The executive director of Capitol Hill’s Gage Academy is stepping down to follow “her dream of assuring high-quality arts education for low-income and disadvantaged youth in our community.”

The art school announced this week that Pamela Belyea is leaving a role she has held for nearly 25 years to pursue a Master of Education degree at University of Washington.

The Board of Trustees fully supports Pamela’s ambitious plans and entrepreneurial spirit. Those character traits have served Gage well for decades and will assure her success in the next cultural leadership role she creates. While it is nearly impossible to imagine Gage without Pamela at the helm, the Board and Pamela have collaborated closely on a transition plan and agree this is actually an ideal time to pass the Gage management baton on to a passionate new leader. Over the last year, we committed to a bold, aspirational strategic plan. We are blessed with strong leadership on the board and in our senior staff, and benefit from long-term continuity within our ranks. Our financial performance remains healthy and our financial base is stable. We enjoy the loyalty of valued donors, teaching artists, staff, volunteers and community partners.

You can read more about the announcement here.