Arts & Entertainment

For Cynthia White Rehm Retirement Does Not Mean Farewell

After 37 years with school district, Rehm steps down as supervisor of art education but stays on as artistic director of Simsbury Arts Academy.

For 37 years Cynthia White Rehm has been a key ingredient of arts education in Simsbury.

But while Rehm may have retired from her post as supervisor of arts education for the Simsbury Public Schools, she will still be involved in an effort that enriches the lives of many student artists and performers.

That’s because Rehm is staying on as artistic director of the Simsbury Arts Academy, a post she has held for more than 5 years.

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For Rehm, it’s the perfect arrangement. She can remain involved in the arts and help expand the program but still have some extra time for her own art, the family and other activities. 

“It gives me the great opportunity to work in this capacity and grow it,” she said. “It will provide more flexibility, which I’m looking forward to.”  

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Her position, education and other activities also led to numerous great contacts, which help with the Arts Academy, Rehm said. 

And Rehm will not stay away from the classroom entirely and will teach an art intern program to help seniors learn to become educators. It’s collaboration between the Simsbury Arts Academy and Simsbury High School.

Still Simsbury High School principal Neil Sullivan said Rehm’s presence will be missed on a day-to-day basis at Simsbury schools.

“Cindy Rehm is the greatest advocate for a program that there could be, and the visual arts program in Simsbury is award-winning because of her passion,” Sullivan said. “She hires the best teachers, supports their growth, and always celebrates the achievements of students. Her retirement is tough for us, but we know that her teachers will never let the quality of the program lessen.” 

Sullivan, however, said it is great that Rehm will still have a great influence on students, especially those passionate about the arts.

“Fortunately, her willingness to stay on as the Director of the Simsbury Arts Academy will keep her at the forefront of arts education in Simsbury,” Sullivan said. “New generations of kids will benefit from her expertise, and I think that's pretty awesome.” 

The Simsbury Arts Academy effort falls under the Department of Continuing Education and has a staff of 25 that includes certified arts instructors, master teaching artists and college interns.

It’s a year-round effort and is more intensive during the summer when than 100 fourth through 12th graders from Simsbury, other public and private schools and home schoolers take three-week courses in the visual arts, string academy, music theatre or jazz academy.

Courses are numerous but include a broad range of the arts such as wheel-thrown pottery, to the art of manipulating fabric, Garage Band 101 and musical theatre.

Over at Tootin’ Hills, first through third graders also have a wealth of options. While students at the high school level can generally get half a credit and are often intensively interested in a subject, the focus for younger students is a little different.

“Our younger students tend to come for an exploratory experience,” Rehm said.

For Rehm, a father who painted every day, and a high school art teacher inspired her own explorations.

“(Art class) was absolutely the place I wanted to be in high school,” she said.

Rehm has a bachelor’s and masters of Art Education from Central Connecticut State University as well as a sixth-year certificate in educational administration from the University of Hartford.

She feels the art department at the Simsbury Public Schools has also been a great place to work. She spent much of her career heading up artistic efforts in the schools. She said one of her favorite parts was the open door policy that allowed teachers to walk into each other’s classrooms, observe, help and offer feedback.

“It’s a very collaborative environment,” she said. “It’s been a whole village thing.”

She also praised school administrators and all staff members as well as students, who she said have been very respectful.

“It’s wonderful how accepting students are of feedback and how they share with others,” Rehm said.

Her favorite part, Rehm said has been to see the students reactions “when they see their ideas and concepts come to fruition.”

She lives in Weatogue with her husband Manfred, a sculptor. The couple has a son Eric, who is an actor.

 

 


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