Our Team

César Torruella: Executive Director of Arts Education

Drives the mission and vision of the Department of Arts Education, directs the strategic implementation of the CPS Arts Education Plan and associated initiatives in service of increasing the quality and equity of CPS arts education programming.

Lilian Blaser: Manager of Professional Learning

Leads planning, design and delivery, and evaluation of all arts professional learning for teachers, Arts Liaisons, administrators, and other stakeholders in the arts community.

Layne Drinkwater: Theatre Content Specialist

Plans, designs and delivers, and evaluates standards-based arts professional learning opportunities for teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders in the arts community.

Alicia Kopec: Visual Arts Content Specialist

Plans, designs and delivers, and evaluates standards-based arts professional learning opportunities for teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders in the arts community.

Amanda Suckow: Music Content Specialist

Plans, designs and delivers, and evaluates standards-based arts professional learning opportunities for teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders in the arts community.

MK Victorson: Dance Content Specialist

Plans, designs and delivers, and evaluates standards-based arts professional learning opportunities for teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders in the arts community.

Danielle Holtz: Director of Student Programs

Sets and implements the vision for all departmental student programs, ensuring alignment with district priorities and equitable access for students.

Dei Nikoi: Manager of Student Programs (All-City and RE•VER•BER•ATE)

Coordinates districtwide student programs, including All-City Performing and Visual Arts, and the RE•VER•BER•ATE Interdisciplinary Festival.

Kendall Hill: Student Programs Coordinator

Provides administrative and logistical support for DAE student programs, including All-City Performing Arts, All-City Visual Arts Exhibitions, RE:VER:BER:ATE Festival, and RE:ALIZE.

Jeff Waraksa: Manager of Strategy

Oversees arts strategy, policy, and analysis of arts data, with a focus on ensuring equity of arts access for all students. 

Jonya Leverett: Arts Data & Evaluation Strategist

Designs and disseminates qualitative and quantitative analysis tools; captures and analyzes data related to arts teaching and learning in the district.

Jessica Rodrigue: Public Art & Partnership Support Specialist

Coordinates and executes a range of daily operations for the Department of Arts Education, including implementing the district's works of art policy, school grant management, procurement processes, and arts vendor support.

Dr. Mitchell Davis: Fine & Performing Arts School Manager

Guides effective school implementation of Fine and Performing Arts curriculum, instruction, assessment and intervention, with a specific focus on the district’s Fine and Performing Arts magnet cluster schools.

Frank Cademartori: Fine & Performing Arts School Specialist

Guides effective school implementation of Fine and Performing Arts curriculum, instruction, assessment and intervention, with a specific focus on the district’s Fine and Performing Arts magnet cluster schools.

Adam Tafoya: Fine & Performing Arts School Specialist

Guides effective school implementation of Fine and Performing Arts curriculum, instruction, assessment and intervention, with a specific focus on the district’s Fine and Performing Arts magnet cluster schools.

Juana Duran Charicata

Juana Duran Charicata is an undocumented artist, visual arts teacher and art liaison at Peace and Education Coalition HS, Sinclair campus. She graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and has been teaching Pre K-12th grade art for 9 years. Juana is originally from Cheran, Michoacán (Mexico) and grew up in the U. S. as a migrant worker. Her family traveled and worked based on the seasonal crops that needed to be harvested. This type of life and work has greatly influenced her artwork and community work. Juana moved to Chicago in 2018 because of the city's rich arts and music culture. On her own time, Juana works on acrylic paintings for exhibitions, murals for the City of Chicago and plays "la jarana jarocha" (a traditional Son Jarocho guitar from Veracruz, Mexico). She also helps run community art projects and festivities within her school's community that she now calls her new home.

Priscilla Chico

Priscilla Chico has been with CPS for 10+ years. She completed her undergrad in K-12 Arts Education at Chicago State University, and her Master’s degree in Community and Teacher Leadership at Northeastern Illinois University. This is her 8th year teaching Visual Art at Pullman Elementary School on the city’s far south side. Priscilla's goal is to help her students explore their communities while using art as the pathway.  Her love for art goes hand in hand with her passion for healing and wellness. She is also a certified Yoga instructor and S.E.L. facilitator. She joined the Teacher Task Force about 2 years ago. Priscilla loves being able to collaborate with other arts educators outside of the classroom in a multitude of ways, but always keeping Arts Education for all in mind.

Monica Perdue

Monica Perdue is a Chicago native, a product of the Chicago Public Schools, The All City High School Choir, DePaul, Roosevelt, Northeastern Illinois and Quincy Universities. Her love of music began in elementary school when she was introduced to music theater, opera and the recording booth. She believes that music is an agent of change and compassion. She is champion of equity through Music education and has devoted most of her life to it. Ms. Perdue brings over 25 years of teaching experience to both RE·VER·BER·ATE the All City Performing Arts Groups. She is a regular soloist in the Chicagoland area with stage credits including performances with The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, South Shore Opera Company, Vocality, The Chatham Choral Ensemble, The New York City Metro Chamber Orchestra, Maestro Riccardo Muti, Dr. Roland Carter, Donnie McClurkin, Hezikiah Walker, Brian Stokes-Mitchell and opera greats Leona Mitchell and Kathleen Battle. Additionally, she is also featured soloist in the 2023 recording of Robert Ray’s Gospel Mass with New Rhythm Arts Collaborative. Ms. Perdue is a former conductor for the Uniting Voices Chicago (Formerly The Chicago Children’s Choir) Beverly Neighborhood Choir, and is the Music Teacher at Alex Haley Fine Arts Academy.

Nadine Smith

Nadine Smith is an accomplished jazz vocalist and music educator. Her passion for music has afforded her the opportunity to record and travel throughout the United States. She has been with Chicago Public Schools since 2012 and is a proud member of the RE·VER·BER·ATE team! This will be Ms. Smith’s third consecutive year supporting this celebration of arts for K-12 students.

Melina Wilson

Melinda Wilson holds a M.Ed. from DePaul University and an M.A. from the University of Illinois with additional coursework at Northwestern University. She has trained at Batsheva Dance Company (Tel-Aviv), Pineapples (London), and Centre de Danse du Marias (Paris) and has been a pick-up dancer with American Ballet Theatre, David Dorfman Dance and Urban Bush Women to name a few. Awards include World's Best School Prize, T4 Education Global Ambassador, Top 50 Global Teacher Award, Golden Apple Award, Dance Chicago Outstanding Choreographer (New Voice) Award, IAHPERD Teacher of the Year, SHAPE National Dance Teacher of the Year, first place choreographic awards from Livorno in Danza International Competition and Barcelona Dance Grand Prix. Wilson has been featured in Tes Education Magazine (United Kingdom), Dance Magazine and various national and international webinars. Wilson is a teacher of Ballet, and Jazz at Chicago Movement Collective, resident choreographer for Her Story Theater and Dance Artistic Director at Curie Metropolitan High School for the Performing and Technical Arts.