Hear what past participants have said about their experience at aTi.
"aTi is a life-giving oasis." Patricia Marinaro, Art Teacher
Roseville Avenue School, Newark, NJ “During the school year, I give so much, to so many students; I barely have time to do my own art. I find that aTi helps me replenish my well of inspiration. By working in such a concentrated fashion, I'm able to free my mind and get to my own creative core—which is what I'm encouraging students to do. To be able to find expression in a different art form expands my vocabulary and gives me an appreciation for a different set of artistic tools and skills. I believe this gives me an opportunity to experience myself as a student again; which in turn, I take back to my own teaching.” April Armstrong, Teaching Artist
NYDOE & BOCES, Westchester, NY “The more I incorporate what I learn at aTi, the more pleasant my classes become, the more student enthusiasm becomes evident, the more high-stakes testing scores increase, the more pleased with my job performance administrators become, the larger my job satisfaction grows.” Michael Z. Murphy, Language Arts Teacher
Sojourner Truth Middle School, East Orange, NJ “I feel invigorated. I can’t wait to share this with my students. It was an ego-free environment, all ages, all backgrounds, all levels of experience. Everyone had something positive to bring to the table.” Christine Gatto Dougherty, Theatre Teacher
Delsea Regional High School, Franklinville, NJ "The aTi experience allowed me to freely take risks in being creative. I felt safe when receiving feedback.” Saundra Warren-Givens, Teacher
Hawthorne Elementary School, Teaneck, NJ
“The tools I was taught in both workshops gave me a better understanding of the tools I need to give my students to better equip them. This has, without question, been one of the best experiences of my life! I truly believe that my life has been forever changed and my goals better clarified and focused.” Leigh MacKelvey, Special Education Teacher
Lanning Square, Camden, NJ “Caring, loving people are the type of instructors at aTi. I felt myself changing/developing and am impressed with what I accomplished in such a short period of time.” Mary Alsager, Pre-K Teacher
Irving Primary School, Highland Park, NJ “The whole experience was great. I learned things not only from the faculty but from other participants. I can’t wait to bring the techniques to the classroom. This program also inspires me to do my own artwork, which will help my teaching abilities.” Eileen Ciavarello, Teacher
Pequannock Township High School, Pompton Plains, NJ “The impact of aTi will, I’m, sure, reveal itself in unimaginable ways for years to come. My aTi experience has made me a more sociable, patient and thoughtful individual than I was before.” Gary J. Whitehead, English Teacher
Tenafly High School, Tenafly, NJ “Working in an inner city school with children of extreme diverse situations provides me with the fuel that helps me return to the aTi experience. The teachers and my peers help to solve problems you can experience in the classroom as well as share school lessons of success! I always look forward to aTi.” Alonzrea Stewart-Austin, Art Teacher
Mt.Vernon School, Newark, NJ “I loved feeling like anything was possible and hope to impart that in a bigger way in my classroom. I also learned to properly bang a drum! A big part of this workshop was the camaraderie among participants. I was so much more supported than I expected to be.” Tamara Caruso, Language Arts Teacher
Grace Wilday JHS, New Brunswick, NJ “The workshop provided a continuous “hands on” practical experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the two week seminar; it did all I thought it would! It enabled me to “stretch” to see how I can adapt things to my classroom and personal learning style. Most importantly it instilled confidence in me and my skills.” Karen Mickelson, Kindergarten Teacher
Grenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center, Washington Township, NJ “aTi helps teachers and artists to bloom professionally and personally. I’ve become more creative as a result of the process and my experience.” Lilith M. Waters, Instructional Tutor
Gloucester County Special Services School District, Sewell, NJ “aTi was like a retreat for teachers. Just being exposed to all these creative people helped me to raise the bar on the amount of creativity I will put into my classroom.” Lisa Merino, Fourth Grade Teacher
Lawnside Public School, Lawnside, NJ “I found a “humor” inside my writing style that was not there before. The nurturing and trust was incredible. It was absolutely the most perfect way to spend ten days in the summer!” Alice Ruth Bennett, Reading Specialist
Ollie E. Culbreth Jr. School, Jersey City, NJ | 
