The Missouri Fine Arts Academy provides a unique program of artistic, extracurricular, and social opportunities to Missouri's talented high school students, and has done so since 1996. Click here to learn more about MFAA...
"Thank you for providing me with such an amazing educational opportunity. I view the day I received my letter of acceptance to the Fine Arts Academy as the greatest day of my life. The first occurred at the end of March this year when I received my letter of acceptance into..." Click here to read more.
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Administration
DESE Director - Gifted Education | Director | Coordinator | Professional Development Teacher
Director of Gifted Education Programs, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The DESE Director of Gifted Programs acts as a department liaison and oversees student selection for the Missouri Fine Arts Academy. He is available for consultation in emergencies and has the legal and other departmental expertise of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at his disposal.
David Welch
David Welch is a native of Jefferson City, Missouri, a graduate of Rockhurst University and the University of Missouri-Columbia. He has been a teacher and assistant principal in Missouri schools. He is currently in his 15th year as the state director of gifted education programs for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. He is active in promoting gifted education both statewide and nationally, serving on the board of directors of the Gifted Association of Missouri and as past president of the National Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted (CSDPG). Mr. Welch currently serves as Treasurer of the CSDPG and as a member of the Legislative Committee of the National Council for Gifted Children (NAGC). Mr. Welch is married and he and his wife Sharon have two sons, John and Chris.
Director of Gifted Education, DESE
P.O. Box 480
Jefferson City, MO 65102
573.751.2453
Fax 573.751.9434
Email David.Welch@dese.mo.gov
MFAA Director
The Director of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy oversees all aspects of the Academy originating from the Missouri State University and works with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to coordinate its efforts pertaining to the Academy. She is the “principal” for the three weeks of the Academy and is available for consultation and intervention in emergency situations. She holds daily office hours to deal with student, faculty, and staff concerns and to maintain contact with DESE representatives, parents, school contacts, etc. She is the final authority on issues of student expulsion and behavioral infractions. She may call parents and/or school contacts in times of intervention.
Julie Bloodworth
Julie Bloodworth is enjoying her eighth year as MFAA Director after having spent three years as a theatre faculty member at the Academy. She received both her BA degree in speech and theatre and her MS in Education, English emphasis, from Missouri State University. She has thirty years’ teaching and administrative experience in Texas and Missouri public school districts and at Missouri State University. Ms. Bloodworth serves on the boards of the Missouri Ozarks Chapter of Writer’s Hall of Fame of America and Missouri Alliance for Arts Education and is active in the Missouri Arts Education Collaborative. She writes and occasionally publishes poetry and performs in community theatre when she can. She’s volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and Ozarks Literacy Council. Her husband Terry and son Gabe, both glass artists, are active members of Springfield’s downtown arts community. Son Joshua is a local television producer and a documentary film maker in Rochester, New York.
Missouri Fine Arts Academy
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
417.836.6607
Fax 417.836.6940
Email JulieBloodworth@missouristate.edu
MFAA Coordinator
The MFAA Coordinator facilitates the professional development outreach component of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, oversees preparation for residential life at the Academy, and partners with the Director in preparation for the summer program. During the Academy, the MFAA Coordinator continues the partnership with the Director to maintain the expectations of safety, security, and discipline as well as high academic and behavioral standards that all students, faculty, and staff must meet.
Leatha Ault
Leatha Ault graduated from (Southwest) Missouri State University with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Ed. and a lifetime certification in speech pathology and junior high speech and drama. She received a Masters Degree in Special Education and a Specialist Degree in Education Administration, also from Southwest Missouri State University. Mrs. Ault has certification in Early Childhood Special Education, Special Education Director K-12; Elementary Principal; Middle School Principal; and Superintendence K-12. After twenty years as a speech pathologist, she finished her thirty-year career in public schools as a superintendent at Manes R-V, Pierce City School District, and Morgan County R-II and as Elementary Principal in the Springfield R-XII district at Fremont and Horace Mann Elementary Schools. Mrs. Ault lives in Nixa with her husband, Ken Ault, Superintendent of Rivercut Golf Course. Her daughters Lindsay and Emily and her five grandchildren all live in Missouri. She finds the position of Missouri Fine Arts Academy Coordinator a new adventure that she welcomes into her life.
Missouri Fine Arts Academy
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
417.836.3187
Fax 417.836.6940
Email LeathaAult@missouristate.edu
Professional Development Teacher
The Professional Development teacher works with the MFAA Coordinator to provide a quality professional development experience in arts integration for Missouri high school educators.
Raymond Castrey
Raymond Castrey is a percussionist/multi-instrumentalist with interests in ethnomusicology and new music. He recently retired from Missouri State University, where he enjoyed a 29-year association with the Department of Theatre and Dance, playing and teaching music for dance. Other experiences include eleven years as a faculty member of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy, five years with the New Arts Festival of F. Myers, FL, and numerous residencies, workshops, and festivals. Mr. Castrey has created music for more than 70 dance, theatre and multimedia presentations, and is active as a performer, teacher, and facilitator of drumming and music activities.
Missouri Fine Arts Academy
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
Fax 417.836.6940
Email RayCastrey@MissouriState.edu
