Centering Student Art Institute

Macy Professor of Education and Director of Art & Art Education at Columbia University Teachers College

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Dr. Judith Burton is the Macy Professor of Education and Director of Art & Art Education at Columbia University Teachers College. Her research focuses on the artistic-aesthetic development of children, adolescents and young adults and the implications this has for teaching and learning and the culture in general. In 1995 she co-founded the Center for Research in Arts Education at Teachers College, and in 1996 founded the Heritage School – a comprehensive high school featuring the arts – located in Harlem, NYC. She is author of numerous articles, books, and chapters; she currently has two additional books in publication process.

Founder of Teaching Beyond the Square

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Jane Racoosin has worked in early childhood education for over 20 years. As a teacher, parent, and former director at Beginnings Nursery School in NYC, she has witnessed how children’s learning and emotional development are impacted by an exploration-based education approach. In her own classroom, she saw that children gained confidence and creativity when curriculum was developed in collaboration between teachers and children. She wanted to offer the same high quality early learning experience to all children across the five boroughs regardless of cost. In 2013, she started Teaching Beyond the Square to fulfill this vision and to elevate early childhood education’s importance in a public way.

Early Childhood Education Consultant

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Kristin Eno specializes in early childhood education, intergenerational storytelling, and arts-integrated pedagogy, uniquely bridging archival research with classroom practice to amplify marginalized voices. Eno oversees professional development initiatives for educators, focusing on curriculum design and the implementation of Reggio Emilia-inspired learning environments.

Supervisor of Early Childhood Education

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Terese Maguire is an experienced educational leader with more than 25 years of service in public education and a deep commitment to early childhood education, high-quality instruction, and social-emotional learning. She currently serves as the Supervisor of Early Childhood Education for Milford Public Schools, where she leads efforts to strengthen developmentally appropriate teaching and learning, support educators through meaningful professional learning, and ensure that young children have access to engaging, inclusive, and high-quality early learning experiences.

Dr. Clare Murray and Tish Murray, cARTie Co-Founders

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Dr. Clare and Tish Murray are the ultimate mother-daughter educator duo. Bringing together their shared care for young children's early art and museum education, Dr. Clare and Tish envisioned cARTie's pioneering learning model in 2018.

Jen Conlon, President and Founder

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Jen Conlon is a graphic designer, lifelong crafter, and founder of Milford Makes. A former member of the Milford Education Foundation Board of Directors, her work grows out of a belief that creativity thrives when people have access to materials, encouragement, and welcoming spaces to learn.