Webinar 4: Measuring What Matters

Amanda Karhuse

Assistant Executive Director, Advocacy & Public Policy, National Association for Music Education

Amanda Karhuse is the Assistant Executive Director for Advocacy and Public Policy at the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) where she works with policymakers and other national organizations to promote music and the arts as an integral and core component of a well-rounded education. In this role, she coordinates all federal and state policy and advocacy efforts for NAfME, which includes lobbying, coalition-building activities, and strengthening the capacity of music education advocates. Amanda leads the Music Education Policy Roundtable, serves as facilitator for the National Coalition for Art Standards, represents NAfME on the board of directors for the Title IV-A Coalition, and co-chairs the Arts Education Partnership Data Working Group. In 2024, Amanda became the lead federal lobbyist for the Arts Education Alliance, a strategic partnership between NAfME and the Educational Theatre Association, the National Art Education Association, the National Association for Media Arts Education, and the National Dance Education Organization. Prior to her tenure at NAfME, Amanda was the Director of Policy and Advocacy for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, worked at the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute, and served as a legislative assistant for former Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman of Florida. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg.

Kelly Bisogno

Coordinator of Fine Arts, Virginia Department of Education

Kelly Bisogno is the Coordinator of Fine Arts at the Virginia Department of Education. She has taught art to children, teens, and adults for over 15 years. She holds BFA degrees in Sculpture and Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and a masters in Educational Technology and Education Leadership. She was an art teacher for over 10 years and is a Distinguished Fellow of the Virginia Art Education Association and Virginia Art Educator of the Year in 2024. Kelly serves on several state and national arts education organizations and is the co-chair of the Arts Education Partnership Data Working Group.

Benjamin Hoffman

Visual Arts Teacher, Kutztown Area High School

Benjamin Hoffman is the High School Visual Arts Teacher at Kutztown Area High School in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Benjamin has been teaching in Kutztown for ten years, offering a range of studio courses that cater to the needs of all students. From Intro to Studio Art up through AP Studio Art, students are engaged in meaningful dialogue, artmaking, and process-driven experiences that shape the world around them. Benjamin, happily married to Meagan, has two beautiful children, Ava and Noah, who are an essential part of his life. Inspired by their daily curiosity, Benjamin also enjoys learning alongside his growing family. Benjamin holds two master’s degrees from Kutztown University in Arts Education and Arts Administration and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a Specialization in Art Education through Indiana University of Bloomington. Outside of the classroom, Benjamin serves as the Past-President of the Pennsylvania Art Education Association, working to advance the field of art education while supporting a board of nearly forty art educators across the state. Whether painting alongside his students, leading the National Art Honor Society chapter at school, or simply volunteering in the community, Benjamin is dedicated to all of his students and celebrates the creative mindset of every learner.