Press and News
After the legislative session ended,
ArtsEd Washington sent a letter to
OSPI Superintendent Reykdal and team.
We hope this message inspires other advocates to appreciate the strides made in the 2024 legislative session while still working toward greater and more equitable arts access in our schools.
ArtsEd Washington hires
three new team members, including its
first Spokane-based Executive Director, Miranda Leigh Hein.
Seattle, WA – January 22, 2024
ArtsEd Washington proudly announces the appointment of Miranda Leigh Hein as the Executive Director, following a unanimous board vote. Miranda originally joined the ArtsEd Washington Board of Directors in 2019 and served on several committees prior to assuming the role of Interim Executive Director in October 2023. After leading ArtsEd Washington through transformative change in the Interim role, as Executive Director she aims to build partnerships with more advocates statewide and expand equitable arts access in even more Washington schools.
Key Achievements: Miranda’s achievements as Interim Executive Director demonstrated her enthusiasm, and her commitment to leading ArtsEd Washington with inclusive practices, collaborative innovation, and operational sustainability.
1. Strategic Change Management:
Orchestrated a seamless transition strategically focused on ArtsEd Washington’s mission and vision.
2. Operational Efficiency Enhancements:
Implemented robust internal controls and standard operating procedures, fortifying the organization against potential challenges, and enhancing overall efficiency.
3. Exemplary Hiring and Onboarding Practices:
Successfully managed hiring and onboarding processes, bringing on valuable mission-aligned team members with skills to increase the scale of our impact.
4. Collaboration with Statewide Leaders in Arts and Education:
Thoughtfully cultivated connections, collected data and feedback from artists, educators, and administrators to lay the groundwork for mutually beneficial collaborations.
5. Dynamic On-line Reactivation:
Refigured ArtsEd Washington's website and reactivated the organization’s social media presence and engagement on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
Passion for Arts Education, Equity, and Advocacy:
Miranda is a lifelong performing artist and arts education advocate. A graduate of Whitworth University (‘02 and ‘13), she holds degrees and certifications in K-12 Music Education, Secondary Education, English Language Arts, Dance, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She taught English Language Arts and Dance as an art form in public schools for nearly fifteen years; For seven years, she also supervised and evaluated teaching candidates through Eastern Washington University. Through her various professional roles, Miranda has worked with educators, students, and administrators in approximately 60 schools throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 2014, she co-founded and served as the first CEO for the Shadle Park Dance Organization, a 501c(3) supporting dance students in north Spokane, a success which eventually contributed to her 2019 induction into the Washington State Dance Drill Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.
As a seasoned artist and educator, Miranda regularly leads professional development workshops for educators and students, and in the coming months she will be leading several public advocacy sessions called “Equitable Arts Education: Implementing SB-5878.”
Community Engagement:
Miranda and her husband, Aaron Hein, are both active and artistic members of the Spokane community. Miranda choreographs, teaches, and adjudicates for numerous schools, theatres, and community events; Aaron runs a downtown restaurant that regularly features local musicians and muralists. Outside of her career and her artistic pursuits, she also enjoys spending time with her friends and family, her garden, and her two adopted pups, Winston and Benji.
In the resounding words of Courtney D. Clark, Board President: "Collaborating with Miranda since 2019 has been an honor and a source of inspiration. Her vision and strategic leadership plan for ArtsEd Washington are nothing short of remarkable. We are not just lucky but truly blessed to have her at the helm, and I eagerly anticipate the incredible impact she will bring to arts education throughout Washington state."
Miranda Hein, as the newly appointed Executive Director, is prepped and poised to lead ArtsEd Washington into a future where equitable arts education thrives, and advocacy resonates throughout the state. For more information, contact Courtney D. Clark, Board President, at President@artsedwashington.org.
