Creative Learning Initiative

The Creative Learning Initiative seeks to provide a quality, arts-rich education for every student at Padrón. The initiative is a collaborative effort among Austin ISD, MINDPOP, the city of Austin and community arts partners. CLI provides a specialized curriculum and professional development for educators with the goal of ensuring that students receive the benefits of creative learning across core curriculum subjects and in fine arts instruction.

Our goals are to:

  • Create arts‐rich schools for all students.
  • Create a community network that supports and sustains the arts‐rich life of every child.
  • Develop leaders and systems that support and sustain quality creative learning for the development of the whole child.
  • Demonstrate measurable effects on students, families, schools and our community.

CLI provides a specialized curriculum and professional development for educators, using emergent, culturally responsive, rigorous, and fun Creative Teaching strategies and arts-based activities that support positive social-emotional learning and development. Creative learning ensures that every student is seen, valued, supported, and prepared to reach their full potential.

Why Creative Teaching?

Creative Teaching is a set of flexible, research-based instructional strategies that teachers can use to increase cognitive demand and provide meaningful ways for students to express understanding. In this video, MINDPOP and AISD share why Creative Teaching works.


Watch on YouTube.

Contact Us

Sloan McLain, Coordinator
sloan.mclain@austinisd.org

Lydia Nelson, Assistant Coordinator, Public Relations and Partnerships
lydia.nelson@austinisd.org

Laura Clay, Instructional Coach
laura.clay@austinisd.org

Christy Davis, CLI Associate
christy.davis@austinisd.org