The AAW charter requires one Regular Board of Directors meeting, which is held on the 4th Thursday of each month at 6:30pm. Board Meetings may also be called when the needs of the school require immediate action. All meetings are posted on the front window of the school.

A Fine and Performing Arts Public High School serving Southeast Michigan
32101 Caroline Street · Fraser · MI · 48026
tel: (586) 294·0391
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Board
Board Members
Resolutions
Board Information
Jessie Hastings, Chair
Mrs. Hastings is a founder of Arts Academy in the Woods. She is ABD in English from Wayne State University. While in graduate school at Wayne, Mrs. Hastings was on the English Department Policy Committee. She has written grants for the Academy beginning with the Charter School Start-up grant in 2000. Mrs. Hastings teaches Technical Writing and Composition at Macomb Community College and currently serves on Warren Woods Community Theater theatre staff. She worked professionally for two years at the Annenberg Performing Arts Center in Philadelphia, where she also did costume design for student productions. She enjoys making ballet costumes, designing sets and listening to classical music.
James A. Higginbottom, Vice-Chair
Mr. Higginbottom is a founder of the Arts Academy in the Woods. He has a Masters of Music from the University of Michigan and is certified to teach grades 9-12 Psychology (CE) and K-12 Music (VX). Mr. Higginbottom was the Director of Choirs for Warren Woods Public Schools from 1965-1990 and producer of 36 Broadway Musicals. He currently maintains his position with the District as the manager of the two Warren Woods auditoria. Mr. Higginbottom served as Director of the All-State Boys Division and Manager of Performing Groups at Interlochen for ten years and has extensive traveling in Eastern Europe with performing choirs. Mr. Higginbottom has served as a member of the Warren Cultural Commission and is on the Warren Symphony Board of Trustees. His greatest pleasure is teaching.
Howard Reilly, Secretary
Mr. Reilly holds an EdD. From Wayne State University with a major in Teacher Education. Before retiring in 1988, he was Division Head, Academic Services Division; Graduate Officer, College of Education; Professor of Education. Mr. Reilly has supervised Student Teaching at the secondary level, helped to develop team teaching concepts for methods courses and has made a comparative study of social studies curricula of 108 teacher preparation institutions. Mr. Reilly has been an active member in professional teachers associations and has served as an Executive Board Member for the Michigan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. He enjoys attending jazz concerts and traveling with his wife.
David Ruth, Treasurer
He is a civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense, currently employed as a Transportation Logistician. He served in the Air force for nine years prior to his career in transportation. Mr. Ruth has performed in theatrical productions and provided technical assistance for theatrical production. He enjoys carpentry and playing the guitar. Mr. Ruth supports his daughter’s education at Arts Academy in the Woods and is a member of the Fine and Performing Arts Parents Association.
Virginia Herring Trzaskoma, Director
Ms. Trzaskoma is an Assistant Attorney General in the Licensing and Regulation Division of the Michigan Department of the Attorney General. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Science from Wayne State University and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where she received the President¹s Scholarship for Academic Excellence. Among her many civic activities, Ms. Trzaskoma has served on the Executive Board of the non-profit group, The Understudies of the Wayne State University Theatres, as well as serving on the Executive Fundraising Committee for Our Lady of Guadalupe Middle School for Girls. Most notably, she is Co-founder of the Warren Civic Theatre, an organization which has provided directing, acting, and technical experiences to thousands of children and adults through theatrical productions and workshops.
Deirdre Moore, Director
Mrs. Moore is Interim Director of Student Financial Aid at Wayne State University. She directs the administration of financial aid from federal, state, institutional and private sources for undergraduate and graduate programs, the Law School and the School of Medicine. She oversees on- and off-campus financial aid outreach activities for students and parents. She was Assistant Director at the School of Medicine prior to her current position and has worked previously as School Services Manager for the Michigan Guaranty Agency, Financial Aid Manager at Henry Ford Community College, and Financial Aid Officer at Davenport University-Grand Rapids and the College for Creative Studies. Mrs. Moore earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Communication from the College for Creative Studies and is completing her Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies at Wayne State University. She is classically trained in piano and voice and appreciates all types of music. She enjoys travel, theatre and tai chi with her husband.
Jeff Cutter, Director
Mr. Cutter holds a Bachelor of Music and a Masters of Education both from Wayne State University where he majored in music education & educational leadership. He has been active in many community organizations, and is a member of Concerned Citizens for the Arts in Michigan; Warren Cultural Commission–Chair; Warren Council of Commissions-Chair; Warren Concert Band–President; Warren Symphony Orchestra–Treasurer & Past President; Immediate Past National President - American School Band Directors Association; and Warren-Center Line Thanksgiving Parade Committee-Chairman. He is currently the Director of Bands at Cousino High School and has recently served as Warren Consolidated Schools Curriculum Consultant for Special Services.
Board Resolutions
08-09
AAW Lunch Fund Resolution
08-09
AAW General Fund Resolution
07-08
AAW Lunch Fund Resolution #2
07-08
AAW General Fund Resolution #3
07-08
AAW General Fund Resolution #2
07-08 AAW General Fund Resolution
07-08 AAW Lunch Fund Resolution
06-07 AAW General
Fund Resolution
06-07 AAW Lunch Fund Resolution