1. Spring/Summer 2010 3
The ‘art’ of
empowerment
to show students how interrelated our
curriculum truly is,” said Greg. “This type
of collaboration will continue to be on
display during the 2010-2011 school year
as our fall play will be a co-production
with another school department. The
benefits of this type of collaboration and
education are bountiful and allow students
to become active and integral participants
in the learning process.”
Greg is reaching out to local colleges
and universities and arts organizations to
introduce our students to other directors
and educators and the rich landscape of
arts that exists in the Capital Region.
Throughout his teaching career, his use
of an integrated approach to arts education
has been successful in reaching out to
the school community and beyond. His
independent school experience has been
in distinguished schools where his work
has been consistently held in high regard.
Greg works with all of the faculty
members in the Arts Department to help
them grow professionally and bring the
best out of their students. He believes that
this year’s Wassail event, various concerts,
inaugural festival of original student-written
plays, flash musical performances and
numerous visual arts activities are proof
that encouraging the faculty/student
relationship is crucial to the future success
of Albany Academy for Girls & The
Albany Academy.
Greg Cummings has worked with young people,
their families and other dedicated professionals
for more than 30 years. In addition to his teaching
roles, Greg has worked as an actor, producer and
director in numerous performances over the years.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Learning,Teaching
and Social Policy from Cornell University, a Master’s
Degree inTheatre Education from Wesleyan
University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Education
from SUNY Brockport, and a Pre-K through Grade
12 certification. He joinedThe Albany Academies in
the fall of 2009.
ive a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and
you feed him for a lifetime. Arts Department Chair Greg Cummings
might as well have this quote put above his office door, as he is a
lifelong proponent of empowering students to give them the
opportunity to reach their full potential.
Greg’s philosophy mirrors that of Albany Academy for Girls &
The Albany Academy in that boys and girls and young men and
women perform at their best and learn the most when they are given
ownership of a project.
This was evident throughout the 2009-2010 school year during
a variety of arts events and programs – most recently at the Middle
School musical production of “Aesop’s Fables.” The Middle School
students who took part in the musical were charged with writing
their own plays based on the classic fables, creating the music and
choreographing the dances with faculty supervision. Attendees at the
production included Lower School students, who had previously read
“Aesop’s Fables” and were familiar with many of the themes presented.
The production was curriculum-related and had been planned since
last spring.
Other student-empowered productions held this school year
included the Upper School fall production of William Shakespeare’s
“The Tempest”; the AAG & AA Evening of the Arts; and the Lower &
Middle School Festivals of the Arts. In addition, our 4th & 8th grade
girls are given ownership of their plays as part of their curriculum.
Greg is also a big supporter of interdisciplinary projects that bring
together various divisions and departments at Albany Academy for
Girls & The Albany Academy to create a cohesive end product –
such as the Upper School winter musical production of “Memorable.”
This interdisciplinary initiative saw alumnae and alumni from the
mid 1950s to early 1960s provide memories of Broadway shows to
introduce our Upper School students to Broadway and the perspective
of those that came before them.
“As we strive to maintain the integrity of each separate arts education
area, it is also crucial to bring together various divisions
and departments at Albany Academy for
Girls & The Albany Academy
G