Embracing Our Differences Welcomes Ben Jewell-Plocher as its Education Director

Sarah Wertheimer, executive director of Embracing Our Differences, announced recently that the organization has welcomed Ben Jewell-Plocher as its new education director. In this role, Jewell-Plocher will be responsible for creating, developing, evaluating and implementing all education programs offered by Embracing Our Differences.   

“Our year-round education programs are the heart of our mission,” says Sarah Wertheimer, Embracing Our Differences’ executive director. “These outreach initiatives touch the lives of thousands of area teachers and students every year. Ben has an amazing track record in this area. He’s helped scores of nonprofits engage in innovative education initiatives. This is his core expertise—and it’s also his passion. I have absolute confidence that Ben will continue to lead us in the right direction.”

Jewell-Plocher has spent the entirety of his career serving arts nonprofits, including the Indianapolis Children’s Choir, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and The St. Louis Muny. Most recently, Jewell-Plocher served as director of education for Sarasota Opera, where he oversaw the commissioning of two new works for young voices and expansions in after-school and in-school programming. Jewell-Plocher holds a Bachelor of Music from Butler University in Indianapolis and a Master of Music in vocal performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He serves on several arts education advocacy committees, including the Sarasota County Arts Education Partnership, Sarasota Community/School Partnerships for the Arts, and Manatee Arts Education Council, and is a frequent presenter at the Florida Alliance for Arts Education’s annual summit. In his free time, Jewell-Plocher enjoys attending local performing arts events with his husband Eddie and trusty Labradane Jasper (when outdoors).

For more information about Embracing Our Differences, please call 941-404-5710 or visit www.embracingourdifferences.org.