Supporting the Arts in Schools

Many educators, including Julie Glazer, superintendent of the Nutley Public Schools, believe that arts education is crucial to student success.

In 2016, Julie Glazer became superintendent of the Nutley Public Schools in New Jersey. Since then, Glazer has been a fierce advocate for scientific research, digital learning, and the arts.

“We take pride in how talented and gifted our students are,” Glaser said in a recent interview. She explained that the school district’s arts program, a focal point of its educational offerings, encompasses film, literature, music, and other disciplines.

Glazer, who has a graduate degree in fine arts and a doctorate in educational leadership, would like to expand the arts in Nutley by creating programs that everyone in the town can enjoy.

Glazer is also a fierce advocate for increased arts funding for schools nationwide. She said that even when the government increases funding, it can’t always be used to enhance arts programs. Schools are sometimes forced to allot the money for emergency building repairs and other necessities.

Julie Glazer, superintendent of Nutley’s public schools

A LIFELONG LOVE OF THE ARTS

Glazer likens a school superintendent’s role to that of a chief executive officer. “I oversee the operations of the school district,” she explained, “and report directly to the Board of Education.”

Glazer began her career as a teacher. Before that, she ran her own company, which specialized in documentary, educational, and public service programming for the nonprofit community.

The superintendent’s love of education and art began early in her life. When she was a teen, she wrote for her school’s newspaper, took photography classes, and studied painting. She was grateful that she could benefit from a strong arts program.

As an educator, Glazer said that she “has had the honor of being an arts participant and seeing how it impacts lives.” She hopes that others in New Jersey and across the country will reach out to their government officials to emphasize the importance of arts education.