Dr. Rebecca A. Stone-Danahy

Advancing Arts Education Through Research, Systems Leadership, and Institutional Innovation

Designing and scaling research-informed academic systems that strengthen teaching, elevate scholarship, and expand equitable access to high-quality arts education at national scale.

Who I Am

I am a strategic arts education leader and research-driven systems architect with more than 30 years of experience advancing curriculum, assessment, and educator impact across PreK–12 and national education organizations.

As Director II for AP Art and Design at the College Board, I lead curriculum, assessment, and research translation for a global program serving more than 85,000 students annually. My work centers on ensuring methodological rigor, equitable access, and sustainable growth while translating research into meaningful public impact.

My doctoral research in Education Systems Improvement Science focused on expanding access to inquiry-based learning in Title I schools through systems-level strategy and performance design.

What I Do

I design research-informed initiatives that bridge scholarship and practice. My work focuses on:

  • Assessment systems design and validity

  • Inquiry-based curriculum and instructional innovation

  • Equity and access in arts education

  • Research-to-practice translation models

  • Public-facing scholarship

I am the author of a doctoral dissertation on systems improvement in Title I schools and co-author of Assessment in the Service of Learning: An Example from AP® Art and Design (2025).

Systems Leadership & Enterprise Building

Across independent schools and national organizations, I have:

  • Designed multi-year strategic growth plans

  • Directed large-scale assessment systems serving 82,000+ student portfolios annually

  • Led distributed networks of 400+ educators in fully digital environments

  • Developed governance frameworks and performance metrics for national initiatives

  • Built financially sustainable, mission-aligned programs supporting long-term institutional viability

Most notably, I conceived and scaled the AP Art and Design Exhibit, transforming assessment into an internationally recognized public research and thought leadership initiative.

Why It Matters

Arts education thrives when rigorous research, creative practice, and institutional strategy operate in alignment. My work centers on building systems that ensure artistic learning is not peripheral, but foundational—academically rigorous, equitable, and sustainable.

I am particularly committed to strengthening the field through cross-sector collaboration, disciplined strategic planning, and measurable educator impact.

Invitation

I welcome collaboration with institutions, organizations, and leaders committed to advancing arts education through research, innovation, and sustainable systems design.

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