Teaching Artist
Training Resources

Resources and information for teaching artists participating in Liberty School professional development programs at Arts District Liberty Station.

Quick Links

CoTA Overview

Training Sessions

Training Schedule

Training Attendance

State Standards

Teaching Artist Training Polaroid 01 | Arts District Liberty Station
  • About the program

CoTA Program Overview

Collaborations: Teachers + Artists (CoTA) is a nonprofit professional development organization with more than 24 years of experience supporting arts integration in education. CoTA’s mission is to deepen academic learning by helping educators and teaching artists design arts-integrated projects that align with classroom curriculum.
Through this process, students engage in work that builds:
  • Creativity
  • Critical thinking
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Innovation

Training Format

Each training session lasts two to three hours, allowing participants time to learn new strategies, collaborate with colleagues, and apply concepts to their own teaching artist practice.

Training sessions are scheduled individually throughout the Liberty School program cycle.

Training Sessions

Training 1

Liberty School Lesson Plan Template: A Tool for Planning, Reflection, and Sharing

This session focuses on how thoughtful lesson planning supports student success. Participants will explore key components of effective lesson design, including:
  • Learning goals and objectives
  • Learning progressions
  • Standards alignment
  • Assessment strategies
Teaching artists will also be introduced to the Liberty School Lesson Plan Template, developed in collaboration with program administrators and tenant partners. This tool helps teaching artists document and share lesson strategies across the Liberty School network.

Training 2

Arts Instruction in the Classroom: An Introduction

This training explores how the arts support learning in educational settings. Participants will examine the differences between:
  • Discrete arts instruction
  • Arts enhancement
  • Arts integration

Through presentations, activities, and discussion, teaching artists will develop a deeper understanding of how each approach contributes to student learning and how their own teaching practice fits within this framework.

* Examples from both visual and performing arts instruction will be shared to illustrate how arts integration can enhance student engagement and understanding.

Training Schedule

Dates, times, and locations for upcoming training sessions will be shared with participating teaching artists.
Current Schedule: TBD

Training Attendance

Organizations participating in CoTA training can track attendance using the following document:
Training Organization Checklist 2025

Training Scheduling Surveys

Polls and surveys used to schedule upcoming training sessions will be shared here.
*Coming Soon

California State Arts Standards

Teaching artists participating in Liberty School training should reference the California State Arts Standards: