White House Partnership Announced

On Tuesday, May 20th, the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities named the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) as program director for Turnaround Arts: Louisiana, an education initiative designed to turn around low-performing schools through arts-integration, as well as boost academic achievement, motivate student learning, and improve school culture. Six new Turnaround Arts districts have been named across the United States.

Using the research-based principles of its successful Louisiana A+ Schools Program, GRFA will serve three schools in the state in partnership with the Turnaround Arts: Louisiana initiative. Over the next two years, the PCAH and partners like GRFA will provide the training and resources necessary to address the specific needs of each school.

Pictured, Kim Leavitt (Deputy Director, Louisiana A+ Schools), Jane Brown and Janice Williams (Homer Elementary), Joan Riley (Homer A. Plessy Community School), Bethany France (Director, Louisiana A+ Schools), Kelli Joseph (St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy), and Jacques Rodrigue (Executive Director, George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts)

Schools selected for the Turnaround Arts: Louisiana program includes Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans, St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy in Greensburg, and Homer Elementary School in Homer. These schools will receive arts education training and resources to address their individual needs, including arts supplies, music instruments, teacher training, and funding for partnerships with community arts education and cultural organizations. High-profile artists will also “adopt” Turnaround Arts schools for the length of the program, working with students, schools and communities to highlight their success.

Alfre Woodard, one of two Turnaround Artists adopting Louisiana schools, shared, "My work with Turnaround Arts has been tremendously rewarding. I've loved every moment of getting to know these deserving kids and their dedicated teachers and principals. All you have to do is walk in to one of our schools and you can see, hear, and feel the transformation taking place.....the positive energy in the halls, the focus of the teachers and the students in class, the light in a kid's face as he or she finds his or her voice. This sense of purpose is what is turning these schools around. I am honored to be part of it."

“The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts is happy to announce the addition of these three schools into our Louisiana A+ Schools network, expanding our reach to ensure access to high-quality arts-integrated learning for all students,” said Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. “This initiative began before Dad [Artist George Rodrigue] got sick and my family and I are excited to form new partnerships so that we can continue to improve schools in the state that Dad loved so much. This investment from the President’s Committee on Arts and Humanities is a major step forward for our organization as we prove that a holistic whole-school approach to arts-integration directly impacts student academic achievement and school environment.”

GRFA and Louisiana A+ Schools are deeply honored to be a part of this tremendous initiative and look forward to working with our partner schools to inspire and engage students to academic achievement through arts-integration.

Fellows Gather in Shreveport for Retreat

The R. W. Norton Art Gallery in Shreveport, LA, is home to a collection of original American and European works of art.  This past weekend, however, it was also home to the Louisiana A+ Schools Fellows retreat.  From across the state, 52 fellows and teachers gathered to plan customized professional development strategies for each A+ School attending the Summer Institute in July.  Fellows from the Oklahoma A+ Schools Program were also there to lend their expertise and discuss ways to integrate the Eight A+ Essentials. 

Breakout groups scattered throughout the exhibition spaces for planning sessions.  In their team groups, fellows analyzed surveys and feedback from teachers at LAA+ schools to determine their needs for the coming year.  Depending on a school’s needs, training varies to integrate the arts into Common Core, as well as how to use the arts to improve reading and math skills.

The LAA+ Schools Program would like to extend its gratitude to the staff of the R. W. Norton Art Gallery, who generously gave their time and enthusiasm throughout the weekend.  It was wonderful to be within the beautiful galleries and surrounding gardens for the retreat.