Teaching Artistry With Courtney J. Boddie

In Act 1, we explored Betsaleel (Bets) Charmelus’s insights on transforming learning spaces, the importance of introducing novelty in education, and the critical role of trauma-informed practices. Bets challenged us to rethink how we prepare young people for a world that isn’t trauma-informed, emphasizing that the real impact comes when educators model resilience and adaptability. These foundational ideas set the stage for a deeper conversation in Act 2, where we shift focus from the classroom to Bets’s personal journey and the systemic challenges he’s faced. In this episode, Bets shares his trajectory into his current role as CEO of ArtistYear, offering a candid reflection on the racism he has witnessed within the arts education field and in society at large. He discusses the difficulties of owning his hard-won position and title in a world that often seeks to either undervalue Black leaders. Bets also tackles the complexities of being a Black leader in a time when Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belongin