Hedy Blatt
Hedy Blatt may have come from a small town, but the recently retired fine arts consultant for Oakland Schools made a big impact in metro Detroit. In fact, the 2024 Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Arts Award winner has also been nominated for the National Art Education Association’s 2025 Elliot Eisner Lifetime Achievement and Gilbert A. Clark and Enid Zimmerman Leadership Advocacy awards.
The Bloomfield Township resident grew up in Owosso. “My parents were always involved in the arts – not doing them per se – but sponsoring and supporting arts entities. While I didn’t necessarily appreciate it while I was young, I certainly did later,” said Blatt, who went to Interlochen at eight years old and played the piano and cello and later attempted the clarinet. “I had skinny fingers, so I squeaked and squawked a bit and the band director suggested the oboe, which I played all through college.”
Blatt earned her teaching degree from Michigan State University and would later continue her education. “Rather than instrumental music, I went into choral music, which I taught for 10 or 11 years starting in Florida,” she explained. “I returned to Michigan, where I was very fortunate to be hired in the Troy School District. I taught for nine years before I became the fine arts director for the district for 20 years, 12 of which I also did community relations.”
In her more recent consultant position, Blatt provided and facilitated staff development and as-needed services in fine arts education throughout the 28 school districts in Oakland County and beyond. She also administrated the Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner Financial Literacy Arts Contest in partnership with the treasurer’s office, which has donated over $130,000 in student scholarships since 2012 thanks to a partnership with Flagstar Bank. The annual Faculty-Staff Art Show during the summer featuring Oakland County school employees, from teachers and administrators to custodians and bus drivers, was among the highlights.
During her impactful career, Blatt taught music, theater and English. Under her leadership, the Troy School District earned many arts education grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, was selected a Governor’s Arts Education Award finalist and earned Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America designations among others. She has also taught on the university level, written for and performed in professional children’s theater, and is a published composer and writer.
These experiences have been rewarding. “I appreciate the opportunities to advocate for the arts and work with fabulous teachers in the 28 school districts,” said Blatt.
Challenges also come with the territory. “Education is not easy right now,” she said. “Often fine arts are basically dismissed. It’s an uphill battle that one has to continually fight and advocate for your program.”
Blatt feels grateful for her recent recognition. “The Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Arts Award was really quite humbling and it really meant a lot, especially because I just retired,” she said. “It’s nice to be acknowledged for what you worked so hard at for so many years, and it’s also wonderful that the arts are advocated for.”
In her acceptance speech, Blatt shared that teachers can’t do it alone. “They need support from parents and administration in order to have successful programs and successful kids,” she said. “Hopefully advocacy will continue for the arts.”
It seems like her passion and dedication paved the way for that to happen. “It’s been a wonderful career and I’ve had wonderful support from administrators and teachers,” said Blatt. “It’s just been great and it’s been appreciated so much.”
Story: Jeanine Matlow
Photo: Laurie Tennent
