Diane Kane, lead teacher, Renaissance School of Art & Reasoning
Kudos to Diane Kane, Lake Washington School District’s “Staff Star” for May 2011.
Diane Kane is the lead teacher and founder of the Renaissance School of Art and Reasoning, an arts-integrated junior high choice school program where “all students are known and nurtured as important individuals who have an active concern for their community and society. Students develop in an environment of artistry, rigor and warmth.”
Diane came to teaching in October of 1994 after enjoying several mini-careers and raising a family. She taught fifth and sixth grade at Bell Elementary for eight years, before joining staff development as an elementary math specialist.
Diane began thinking about an art-centered school when she was a 5/6 teacher at A.G. Bell. She noticed how much her students enjoyed art and how much more engaged they were in history, science, and math when art was integrated with those subjects in a project-based manner. Diane began reading research regarding art in schools and became acquainted with the writing of people such as Eliot Eisner from Stanford and Margaret Green from the Lincoln Center. This seed was planted firmly when she and another teacher attended a Choice School information session. They noticed no one was talking about an art-centered school and decided they should submit a proposal.
In 2006, Diane’s vision became a reality when, together with three other teachers, they 
developed the concept for Renaissance School of Art and Reasoning, (RSAR), a choice school that would use art as a means to explore different academic interests. The school opened in September of 2006.
Diane has appreciated and supported the arts for much of her adult life. She has managed a dance company, co-chaired several committees for a major art auction that helped fund a museum, taught art classes for children and taken art classes herself.
Diane is passionate about teaching and learning and believes all children deserve the opportunity to succeed at their highest levels. Diane loves watching student ideas come to life in their writing and in their art. She also loves the energy her students bring to their learning and to life in general.
Here is how one former RSAR student describes the experience at Renaissance:
“When I first came to Renaissance as a seventh grade student, I was pretty much broken. The teachers at Renaissance used their time to talk to me one-on-one frequently, and over time, they helped me to open up and participate in not only academic activities but also to talk to my peers. Today, I am a sophomore at Eastlake High School. My lowest grade is a B and about half of my grades are A’s, but what I feel is most important is that I am confident in myself.”
Diane also expresses a deep gratitude for the Lake Washington School District learning community – parents, students, staff, Eastlake staff and students, and the citizens of Sammamish. Additionally, she feels very grateful to work in a district that recognizes that not everyone learns in the same way. “We are very fortunate to have district support for giving families a choice of different learning opportunities,” Diane expressed.
About Renaissance School of Art & Reasoning (RSAR)
RSAR is a junior high (grades 7-9) choice school in Lake Washington School District. The school is housed inside of Eastlake High School and has a maximum enrollment of 90 students. At RSAR, students develop in an environment of artistry and academic rigor using multiple approaches and perspectives. The focus is on integrating the visual and performing arts with a challenging science and mathematics curriculum. For more information, visit the RSAR website.