Reach out to education@thebasie.org for more information
In 2009, a group of Austin, TX educators, philanthropists, parents and civic leaders formed a collective impact initiative called MINDPOP. The project was noble: these leaders shared the belief that when creativity and the arts are used in the classroom, students are more engaged and learning improves.

Today, MINDPOP has blossomed into a nationally-recognized creative learning initiative, providing professional development strategies to teachers and earning accolades and funding from more than 50 arts providers, including a major affirmation from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which endorsed the program by naming Austin, TX as just the seventh city to participate in its Any Given Child program, which aims to ensure access, equality quality in the creative learning space.

mindALIGNED is our MINDPOP.

Under the consult of MINDPOP founder Dr. Brent Hasty, mindALIGNED is spearheaded by the Basie and done in partnership with leadership across the state.

mindALIGNED is a modern approach whose techniques span across disciplines, brightening the classroom from lesson to lesson, pupil to pupil.

Initial research and evaluation found that teachers report the creative teaching strategies are effective teaching tools. Not only were they effective, teachers were able to implement them immediately and also helped engage their students. Teachers also reported that the professional development increased their knowledge of creative teaching, provided knowledge and ideas of when and how to use creative teaching, and that it expanded their teaching strategies and tools on the whole.

• 99% of teachers report the creative teaching strategies will help them engage their students
• 100% of teachers report the Professional Development expanded their teaching strategies
• 100% of teachers report that the mindALIGNED Professional Development has provided knowledge and ideas for when and how to implement creative teaching strategies
• 100% of teachers report that the mindALIGNED Professional Development has increased their knowledge of creative teaching
• 98% of teachers were satisfied with the mindALIGNED PD this year
• 90% of teachers report integrating the concepts they learned into the classroom
• 88% reported the Creative Teaching strategies are effective tools they can use immediately
• 86% of teachers we satisfied with their first year of coaching
• 97% of teachers say it has provided effective teaching tools for implementation in their classroom

The Count Basie Center for the Arts and its partners are proud to launch mindALIGNED, and seeing minds align around creating arts-engaged schools and communities.

Reach out to education@thebasie.org for more information