Louisiana Arts Conservatory for high school students, NOCCA, is proud to share the news that its President | CEO Kyle Wedberg (pictured above | image by Dear World) has been named the 2017 recipient of the Jeffrey Lawrence Award from the Arts Schools Network (ASN), the nation’s largest professional membership organization of specialized arts schools.

This award is granted to the head of an Arts Schools Network member organization who exemplifies an uncompromising commitment to excellence in arts education and arts training. Named in honor of the long-time head of the Professional Children’s School in New York, this is the most coveted award presented by ASN to an arts administrator. The award will be presented at ASN’s annual conference Oct. 24-27, 2017.

Kyle has an uncompromising commitment to excellence in arts education and arts training and has a professional career that has focused on education and public service.

His career began as a City Year AmeriCorps volunteer in Boston, MA. After graduate school, he was a Senior Budget Analyst for the Office of Budget and Management for the City of Chicago. He was recruited to the School District of Philadelphia where he served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer. Kyle returned to City Year to lead new site development and the start of City Year Louisiana (both Baton Rouge and New Orleans), City Year Los Angeles, and City Year Johannesburg.  Kyle took a leadership role at the Recovery School District where he served as Chief Administrative Officer.  While working at the RSD, Kyle visited and was inspired by NOCCA-the performing and visual arts high school for the State of Louisiana- where he is now in his tenth year as President and Chief Executive Officer. 

In his spare time, Kyle enjoys being with his wife and son above all else; exercises his deep commitment to helping lead and support the civic work of the city, region and state; experiences the arts, sights, sounds, land, food, culture, and sports of New Orleans and Louisiana; and walks with the joy of seeing his beloved Saints and Cubs as World Champions in his lifetime. Kyle has a Bachelor of Arts from St. Olaf College and a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

About Arts Schools Network

Dedicated to excellence and leadership in arts education, Arts Schools Network, a non-profit professional organization founded in 1981, is a dynamic resource for arts school leaders, innovative partners and members of arts education institutions. Its mission is to provide leaders in arts schools with quality resources, support, and networking opportunities.  ASN has provided communications, programs, services, conferences and events to support these goals for over 30 years. Visit the website at www.artsschoolsnetwork.org to learn more.