Teachers Explore Arts Integration at Summer Institute

Our Louisiana A+ Schools program has nearly doubled in 2015 to include a network of 17 schools across the state. To accommodate our growing number of LAA+ educators, we divided our annual Summer Institute into two one-week sessions, with our first group attending last week at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

So what happens at the Summer Institute? The entire faculty from each school participates in an engaging week of professional development, where they acquire the skills and confidence to incorporate the arts into every subject in every classroom. The teachers attended sessions led by LAA+ Fellows, who are experts in arts integration, and explored the practical application of visual art, dance, music, and theatre in their curricula.

LAA+ Fellows from week one of the Summer Institute

On Monday, our second 2015 LAA+ Summer Institute kicks off in Lafayette. 

Follow all of the action on Twitter at #aplusla!

Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute 

is presented by

Kathleen O'Shaughnessy Hired as Professional Development Director

The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts is thrilled to announce that Kathleen O'Shaughnessy is our new Professional Development Director for Louisiana A+ Schools! In this role, she will manage direct support of our statewide network of Pre K-12 schools in all areas of arts integration, including training, coaching, curriculum development, and assessment.

Kathleen O'Shaughnessy

With over 29 years of experience in schools, O'Shaughnessy has taught in every grade from first through eighth, in public and private schools, but she found her calling in middle school reading and writing, and has worked in that capacity for over 20 years. She is passionate about teaching and learning with other educators.

She has taught as an adjunct in the College of Education at University of Louisiana at Lafayette and has led many summer institutes for their National Writing Project. She served as Curriculum Coordinator and Dean of Faculty at Episcopal School in Acadiana, and most recently was Head of School at Epiphany Day School.

O'Shaughnessy identifies as a "teacher nerd" and admits to being an obsessive reader and sharer of professional literature and teacher ideas. For the past two years, as principal at Epiphany Day School, she has seen firsthand what a powerful and positive effect the A+ Essentials can have on a school and is excited to promote and nurture those positive effects through the Louisiana A+ Schools network.