EDUCATOR/TEACHING ARTIST
Over the years, Laura has collaborated with diverse communities as both an educator and teaching artist. She is the co-founder of Wildhearts Academy, a program dedicated to developing arts-integrated curriculum for early learners, and the founder of Jóvenes Artistas, an after-school arts initiative for at-risk youth. In addition, she has served as a guest teaching artist with Maryland Hall, Bates Middle School, Tyler Heights Elementary School, Annapolis High School, Community Transitions, ArtFarm, Centro de Ayuda, AACPS 21st Century and many other organizations. Her professional experience also includes roles as a middle school art teacher, arts integration specialist, program director, outreach coordinator, and curriculum writer. Drawing on her background in both visual arts and music, Laura designs and facilitates meaningful workshops and creative experiences that engage learners of all ages—from early childhood through older adults.
She has presented about the healing power of the arts at the 2014 and 2015 NAEA National Conferences (National Arts Education Association) as well as the 2012 NEA National Conference (National Endowment for the Arts). In 2015, she served as a panelist for the Town Hall with the US Secretary of Education. She received the 2012 AACPS New Arts Educator of the year award. In 2022, she was honored with the Annie Award for Arts Educator of the Year and recognized as a finalist for the 2025 Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards.
Laura is available to design and facilitate customized arts integration workshops for schools, including push-in sessions that are informed by data and tailored to meet the needs of teachers. She can adapt arts and music programming to support classroom objectives, and offers consultation to help organizations develop meaningful community programs. Her workshops engage students, teachers, and staff while advancing organizational missions and fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection.
Example Projects
Arts Integration Professional Development
Laura led an arts integration workshop at the University of Maryland, where 88 Anne Arundel teachers explored creative visual arts techniques. Together they created a collaborative mural—later displayed in UMD’s Benjamin Building—showcasing how the arts can inspire teaching and enrich learning.
Artist in Residence
As part of an artist-in-residence program at PS-89 in Queens, New York, Laura sang alongside a wonderful group of second graders who had spent two weeks learning her songs. Her music was used as a creative tool to support English language learning, making the residency both a joyful performance and a powerful bridge for students discovering new ways to express themselves.
Bates Story Project Teaching Artist
Laura served as a guest teaching artist for the Bates Story Project at Wiley H. Bates Middle School, a documentary initiative engaging both students and teachers. She worked directly with teachers, leading arts workshops to equip them with creative tools and techniques so they could confidently guide their own students in expressive storytelling and community-building activities.
ArtReach Challenges
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Laura in her role as Maryland Hall's Outreach Coordinator—pivoted the ArtReach initiative into a vibrant virtual experience. Through weekly online art classes, regular student check-ins, and creative “ArtReach Challenge of the Week” videos shared via social media, Laura ensured that the community continued to express, create, and connect despite the constraints of remote learning.
Jóvenes Artistas Program Founder
In 2013, Laura Brino founded Jovenes Artistas at Maryland Hall, an after-school arts program that supported and empowered at-risk youth through creativity and self-expression. She oversaw the program for a decade, guiding its growth until 2023, when she merged it with Maryland Hall’s Outreach Program before stepping away from her role.
Wildhearts Academy Founder
Laura is the co-founder of Wildhearts Academy, where she leads curriculum development and program design for arts-integrated learning. Drawing on her experience as an educator and teaching artist, she creates dynamic, hands-on lessons that foster creativity, critical thinking, and a love of learning in early learners. Her work ensures that every Wildhearts program is thoughtfully designed to inspire both students and educators alike.