Caroline Bagesaanaatig Ferrante

Pronouns: she/her

Caroline Bagesaanaatig Ferrante is an award-winning songwriter, critically acclaimed actor, and passionate educator committed to abolitionist principles. With a Master’s in Curriculum, she specializes in trauma-informed Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) arts-integrated curricula, drawing from her twenty-year classroom experience.

Guided by her Pawnee storyteller grandfather’s legacy, Ferrante’s collaborations with MD Wolf Trap and Arts for Learning Maryland have led to the development of Native American Storytelling experiences, MSDE Workshops, Professional Development Seminars, and Early Learning residencies in Baltimore City Public Schools, Early Head Start Centers, and Judy Centers.

Ferrante’s endeavors center on her PhD research at UMBC into pre-colonial pedagogy and its influence on absenteeism and dropout rates. Notable 2024 presentations include “Native Chesapeake: Brave Classroom Communities” at the BOOST Conference, Palm Springs, “Promoting Inclusion and Social-Emotional Learning Through Storytelling” at the Goucher College Project ACT Conference, and “Remembering the Joy: Arts-Integrated Leadership” at the Maryland Early Childhood Conference.

Artist Statement

Fundamentally, all teachers are artists using strategies from our ever-growing toolkits, expanding the colors on our palettes. We create educational experiences that shape minds and hearts.

Caroline Bagesaanaatig Ferrante is a Maryland Wolf Trap Early Childhood teaching artist. Learn more about our Early Childhood programs.

Credentials

A4L Resident Teaching Artist
Maryland Wolf Trap Teaching Artist
MSAC Teaching Artist Roster

Testimonials

"We are grateful that, during the pandemic and these uncertain times, the classes provide a wonderful way to channel and process emotions, share stories and build resilience. A special thanks to Mx. Caroline for creating a haven of brilliant imagination, and pure joy—so hard to do virtually as well as through these arduous days."