Over 100 students and arts educators will receive the state’s most prestigious award in the arts education, at the 43rd Annual New Jersey Governor’s Awards in Arts Education celebration during Arts Ed NJ Day on June 2 at 5pm at the College of New Jersey. 
 
This event will honor those who have demonstrated excellence in and dedication to arts education. 
 
This is a free event that is open to the public.
 
 
 

Dr. Penelope Lattimer will be receiving the prestigious Outstanding Lifetime Contribution to Arts Education award, nominated by the Board of Arts Ed NJ. Dr. Lattimer is a trailblazer, nationally known author, national speaker, and thought leader on education.  

Penelope E. Lattimer is a retired educator. Dr. Lattimer’s teaching certifications are in French and Spanish language and culture. Her career path consistently integrated advocacy for arts education and careers in healthcare for youngsters beginning in prekindergarten and extending through graduate school courses of study.

Penelope Lattimer’s specialty is middle level and secondary education. She is the designer of two innovative high schools in the City of New Brunswick. In 1994, in cooperation with the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team and the New Brunswick Board of Education, Dr. Lattimer designed the education plan for the New Brunswick Health Sciences Technology High School. This innovative high school prepares adolescent learners for careers in the health professions. Opened in 1994, the New Brunswick Health Sciences Technology High School is the only high school in NJ located on the campus of a teaching hospital and with a uniquelyintegrated learning design. Earlier, 1972—1980, Dr. Lattimer designed (and was the educational leader) for The Gibbons School, the demonstration high school located on the Douglass College Campus of Rutgers University. The learning charter for the Gibbons School was to design and deliver unique courses of study emphasizing project-based learning and research emphasizing schooling without walls concepts. The school was a joint venture linking Rutgers University Graduate School of Education with the New Brunswick Public School District and Board of Education.

Other educational leadership positions held by Penelope Lattimer include: Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, New Brunswick Board of Education; Chief of Staff (Lucille Davy administration) NJ State Department of Education, Assistant Commission (William Librera administration) NJ State Department of Education. Director of Rutgers Institute for Improving Student Achievement, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education and Executive Director of NJ School Development Council.

Dr. Lattimer has received awards for international study and work such as: United States Fulbright-Hays Scholarship to study Chinese language and culture in the People’s Republic of China, scholarship to study at Yad Vashem the worldwide center for Holocaust Education in Jerusalem, Israel, study of Japanese language and culture in Tsuruoka and Fukui, Japan; Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa studying Bantu education and cultural matters.

Dr. Lattimer presently serves on the following Boards: American Repertory Ballet/Princeton Ballet School Advisory Board, Crossroads Theatre Company President Emeritus, George St. Playhouse Board President, Margaret Chang Foundation, Children’s Specialized Hospital, Grounds for Sculpture, Francis E. Parker Memorial Homes.

Dr. Lattimer is co-author of the book, Beloved Educators: Women of Color Who Inspire Us.

Join us in celebrating Dr. Lattimer along with the creative leaders of tomorrow.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Upcoming Events, Venues

The Governor’s Awards in Arts Education began in 1980 to promote awareness and appreciation of the arts, recognizing the creativity, talent and leadership of the award winners. Each year, awards are presented to approximately 20 educators and 80 students. National and statewide organizations select the students for their exemplary work in creative writing, speech, dance, music, theatre and visual arts and the leaders for their exceptional commitment and contribution to arts education. The program also recognizes arts educators and arts education advocates, whose leadership has helped nurture the development of students in the arts across the state.

432 High Street Burlington, NJ 08016

info@artsednj.org

The Governor’s Awards event is a partnership of the Arts Ed NJ, the Department of Education, Art Pride New Jersey Foundation, the Department of State and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support is provided by: the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics; Art Educators of New Jersey; Art Administrators of New Jersey; Dance New Jersey; New Jersey Council of Teachers of English; New Jersey Speech and Debate League; New Jersey Music Educators Association; New Jersey Performing Arts Center; Writer's Theatre of New Jersey; Speech and Theatre Association of New Jersey; New Jersey Thespians and Young Audiences of New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The cooperating organizations, award sponsors and individual members of the planning council dedicate their time to make sure that excellence in the arts is rewarded, and work tirelessly throughout the year to plan this special event. The Governor's Awards in Arts Education ceremony are a major collaborative effort of the arts, education and state government.