Administrative Staff
Joel Franken – Founder
Joel is a National Board Certified Teacher and was among the first in the nation to receive this certification in Early Adolescence and Young Adult Art in 1996. Mr. Franken was also elected to serve on the 63 member National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 1999 and served till his retirement from secondary art education in 2002. He has served as the Art Educators of Iowa President from 1994-96. He was selected their Secondary Educator of the Year in 1989 and their Art Educator of the Year in 1993. Franken is responsible for establishing AEI’s Visual Arts All-State Competition in which the brightest and most artistic secondary visual arts students in the state are recognized. Joel has also served as the chairperson of the Iowa Department of Education “Fine Arts” Outcomes and Assessment Committee which was established in 1992. He received his BA in Art Education from the University of Northern Iowa University and his MA in Art Education from the University of Northeast Missouri State. He was an Iowa State “Da Vinci” Scholar in 1995-1996 which was an US West initiative that created educational experiences using Visual Art teachers collaborating with Chemistry Teachers. Joel is a co-creator of the artsBASICS program. As an artist, Joel’s ceramics and paintings are in private collections in the Midwest. Joel serves on the Figge Art Museum’s Artist Advisory Committee. Joel is married to Diane and they have one daughter, Ann.
Joel recently retired as the Director of the Creative Arts Academy but he has left a lasting legacy.
Joel is a National Board Certified Teacher and was among the first in the nation to receive this certification in Early Adolescence and Young Adult Art in 1996. Mr. Franken was also elected to serve on the 63 member National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 1999 and served till his retirement from secondary art education in 2002. He has served as the Art Educators of Iowa President from 1994-96. He was selected their Secondary Educator of the Year in 1989 and their Art Educator of the Year in 1993. Franken is responsible for establishing AEI’s Visual Arts All-State Competition in which the brightest and most artistic secondary visual arts students in the state are recognized. Joel has also served as the chairperson of the Iowa Department of Education “Fine Arts” Outcomes and Assessment Committee which was established in 1992. He received his BA in Art Education from the University of Northern Iowa University and his MA in Art Education from the University of Northeast Missouri State. He was an Iowa State “Da Vinci” Scholar in 1995-1996 which was an US West initiative that created educational experiences using Visual Art teachers collaborating with Chemistry Teachers. Joel is a co-creator of the artsBASICS program. As an artist, Joel’s ceramics and paintings are in private collections in the Midwest. Joel serves on the Figge Art Museum’s Artist Advisory Committee. Joel is married to Diane and they have one daughter, Ann.
Joel recently retired as the Director of the Creative Arts Academy but he has left a lasting legacy.
Jessica Taylor - Program Director
Jessica Taylor is a regular in the Quad Cities arts scene. She is a founding artist at the QC Theatre Workshop and a proud member of the Workshop Board and Artistic Advisory Council. Jessica has appeared in numerous shows and readings including Jean in Dead Man's Cell Phone, Vanda in Venus in Fur, Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher, Madeline Morton in Inheritors, Li’l Bit in How I Learned to Drive and Sylvia in Tribes. She has originated roles in numerous world premiere productions including Alyssa in Broken, Mom/Counselor in A Green River and Suzanne/Young Coco in Creme de Coco directed by Broadway director Philip Wm. McKinley (Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark, The Boy from Oz.) Jess can be seen onscreen in A Cadaver Christmas, Call Me Crazy, Amelia 2.0, and Sons and Daughters of Thunder. Jessica is a Davenport native graduating from Davenport North High School. She received Bachelor's degrees in Radio/TV Production and Journalism from St. Ambrose University where she also minored in Theatre. Email Jess |
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Junior High School Program
Communication & Media Arts |
Dance |
Colleen McCarty-Tomlinson
Colleen Tomlinson teaches Communication and Media Arts courses at The Creative Arts Academy of the Quad Cities and Visual Arts at Eisenhower Elementary. For years as a lead artist, her niche has been large scale collaborative projects. She has engaged community members at Quad City Art’s Metro Arts Youth Apprenticeship Program, The Heritage for Elderly, Disabled or Handicapped, Boys and Girls Club, Hand in Hand, and Figge Art Museum. As an independent artist, her most current series includes a mixed media series illustrating a narrative from her grandfather’s letters during WWII. Tomlinson received her B.A. from Augustana College and Teaching Certification from the University of Iowa. A professional leader, she is Communications Chair, Conference Chair for AEI’s 2021 Fall Conference, and Emerging Excellence Host. She served on the Iowa Department of Education’s Fine Arts Standards Adoption Team and the Statewide Fine Arts Leadership Team. She has passionately supported her district as an artsBASICS board member, Visual Arts and Media Arts Curriculum Team member and Collaborative Teacher Team Guide. Email Colleen |
Bridget Jessen
Bridget Jessen is excited to begin her 3rd year with the CAA as Dance Enrichment Coordinator. She works in St Ambrose Kinesiology Department as an adjunct and rounds out her well being as a group fitness instructor for Scott County YMCA ! An Interpersonal Communications Major with Performing Arts Concentration from Truman State University, Kirksville, MO Bridget feels extremely blessed to be able to share her gifts and talents and creativity with all generations. “We are created for a life of service, the giving of one’s resource, talent, and time with love is the true foundation of happiness and success.” - Bridget Email Bridget |
Music
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Theatre
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Dr. Benjamin Yancey
Benjamin Yancey received his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Iowa in the summer of 2018. In addition to his work at the Creative Arts Academy, he also serves as adjunct professor of music at Iowa Wesleyan University and Kirkwood Community College. An active performer and clinician, Yancey has performed with such groups as Orchestra Iowa, Flori Mezzo, the PANdalerium Steel Band, and the PASIC 2017 All Star Steel Band. He has also served as clinician and adjudicator at such events as the NAFME New Ideas in Music Education Conference, Pleasant Valley Solo Festival, the St. Ambrose University Honor Band Festival, Central States Marching Festival and the Bonner Springs Marching Festival. In the fall of 2018, he served as co-producer of the University of Iowa Steel Band album Jungle Music, which featured steel pan virtuoso Andy Narell as guest soloist. Benjamin prides himself on being a well-rounded musician with experience in many types of music and has expertise in Classical, Jazz, Afro-Cuban and Trinidadian music. His creative work includes performances of original compositions and arrangements that combine acoustic instruments, computer generated effects and film using the program Ableton Live. He is passionate about community involvement in music and pursues this through several community steel bands that he has established in the Iowa City area. Email Ben |
Alex McCarthy
Alex McCarthy was born in Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from Dubuque Senior High school and Loras College. He was the Managing Director of Trainwreck Productions in Dubuque from 2009-2014. Alex came to Davenport in 2014 to join the staff at Sudlow Intermediate. He started the Drama Club there and has directed two productions. He has worked with Davenport Junior Theatre, Prenzie Players, and Genesius Guild in Davenport. He also has a background in playwriting and two of his original plays have been produced. Email Alex |
Visual Arts
Heidi Hernandez
Ms. Hernandez teaches 6th - 8th Grade Visual Arts and co-teaches Creative Seminar this semester. She is a Fighting Bee- graduating from Saint Ambrose with her Bachelors of Arts in Fine Art and Art Education. She has exhibited paintings in the Quad Cities, Chicago, Iowa City and Milwaukee. One of her paintings can even be seen on an episode of American Pickers! Email Heidi
Ms. Hernandez teaches 6th - 8th Grade Visual Arts and co-teaches Creative Seminar this semester. She is a Fighting Bee- graduating from Saint Ambrose with her Bachelors of Arts in Fine Art and Art Education. She has exhibited paintings in the Quad Cities, Chicago, Iowa City and Milwaukee. One of her paintings can even be seen on an episode of American Pickers! Email Heidi
High School Program
Communication & Media Arts |
Theatre |
Clint Balsar - Visual Arts Chair
Clint has been a visual art educator for 21 years. Sixteen of those have been with the Davenport Schools; 5 at Monroe Elementary and 11 at Central High School. He has also taught Digital Photography at Scott Community College for 4 years. During his time at Central, he has helped several students achieve national awards. One of his students received the Best Manipulated Photo in the Portraits of Learning contest sponsored by Tech & Learning magazine. Another student that he instructed received 1st place in the Annual Congressional Art Competition for the First Congressional District of Iowa and had his work displayed in the Madison Cannon Tunnel in Washington, DC. Several of his students have also gone on to prestigious arts schools including the Kansas City Art Institute, Savannah College of Art and Design, Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, and Full Sail University. He was recently selected for the 2014 Educators ArtLab to study animation at the Kansas City Art Institute. Clint is an Adobe Certified Expert in both Adobe Photoshop CC and Adobe Premiere Pro CC. He is also an Adobe Certified Instructor in Adobe Photoshop CC, and has recently become the Adobe Campus Leader for the Creative Arts Academy of the Quad Cities. In addition, he is also recognized as a Certified Journalism Educator by the Journalism Education Association and has judged several state and national competitions. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Art Education from Iowa State University and his Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning with Technology from Ashford University. Clint is a member of the National Art Association, the Iowa State Education Association, Art Educators of Iowa and the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education. Additional memberships include the Figge Art Museum, National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Adobe Education Exchange and artsBASICS. He also owns and operates Balsar Photography and Design. His photography has been displayed and received awards at both the local and national levels. Mr. Balsar has also produced a full-size bronze sculpture located at Neil Armstrong Elementary School in Park View, Iowa. He is married to Ticia and has a daughter, Jordan and a son, Charlie. Email Clint |
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Visual Arts
Nicholas DiGioia
Nick DiGioia began his teaching career in 1976 at Alleman High School in Rock Island. He has been a teacher at both Moline and Bettendorf High School as well as Blackhawk College and St. Ambrose University. He won the Harley Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award and a Master Teachers Award. He is a freelance artist including police sketch artist, wedding artist, portraits artist, book illustrator, logo artist, sculptor, potter, teacher (workshops), lecturer, and jeweler. A point of pride for Nick is that his students have received $6 million in art scholarships. "Teaching the way we see life is an important part of my art lessons. Beauty is everywhere. There are beautiful values, colors, and patterns all around us and unlimited ways to capture them. Creating since childhood and teaching Art since 21, life has been filled with a wonderful, creative world of art. Art has given me a way to look at life and has kept me smiling. It has helped me through tough times and has brought me joyous times." Email Nick |
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