Lauren Shelton

Executive Director
Butler Community Arts School

Lauren Shelton is the founding Executive Director of the Indianapolis Center for Arts Education and Innovation at Butler University (the Center). Mrs. Shelton continues to oversee the Butler Community Arts School as one of the Center’s initiatives. Mrs. Shelton has a strong background in arts education, arts advocacy, and arts management. She has been a classroom educator, music director for the San Diego Children’s Choir and Girl Scouts San Diego, and began the Community Opus Project with the San Diego Youth Symphony in 2010. Prior to arriving at Butler University, Mrs. Shelton implemented the return of the visual and performing arts to the Chula Vista Elementary School District using the district's investment of $18 million dollars to employ 94 arts teachers at 47 schools district wide. She also served as faculty for the Longy School of Music of Bard College Masters of Arts in Teaching program at the Los Angeles Campus. Mrs. Shelton advocates for equitable arts education for all students and has held speaking engagements at The Western Positive Psychology Association Conference; NAMM Show, Non-Profit Institute; Little Kids Rock Virtual Summit; Save The Music Foundation; and Grantmakers in Education Conference, to name a few.

Lauren Shelton holds a California Teaching Credential, California Administrative Credential, and completed her Masters in Educational Leadership with a focus on Arts Integration and Common Core Standards Implementation with honors. In June 2015 she was a recipient of the Yale School of Music Distinguished Educator of the Year Award and most recently received the Outstanding Administrator Award from the California Music Educators Association at the state and local level. Mrs. Shelton currently serves on the Board of Directors for El Sistema USA, which supports a nation-wide alliance of El Sistema inspired organizations to effect social change through music for children.