Madolyn Whitmer
Phoenix
Summary
Arts education leader dedicated to giving young people access to the arts. Experienced in creating welcoming programs, building meaningful community partnerships, and guiding teams with care. Committed to helping students grow, explore, and thrive through the arts.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Education and Outreach
Valley Youth Theatre
Phoenix
06.2019 - Current
- Fostered a welcoming arts community where students felt supported, connected, and confident in exploring their creativity.
- Designed and delivered an inclusive, age-appropriate curriculum for ages 3–18, integrating social-emotional learning skills and meeting developmental needs, from creative play for young children to advanced acting for teens.
- Maintained strong family engagement, with 97 of 168 students (57%) returning for the most recent session, and many returning for multiple sessions.
- Developed private lessons and school-based partnership programs through VYT, increasing annual revenue by over $20,000 while reaching new, diverse communities not previously served.
- Supervised and nurtured a team of contract Teaching Artists, fostering long-term collaboration in a profession where contractors often move frequently. Three members of our current Teaching Artist team have stayed with VYT for more than four years.
- Established strategic partnerships with Title I school districts, expanding VYT’s Literacy in the Arts program to thousands of underserved students, and boosting literacy through theatre arts.
- Led the digital transformation of all educational programming during COVID-19, successfully adapting 100% of classes to a virtual format via Zoom, maintaining engagement and accessibility in a time when students needed it most.
- Collaborated with the Arizona Youth Development Cohort to co-create and stage an original youth-led performance, “Dear 2020,” reflecting children’s lived experiences during the pandemic, addressing themes of isolation, loss, and social justice.
Program and Development Associate
Playworks
Phoenix
02.2017 - 06.2019
- Managed large-scale fundraising events, including Run the Raceway and Run the Runway 5Ks, each serving 500–1,100 participants. Oversaw budgets, vendor and sponsor contracts, logistics, marketing and sales, volunteers, and staff leadership to create impactful events that engaged the community and advanced Playworks’ mission.
- Built and maintained a strong volunteer program, recruiting over 200 volunteers through fairs, networking, and online postings, creating a sustainable and engaged volunteer pipeline.
- Designed and executed comprehensive marketing and donor communications across email (Constant Contact) and social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), increasing visibility and participation.
- Contributed to fundraising strategy by telling compelling organizational stories, inspiring donor support, and establishing community partnerships.
Teaching Artist & Social Media Coordinator
Arts Alive!
Houston
07.2014 - 12.2016
- Created and led an arts-integrated curriculum using drama and movement for early childhood programs across Houston, helping young learners explore creativity and build confidence.
- Managed the organization’s social media presence, increasing engagement and Facebook followers by 33%, and sharing the joy and impact of our programs with the community.
- Awarded 'Teacher of the Year' for fostering creativity, connection, and a love of learning in students.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Theatre
Arizona State University
Phoenix08-2011
Skills
- Arts integration
- Community engagement
- Volunteer management
- Event logistics
- Marketing communications
- Team leadership
- Program management
- Grant writing
- Strategic partnerships
- Staff development
Timeline
Director of Education and Outreach
Valley Youth Theatre
06.2019 - Current
Program and Development Associate
Playworks
02.2017 - 06.2019
Teaching Artist & Social Media Coordinator
Arts Alive!
07.2014 - 12.2016
Bachelor of Arts - Theatre
Arizona State University