Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou received the Kathy Tosolini Excellence in School Administration Arts Advocate Award from the Arts/Learning Network and Advocacy Group. (Photo Courtesy Bourne Public Schools)
BOURNE — Bourne Public Schools is pleased to announce that Superintendent Kerri Anne Quinlan-Zhou is a recipient of the Kathy Tosolini Excellence in School Administration Arts Advocate Award from the Arts/Learning Network and Advocacy Group.
Superintendent Quinlan-Zhou was recognized during the 33rd Annual Champions of Arts Education Advocacy Awards Ceremony hosted by the Arts/Learning Network and Advocacy Group on Nov. 18. This year’s ceremony was held on Nov. 15 at the Boston Renaissance Charter Public School in Hyde Park.
The Kathy Tosolini Excellence in School Administration Arts Advocate Award is presented to a school administrator who displays significant support and commitment to high-quality arts education programs, including by demonstrating exemplary leadership and building community support for arts education.
Superintendent Quinlan-Zhou has more than 25 years of experience in education from grades pre-K through 12. Her career includes roles as a music educator and music therapist in Virginia, working with children and adults with special needs.
Superintendent Quinlan-Zhou holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University. Her doctoral thesis focused on the impact of instrumental music instruction on achievement in literacy for eighth-grade students in an urban district.
As Director of Fine Arts for the New Bedford Public Schools, she created the foundation for a revival of arts education, which led to the establishment of an arts magnet school and equitable arts instruction in all schools.
Superintendent Quinlan-Zhou has led the Bourne Public Schools since 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Superintendent Quinlan-Zhou worked to continue arts education for all students. The District used Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding to hire additional staff, providing more arts experiences that foster creativity, innovation and belonging.
The District provides equitable access to award-winning visual and performing arts programs, personalized learning with intervention and enrichment periods in every school as well as three new Innovation Pathways at the High School.
She has been an ardent supporter of the arts, fostering a love for music as a volunteer with the South Coast Children’s Chorus. She has also previously served on the Advocacy Committee of Arts|Learning, the board of SMARTS Collaborative, AHA!, and part of the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Program and Audit for Arts Education.
The Arts/Learning Network and Advocacy Group honors individuals each year who have made contributions to arts education advocacy and who promote high quality education for the arts for all students across Massachusetts.
“I am truly honored to be recognized with this prestigious award and I would like to thank the Arts/Learning Network and Advocacy Group for this honor,” said Superintendent Quinlan-Zhou. “I also want to thank my colleagues, educators, and the entire Bourne Public Schools community for their support of the arts and commitment to education. Providing students with a well-rounded education that encourages creativity helps prepare them for a bright future and this award is a symbol of the work and dedication that go into supporting students every day.”
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