We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Mark King, a career public school educator and leader, has joined Arts for Learning Maryland as our first Chief Education Officer.

Most recently, Dr. King was an Instructional Lead Education Director (ILED) with Baltimore City Public Schools, where he supervised 16 K-8 schools, including 12 priority schools identified by the Maryland State Department of Education. He was previously Deputy Chief of School Operations and Programs for the District of Columbia Public School System; in that role, he supervised and managed the directors of K-7 summer and after-school programs, operations, food service, and security.

For 11 years, Dr. King served as both principal and assistant principal at three public schools in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Dr. King has proven how arts integration—academic learning through active arts experiences—is an effective strategy for student learning. As Assistant Principal at Hyattsville Middle School, he participated in the Maryland Artist and Teacher Institute (MATI) and used arts integration as a school turnaround strategy.

“I have seen how the arts can be instrumental in differentiating instruction and improving academic outcomes for children. Arts integration gives teachers the opportunity to learn from artists while the artist learns from the teacher. Together they can understand that there are different ways to teach concepts, expand their work, and reach students in a way that works for them.” —Mark King

This new position and Dr. King’s selection for it underscores Arts for Learning’s commitment to, and continued expansion of, evidence-based arts integration programs. These include Summer Arts for Learning Academy (at 11 schools in Baltimore and DC this past summer), After School Arts for Learning Academy (now offered at 5 Baltimore City Public Schools), and Arts for Learning Days (in-person and virtual experiences).

Said Stacie Sanders Evans, Arts for Learning Maryland President and CEO, “Arts for Learning will greatly benefit from Dr. King’s deep expertise of school systems and the K-12 landscape, both in- and out-of-school time. His belief in the power of the arts, the credibility and respect he has earned among multiple school district leadership communities, and his ability to lead and manage people will benefit students, families, and educators. When Dr. King felt the call to serve this community in a different capacity, we are fortunate that it led him to Arts for Learning!”

“I have seen how the arts can be instrumental in differentiating instruction and improving academic outcomes for children,” said Dr. King. “Arts integration gives teachers the opportunity to learn from artists while the artist learns from the teacher. Together they can understand that there are different ways to teach concepts, expand their work, and reach students in a way that works for them.”

Dr. King earned his Doctorate of Education, Educational Leadership degree from Bowie State University and his Master in Education, Secondary Education from Florida A&M University.

Welcome, Dr. King!