Jan 27, 2014 Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has recently hired a new School and Community Programs Manager to its growing education team. Zev Slurzberg has taken the position, while former manager Anne Kraybill has moved into the position of Distance Learning Project Manager. Slurzberg comes to Crystal Bridges from the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where he worked for 10 years—first in visitor services and the remaining eight years as a museum educator specializing in programs for teachers. At the National Gallery, Slurzberg crafted meaningful teacher professional development programs for K-12 educators on a multi-disciplinary level, and managed marketing and selection for a competitive national fellowship program for teachers. Slurzberg holds a bachelor’s degree in history and journalism from Rutgers University, and a master’s degree from the Bank Street College of Education with a focus on leadership in museum education. At Crystal Bridges, Slurzberg will manage School Tour programs, educator professional development, and a variety of other school and community programs. “Zev’s experience at the National Gallery of Art has given him an incredible base of knowledge about teachers, teacher programs, and student experiences in the museum,” said Niki Stewart, director of exhibitions and education. “This practical experience, paired with his graduate work in museum leadership, places him in an excellent position to continue building the school program offerings at Crystal Bridges.” Anne Kraybill now takes on the development and implementation of an ambitious Distance Learning Project at Crystal Bridges. In July, the museum hosted a Distance Learning Summit, with 40 participants from major museums and other institutions across the country contributing to discussions and sharing best-practices in the field of distance learning. Based on these discussions, and with funding from First Quality and the Windgate Foundation, Crystal Bridges is now developing a comprehensive distance learning plan, which includes online classes in American art history. This multi-year initiative is the focus of Kraybill’s new role as Distance Learning Project Manager.
