04/15/2026
Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership Announces Leadership Transition and Honors the Legacy of Executive Director Pearl Schaeffer upon her Retirement
Philadelphia, PA — The Board of Directors of the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership (PAEP) today announced a leadership transition while honoring the extraordinary contributions of Pearl Schaeffer, whose decades of leadership have shaped arts education across the Philadelphia region.
Schaeffer guided PAEP through a period of remarkable growth and transformation. The organization began in 2000 as a collaborative of education directors from nonprofit performing and institutional arts organizations who met regularly at the University of the Arts. With funding from the William Penn Foundation, the collaborative formally incorporated as the Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership in 2003, expanding its capacity to support arts education throughout the region.
Following incorporation, PAEP developed professional development programs for arts and music educators in Philadelphia. When the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) decentralized its programming and created regional partners, PAEP was selected to coordinate and facilitate the teaching artist roster for the five-county metropolitan area. Under Schaeffer’s leadership, PAEP maintained a robust roster of teaching artists and worked closely with school principals to place artists in classrooms across the region.
A passionate advocate for arts integration in schools, Schaeffer secured funding from the U.S. Department of Education to support groundbreaking research on the role of the arts in education. She successfully authored three federal grant proposals that funded long-term studies examining how arts integration influences academic achievement and social development.
The studies demonstrated that creative arts engagement significantly improves students’ retention of core reading and mathematics content. In Philadelphia, the research also documented a reduction in suspensions among elementary school boys in participating schools. Two of the studies were conducted in partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, while a third was conducted with Intermediate Unit 19 in the Scranton, Pennsylvania region. Spanning twelve years, the research initiatives were led by Schaeffer as principal investigator.
Beyond research and professional development, Schaeffer expanded PAEP’s role in student arts engagement. She oversaw the organization’s facilitation of the Poetry Out Loud competition and the local branch of the National Scholastic Art Awards, giving young artists across the region opportunities to showcase their talents. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, she also coordinated student-led beautification projects that resulted in the installation of mosaics at three suburban Pennsylvania Turnpike rest stops.
Over the past eleven years, Schaeffer further expanded PAEP’s impact by launching 21st Century Community Learning Centers in Philadelphia public schools. These after-school programs provide elementary and middle school students with arts-integrated learning experiences that support reading and mathematics development while fostering creativity and engagement.
Throughout her career, Schaeffer has served as a certified English teacher, a celebrated dance artist and instructor, and a nationally respected advocate for arts in education. Her tireless work has ensured that thousands of students across the region have access to meaningful arts experiences as part of their education.
“The Board of Directors is deeply grateful for Pearl’s vision, dedication, and leadership,” said the PAEP Board in a statement. “Her work has left a lasting impact on arts education in Philadelphia and beyond.”
The Board has appointed Dr. Dennis Creedon to serve as Acting CEO of PAEP until a permanent leader is identified.
The Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership remains committed to advancing arts integration and ensuring that every student has access to the transformative power of the arts.
Media Contact:
Dr. Dennis Creedon
Acting CEO
Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership
267-496-5905
[email protected]
