George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts Announces EIGHT New LAA+ Schools

Today the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne announced the expansion of the Louisiana A+ Schools network to eight new schools across the state for the 2015/2016 academic year. The announcement took place at a student performance at The Dufrocq School in Baton Rouge, one of nine current LAA+ schools.

Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne are joined by students at The Dufrocq School to announce eight new LAA+ Schools.

"These schools have been chosen through a competitive application process by demonstrating their commitment to innovative learning and the importance of the arts in every classroom," says Jacques Rodrigue. "They join a network of 9 schools across the state of Louisiana and over 130 schools nationwide that are focused on whole school research-based transformation through the arts."

LAA+ Schools, the first whole school arts-integrated reform initiative of its kind to enter Louisiana, is a network that provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning in the real world, and how they can present curricula to students in ways they learn best.

"Arts education yields comprehensive benefits to students and we need to do all we can to ensure its inclusion in our schools' curricula," says Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne. "We wish the selected schools the best in shaping our students' creative minds."

Click the map above to learn more about all 17 member schools in the LAA+ network.

2015/2016 New Louisiana A+ Schools:

Howell Park Elementary School, Baton Rouge

Park Elementary School, Baton Rouge

Rollins Place Elementary School, Zachary

J. Wallace James Elementary School, Lafayette

Ridge Elementary School, Duson

St. Helena College and Career Academy, Greensburg

Messiah Montessori School, Houma

ReNew McDonogh City Park Academy, New Orleans

Now Hiring: Professional Development Manager

Professional Development Manager

Job Description

The Louisiana A+ Schools Professional Development Manager plays a critical role in providing direct support to a statewide network of Pre K-12 schools in all areas of arts integration, including training and coaching (in-person and virtual), curriculum development, and assessment. Now in its third year, Louisiana A+ Schools is an education initiative of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.

Position Overview

The Professional Development Manager provides leadership, vision, motivation, organization and evaluation for all academic training activities across the Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) program. Working with LAA+ leadership, this position provides oversight and ensures consistency of all professional development functions involving LAA+ teachers, administrators, Fellows, and teaching artists.


Skills Needed:

• Extensive knowledge in and experience with arts integration; arts integrated curricula development and assessment. 
• Familiarity with Common Core Standards and National Core Arts Standards. 
• Experience training and coaching teachers in arts integrated curriculum development, classroom management and instructional strategies. 
• Experience designing classroom assessment instruments measuring arts learning. 
• Ability to communicate and interface with a diverse audience, including teachers, artists, principals, and the public at large. 
• Experience working with websites and virtual communications such as webinars, Google docs, Google Hangout, Dropbox, etc. 
• Exceptional writing and verbal communication skills. Public speaking experience required. 
• Computer savvy; excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. 
• Able to travel extensively across the state of Louisiana with extended overnight stays. Occasional out-of-state travel may also arise. 
• Able to work intermittent evenings and weekends as needed.

Candidates should meet the following qualifications:

• Hold at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Arts Education, Educational Administration, Educational Leadership, Curriculum, or other related area. Other degree fields will be considered if prior work experience aligns with job responsibilities. 
• Experience working as a classroom teacher, preferably certified, is preferred. 
• Experience managing school-based arts education initiatives preferred.

Related Job Functions:

• Assists with event management including up to three weekend Fellows retreats and multiple weeklong Summer Institute trainings. 
• Contributes content and data related to professional development activities for grant applications as needed. 
• Maintains budgets and invoices for all professional development activities.

Non-essential Job Functions:

• Handles other tasks as they emerge or are assigned by LAA+ program directors. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Travel Requirement
LAA+ is based in Baton Rouge, however, this position may operate out of Baton Rouge, New Orleans or Lafayette, LA. As LAA+ is a statewide network of schools, the Professional Development Manager must have reliable transportation. Extensive and frequent travel to all school sites on a regular basis throughout the school year will be an essential, non-negotiable job function.

Salary
Commensurate with experience.

Cover letter and resume should be sent to:
Bethany France, Director, Louisiana A+ Schools at bethany@georgerodriguefoundation.org.