The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS) announces the selection of Andrew Teheran, instructor at East Side High School’s Media Arts Magnet Program to complete a pilot of a Model Cornerstone Assessment in Media Arts.

The project is partially funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Model Cornerstone Assessments (MCAs), a component of the new National Core Arts Standards, were created by the five discipline-area NCCAS writing teams at the benchmark grades of 2, 5, 8 and the three high school levels (proficient, accomplished, advanced) to demonstrate the type of evidence needed to show student achievement aligned to targeted performance standards.

Mr. Teheran’s class was chosen from the over 260 applications received by NCCAS to be one of 15-18 pilot sites in Media Arts. Pilot sites were chosen based on the strength of their application, the teacher’s credentials and experience, and the support of the school’s administration. Additionally, as part of the selection process, the professional arts service organizations and members of the NCCAS Media Arts leadership committee considered how to best create a diverse cross section of urban, suburban, and rural schools from across the nation.

Participating educators began professional development training in the Core Arts Standards and the MCAs in January 2015, in order to prepare them to pilot the tasks in their classrooms in February. Student work will be collected and benchmarked during the summer for archiving on the NCCAS website.

Individuals and organizations interested in the project can follow the work or obtain more details as it unfolds, including a list of the states participating by geographic region, on the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards wiki at http://nccas.wikispaces.com.

Other highlights this year from Mr. Teheran’s Media Arts classroom at East Side High School:

  • ESHS Media Arts students and alumni premiered their film “Flight of the Arrowhead” at the first annual Newark Comic Con at the Robert Treat Hotel.
  • ESHS Media Arts students served as interns for the Kobold Press gaming company from Seattle, Washington where they helped create a promotional animation.
  • Students from East Side High School Media Arts program win both first place in New Enrolls School Spirit Film and People’s Choice Film Award.
  • Advanced media arts student Anthony DaLuz created a text and media based computer game soon available to play online. The game allows the player to take a virtual tour of East Side High School and solve puzzles.
  • Advanced media arts student Juan Carlos Ortiz created an environmental justice motion infographic for the Ironbound Community Corporation. The animated short is designed to raise awareness concerning the environmental condition of the lower Passaic River. This film will be released at the end of May.
  • Mr. Teheran was appointed to the Board of Directors at Newark’s City Without Walls gallery (cWOW), New Jersey’s oldest not-for-profit alternative art space.
  • Mr. Teheran served as an arts education grant review panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.

Andrew Teheran is a New Jersey based sculptor, educator, filmmaker, and media artist. He was born in New York City to parents of South American and Scandinavian descent. He holds a degree in Art History from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He went on to study sculpture and art education at Montclair State University where he earned his teaching credentials and has recently received his MFA in Creative Practice with Transart Institute in Berlin, Germany. Mr. Teheran has been teaching at East Side High School in New Jersey’s Newark Public School district for over eighteen years. Within the district and throughout the state, he has been decorated for his work in arts education. In 2009 Andrew received the Apple Computer Distinguished Educator Award. His pedagogical career continues at East Side where he created and developed its award winning, internationally recognized Media Arts Magnet Program. Andrew Teheran currently serves as a grant review panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and as a member of the board of directors for City Without Walls Gallery, along with his sculptural, media and educational work.