Allison Russo, Managing Director. Consultant, author, and educator Allison Russo has dedicated her career to creating more ethical and effective arts learning spaces. She has a BM from Ithaca College and an MM from Boston University, both in Music Education. As an elementary band teacher and non-profit arts leader, Allison has designed and delivered music programming to thousands of students and teachers. She has presented at state and regional conferences, colleges, and public schools on topics including ethical classroom culture, trauma-informed care, and gender equity in jazz education.
Allison founded The Critical Good, an arts education consultancy in 2021, where she supports arts nonprofits in expanding and strengthening their education programs through evaluation, operations, and messaging. She published her first book, “Planning on Purpose: Creating a Values-Based Music Program” in 2023 as a step-by-step guide for music teachers to refresh their programs for a focus on equity and connection. She is also a graduate course facilitator for the Longy School of Music at Bard College, a collaborator with consulting firm WolfBrown, and freelance grant writer. She envisions a world where arts education is boundless, universally accessible, and joyful for all.