Take Five with Lilian Blaser: Manager of Professional Learning with the Department of Arts Education

Take Five is a series that highlights some of the many members of the CPS community who are going above and beyond for our schools. If you know someone who is making a difference, nominate them to be featured here.

Meet Lilian Blaser, manager of professional learning with the Department of Arts Education! Lilian’s team supports the professional learning for 1,200 visual arts, music, dance, and theatre teachers across the District. Under her leadership, professional learning offerings have tripled, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous learning for CPS arts teachers.

A former elementary and middle school visual arts teacher, Lilian was originally inspired by the transformative impact the arts had on her own life and her ability to express herself. Now, she sees herself as a servant leader, deeply empathetic and quick to uplift the people around her. Lilian credits this approach to her parents, who are immigrants and raised her in a culture centered in community and generosity.

Recently, the Illinois Art Education Association (IAEA) named Lilian as their 2025 Art Administrator of the Year, an annual award that recognizes the top art and design educators in the state for their excellence, leadership, and service to the field. You can watch this video to hear from some of the many people who have been positively impacted by Lilian’s work, and keep reading to learn more about her in her own words!

How did you feel when you learned you had been named the 2025 IAEA Art Administrator of the Year?

I was shocked! I felt so touched that a teacher had nominated me, and it was very validating. We’re in such a large school district and everyone is working so hard; it means a lot to me to be seen and recognized.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My team, our teachers, and our students all have genius inside of them, and I love helping people nurture that. I want to help people enhance their expertise. I love the work I do, and I feel lucky to see the magic that’s happening in the arts across our schools. It makes me emotional!

What is one goal you have for your work?

I’m motivated by my desire to make sure arts teachers are appreciated and recognized for their expertise, especially within their school communities. I want to support teachers as they step into their power and contribute to school-wide improvement efforts, because when that happens, it’s magic and their hard work and dedication can be visible at scale. Our arts teachers are true leaders: creative, innovative, and really good at what they do. Ultimately, I am driven by a vision of high-quality arts education for every student.

What is something people should know about arts education?

Sometimes there’s a misconception about the arts and their relevance as we prepare students for college and career. I want people to understand the kinds of skills that students learn from any artistic discipline, like problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and interdependent thinking. Something I like to emphasize is that the process of art-making is just as important as the final product, because that is where the learning happens.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love hanging out with my four-year-old daughter. She’s magical, and watching her grow and make meaning of the world has been so exciting. Last year on Valentine’s Day we got manis and pedis together, and I think we’ll be making it a tradition!