Melisa Rutkelis - Manager of Student Programs
Melisa Rutkelis is the Manager of Student Programs for The Department of Arts Education in Chicago Public Schools. There, she manages the Advanced Arts Program, All-City Visual and Performing Arts Program, and District-Wide Music Festivals.  She taught for 8 years and spent 5 of those years teaching: general music, modern band, mariachi, concert band, and choir at Twain Elementary in CPS. During that time she secured over $55,000 in grants, was teacher of the year, and lead the All-City Elementary and High School Bands. Melisa has presented at The Illinois Music Educator Conference, VanderCook College of Music, NAfME, Modern Rock Band Fest, and for the New York Public Schools. Her most advanced degree is a Masters in Music Education, from VanderCook College of Music. She is an oboist, and loves attending concerts across the city.

CONTACT MELISA

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Brian J. Logan - AAP Administrator
Brian J. Logan has led arts programs, from grade school through college, for over three decades.  Upon retirement from District 214, Mr. Logan worked for VanderCook College of Music in a variety of roles, including Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music Education and Jazz Studies.  He also created Vandercook’s One City Jazz Program for underserved Chicagoland 5th-8th graders.  In 2020 Mr. Logan will be conducting the ILMEA All State Concert Band.  He conducted the ILMEA All State Jazz Band in 2010.

While in District 214 Mr. Logan worked at Wheeling High School as Director of Bands and Fine Arts Coordinator, where they earned a John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Schools of Excellence in Arts Education Award.  Mr. Logan’s high school wind ensemble performed four times at the Music for all National Concert Band Festival and numerous times at U of I’s Superstate Concert Band Festival, earning Honor Band in 2016.  Mr. Logan’s Jazz Ensembles performed at The Midwest Clinic four times and toured Europe twice with performances at the Umbria (Italy) and Montreux (Switzerland) Jazz Festival’s, among others.  Mr. Logan’s groups were winners in Down Beat Magazine’s Annual Student Music Awards fifteen times and earned numerous Grand Champion awards.  His Jazz Ensembles were four time National Winners in the Mark of Excellence - Foundation for Music Education awards.

Mr. Logan has been awarded the John Paynter Lifetime Achievement Award from Quinlan and Fabish Music, the Illinois Band Master of the Year Award from Phi Beta Mu and the District 214 Friend of the Arts Award.  Mr. Logan’s work has been recognized by the United States Congress, Illinois State Senate, Township High School District 214, Wheeling High School, East Maine School District 63, and the Village of Wheeling, IL.  The National Band Association has awarded Mr. Logan 19 “Citation of Excellence” awards.  He also received a Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Foundation International.  Mr. Logan was selected as the SBO Magazine State Representative in their “50 Directors That Make a Difference” issue, and received the Mr. Holland’s Opus Award from Bob Rogers Travel.  He is also the recipient of VanderCook College of Music’s Distinguished Alumni Award.  Mr. Logan is a contributing author in the GIA Publication, Jazz for Beginning Ensembles and has been published in the National Band Association Journal.

Mr. Logan received a Bachelor of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music and a Master of Educational Administration from Northeastern Illinois University.  He is a member of ILMEA, NAfME, NBA, JEN, and is also an active adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor, and percussionist. 

CONTACT BRIAN

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Michael Burke - AAP Administrator
A recently retired, 36-year veteran educator, Mike Burke has taught literature, writing, grammar, and rhetoric at all levels.  He most recently designed and taught the 11th grade AP English Language and Composition course and the 12th grade Advanced Composition course at Wheeling HS.  He also helped coach Wheeling’s Debate Team to multiple state titles. From 1994 to 2001, Mike was Assistant Principal for Student Activities at Wheeling HS. Mike supervised all co-curricular activities, including student government, athletics, fine arts, dance, music, and theater.  Mike left administration when his own children began attending Wheeling HS.  Mike and his wife Kathy have four children, all connected to the arts.  Their oldest son is Head of Production at Concrete Media in Hollywood. Their youngest son is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago and the School at Steppenwolf and has been involved in theater in Chicago for over a decade.  Their oldest daughter, an attending physician at UW Madison, is married to a music teacher and professional French horn player. Their youngest daughter won three IDTA State Titles as a member of the Wheeling HS STEP Team; she is currently a high school math teacher and head gymnastics coach.  Mike graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in English. He has a master’s degree from Concordia University in Educational Administration and Policy Studies. Mike believes all students should be encouraged to explore their passions, uncover their talents, and learn from the best teachers.  He is honored to be part of the Advanced Arts Program.

Contact Michael

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Gaby Lopez - AAP Coordinator
My role at CPS Advanced Arts Program (AAP) is to manage day-to-day operations and keep all operational concerns running smoothly.  A fun fact about me is that I was a student in the Advanced Arts Program for two years during my junior and senior year. I studied photography and video production.  After graduating from John Hancock College Prep High School, a Chicago Public School, I attended Harold Washington City College and took my BFA degree from the School of the Art Institute Chicago.  The highlight of working at Gallery 37, for me, is interacting with the ambitious creative teens coming from all over the city to make art. Another exciting aspect of working at AAP is our showcase events twice a year.  
I love my job!

Contact Gaby

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