of the Wisconsin team, Susan worked with school leaders, legislators, policymakers, educators, professional artists, consultants and scholars to discuss the challenges surrounding arts education and develop joint strategies to strengthen the state’s arts education policies and programs.

The National Endowment for the Arts reaches out to millions of school-aged children and teachers through direct grants and national initiatives including Jazz in the Schools, Poetry Out Loud, Shakespeare in American Communities, and The Big Read. These programs give young people the opportunity to participate and expand their knowledge of the arts, while building the skills necessary to achieve their future goals.