Our Philosophy
What makes Creative Outlets Arts Center unique is our focus on Wellness. We believe that art and artmaking is an integral part of our mental health and we aim to teach the community how to use it! It is our goal to engage the community in art making and display by not only providing classes and resources, but an exhibition space as well. We want our community to see value in art making as well as the reality that they, themselves can be a practicing, exhibited artist in our community!
Meet our Board!
These fine ladies make Creative Outlets Arts Center possible!
Emily Thaler
President
Emily Thaler is originally from Stroudsburg Pennsylvania and received her Bachelor’s in Art Education with a minor in Fine Metals, as well as a Master’s of Art Education from Kutztown University. She taught for one year in Pennsylvania and then moved to Montgomery County Maryland and has been teaching for their public school system for over 8 years. Emily is passionate about early childhood art education and has experience teaching students as young as 3 for Montgomery County Public Schools. She enjoys experimenting with mixed media art and process based art. She is currently a member of the National Art Education Association and enjoys being involved in their local chapter of MAEA. She is excited to be a part of the board for Creative Outlets Art Center and looks forward to helping the program expand to reach more communities and families in Maryland.
Rachel Landale
Treasurer
Rachel Landale is a Project Management professional with 6 years of non-profit operations and project implementation experience. Since graduating with a BA in International Affairs and a minor in Anthropology from Washington College, Rachel has been a Project Manager at Aid to Artisans/Creative Learning Inc. Founded in 1977, Aid to Artisans creates economic opportunities for artisan groups around the world where livelihoods, communities, and craft traditions are marginal or at risk. With field experience in countries worldwide, Rachel specializes in effective knowledge management, monitoring & evaluation, strategic communication, and corporate and project finances. Rachel is passionate about empowering individuals in the artisan sector to provide economic opportunities, preserve culture and ensure sustainable impact.
Christee Jordan
Vice-President
Christee Jordan received her Bachelor's in Fine Arts and Masters of Art Education from the University of Maryland, College Park. Christee is a mixed media artist and elementary art educator based in Laurel, Maryland. She has over 10 years of professional teaching experience, and over 15 years as a trained visual artist. She has expanded her skills and love for art through her many visual arts business ventures, including Christee's Paint Parties and Custom Letters. She currently serves as the Regional Representative for MAEA, and Vice-President of Creative Outlets Art Center. She hopes to influence many young artists and entrepreneurs when it comes to following their artistic interests and dreams.
Jess Deinlein
Board Member
Jess Deinlein has been working for AACPS for 10 years, teaching for 7. A graduate of NDMU, she began her career in 3rd grade. After 4 years, she moved to Kindergarten and is currently pursuing her masters in Early Childhood Education at Towson University
Michelle Faulkner-Forson
Secretary
Chicago native Michelle Faulkner-Forson received her B.A. in Photography with a minor in Art from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and her MA/MFA in Community Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. Michelle is always in search of tools to add her creative toolbox. In her search, she was granted multiple scholarships from the Baltimore Improv Theater’s Diverse Voices fund and has completed the improv education curriculum. Prior to the pandemic, Michelle regularly performed on the Baltimore Improv Group theater’s main stage with improv teams: Big Monsters, Baltimore Tastemakers, and Sneakerwave. She is also a comedic writer, actress, and is skilled in video production. She has produced several satirical videos and aspires to amplify the stories of black culture.
Anjali Wells
Executive Director
Anjali Wells has a Bachelor's in Studio Art and Masters of Art Education from the University of Maryland, a Post Graduate Certificate in Equity and Excellence in Education and her Administrator 1 certificate from McDaniel College. Anjali is the PreK-12 Visual Art and Dance Content Specialist for Montgomery County Public Schools where she oversees the development and implementation of curriculum and supports teacher growth. Throughout her teaching career Anjali has worked with multiple community organizations to develop and implement arts education programs that focus on student wellbeing including founding a non-profit organization, Creative Outlets Arts Center in 2021 whose mission is to teach the community to use art as a wellness tool. Anjali is a member of the Anti-Racist Art Teachers Collective and a contributing author to the book Anti-Racist Art Activities for Kids. She is the 2026 National Art Education Association’s National and Eastern Region Art Administrator of the year and 2025 recipient of the Maryland Art Education Association’s Linda Popp Leadership award.