Teachers Reflect on LAA+ Training

At the end of each day during the recent LAA+ Summer Institute, attendees were invited to complete reflection forms to share their thoughts on the arts integration professional development.  Their testimonials below reaffirm their passion for their students and careers:

• "I wish I had known about arts integration when I first started teaching. I am now in my 20^th year as a teacher and arts integration is the best solution I have found to meeting the needs of every student in my classroom."

• "The Louisiana A+ Fellows were the highlight of my conference.  They were so knowledgeable and patient with our questions.  Best professional development I have ever experienced!"

• "I take home with me a renewed passion about education."

• "The highlight of my conference was learning practical ideas that apply to many different content areas.  The arts can and should be used to teach every subject."

• "I think this training has helped me to evolve as a teacher and made me realize that I want to always be creative to keep children motivated and eager to learn." 

• "The highlight of my conference was EVERYTHING!  This week has been the most important professional development of my teaching career.  I am ready for the school year to begin so I can engage every learner in my classroom!"

• "I take home with me an understanding of curriculum mapping for the first time since I started teaching.  I now realize that mapping our curriculum as an entire school is key to student success."

• "I realized how fun it is to be engaged with hands-on activities during lessons.  My students are going to be so excited when the school year begins!" 

• "I think this program is going to change the way I teach.  The mood in my classroom is going to nothing but positive!" 

• "The highlight of my Summer Institute was the amazing people from the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.  Our team of Louisiana A+ Schools provided us with key knowledge while being enthusiastic and happy.  Our school will become a better place because of them." 

• "Wow!  What incredible facilitators.  It was clear that all professional development was customized to meet the needs of our school."

• "This is exactly what our students need." 

• "Hands down, the best training experience I have ever been given as a teacher."

• "I take home with me an excitement to start the new year and inspiration to do my best.  Our entire faculty is optimistic about the upcoming year!"

It was wonderful to see the over 400 educators from our 9 LAA+ Schools come together to plan the new academic year.  We are so grateful for their enthusiasm and look forward to celebrating their successes!  

Recap of the LAA+ Summer Institute

From July 20-25, 2014, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette was home to the Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute, a transformative professional development opportunity for all teachers in the LAA+ network.  This year the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts welcomed nine schools to the LAA+ program:

1.  South Highlands Elementary Magnet in Shreveport
2.  Grace Episcopal School in Monroe
3.  Epiphany Day School in New Iberia
4.  The Dufrocq School in Baton Rouge
5.  Riverside Academy in Reserve
6.  Martin Behrman Academy in New Orleans
7.  Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans*
8.  St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy in Greensburg*
9.  Homer Elementary School in Homer*

*Also a member school of the President's Committee on Arts and Humanities' Turnaround Arts: Louisiana.

Although these institutions are scattered across the state, they share a common mission to use arts integration to inspire students and transform their schools.  Each day at the Summer Institute featured engaging workshops to provide teachers with the tools and resources necessary to implement the Eight A+ Essentials into their curriculum.

The three new schools added this year will also be part of the Turnaround Arts: Louisiana initiative, a program of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.  GRFA is honored to have been selected as the Louisiana program director and looks forward to using the A+ method to turnaround these schools using the arts.

We were fortunate to have Kathy Fletcher, National Director of Turnaround Arts, speak to attendees on our opening night.  As our three new Turnaround A+ Schools prepare for the coming school year, her message on the importance of arts in the classroom was especially relevant.  We were also excited to have a special presentation from Dr. James Catterall of UCLA, who along with his research team will be conducting a multi-year study of the LAA+ program.

Dr. James Catterall (right) and Turnaround Arts Director Kathy Fletcher (left) each addressed attendees on the opening night.

Our teachers hit the ground running the next day with multiple arts integration workshops.  Whether using music to teach math or theater to teach the life cycle of a butterfly, the sessions explored techniques for engaging students.

Participants enjoyed dinner and music at Vermilionville Living History and Folk Like Park.  That evening, GRFA was presented a donation of $15,000 from the principal of A+ affiliate South Highlands Elementary Magnet to support arts integration professional development.

Dinner at Vermilionville

GRFA Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue accepts a check from South Highlands Elementary Magnet.

We are so grateful to the fellows of the Oklahoma A+ Schools program for lending their assistance and expertise throughout the week.  In addition, we extend our gratitude to Chevron for sponsoring with LAA+ Summer Institute.  This professional development is crucial to our program, and we couldn't have done it without their support.

Be on the lookout for updates throughout the year from our nine Louisiana A+ Schools!

LAA+ Summer Institute in Lafayette

The Second Annual LAA+ Summer Institute

We are delighted to share that our second annual Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute is underway! Educators from all nine of our A+ Schools have gathered at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for an intensive professional development in arts integration.

So what do you get when you bring together over 400 Louisiana teachers and the Eight Essentials of the LAA+ Schools program? You get an exciting professional development bursting with creative energy and workshops designed to integrate arts into all parts of curriculum.

Through arts integration, our A+ teachers will help transform their schools into thriving institutions where students have the confidence and creativity to meet the challenges of the 21st century. We are inspired by their enthusiasm and passion for education and look forward to working with them more as they embark on a new academic year as part of the Louisiana A+ School network.

Be sure to watch the fun as it happens! Follow the LAA+ Summer Institute on Twitter at #aplusla and @APlusLA!

A Night to Support Louisiana A+ Schools and the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts

On July 17th, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Savoie hosted a fundraiser at their home on the campus of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Thank you to the friends and supporters who gathered to raise funds for the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and the Louisiana A+ Schools program.

We are especially grateful to Chevron for their official sponsorship of the event and the LAA+ Summer Institute! Because of their support, we are able to continue our mission to impact youth development through the arts. Thank you!

Representatives from Chevron present a check for $50,000 to GRFA Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue at July 17th fundraiser.

Turnaround Arts Leadership Retreat in Virginia

Three principals and eight teachers from Louisiana joined Louisiana A+ Schools Director Bethany France and Deputy Director Kim Leavitt for 5 days of intensive training at the Turnaround Arts Leadership Retreat outside of Alexandria, VA.  Turnaround Arts is a national reform initiative, designed to utilize the arts to "turn around" failing schools.  The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, through the LAA+ program, was one of six new sites recently added to phase 2 of the initiative.

Educators from Louisiana's three Turnaround Arts schools attend the Leadership Retreat in Virginia.

Drumming, anyone?

Dance is one of many ways educators create arts-integrated curriculum.

Turnaround Arts is unique in that each school is assigned a celebrity artist who makes site visits throughout the school year, working in classrooms with students and providing professional development workshops.  Nigel Lythgoe, creator of "American Idol" and judge on "So You Think You Can Dance?", was the artist-in-residence at the retreat and took workshops alongside participants.

LAA+ Deputy Director Kim Leavitt (left) and Director Bethany France (right) are joined by Turnaround Artist Nigel Lythgoe (center) during the workshops.

Principals and teachers gained invaluable insight into strategies such as managing classroom behavior through drama and integrating visual art into reading.  Sessions were taught by nationally known teaching artist from the Kennedy Center.  Turnaround Arts kicks off in three Louisiana schools this Fall:  Homer Elementary in Homer, St. Helena Arts and Technology Academy in Greensburg, and Homer Plessy Charter School in New Orleans.

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.

LAA+ Fellow Henry Price Honored at Louisiana Culture Awards

On April 22, 2014, the annual Louisiana Culture Awards were held at the Capital Park Museum in Baton Rouge.  Part of the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development’s Culture Connection, this awards ceremony honored individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the state’s historic, artistic, and cultural legacies.

This year’s Art Education Award recipient was Henry Price of Shreveport, who was instrumental in the founding of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts’ Louisiana A+ Schools Program.  His commitment to establishing visual arts and music instruction as part of core curricula is evident in his professional and leadership positions.  He is the arts supervisor for Caddo Parish Schools, president of the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, and a member of many boards in Shreveport and northwest Louisiana.

Pictured, (Left) Chairman of the Louisiana State Arts Council, Michael Echols , (Center) Henry Price  (Right) Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne 

Please join us in congratulating Henry Price for this tremendous award!  It’s because of passionate individuals like him that Louisiana A+ Schools can continue to nurture creativity in every student through an arts-integrated school network.

Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, was also in attendance to present the newly-created George Rodrigue Lifetime Cultural Achievement Award to Sue Turner of Baton Rouge.  A philanthropist and community activist, Sue has worked to preserve historical sites and the arts of Louisiana through leadership positions and contributions to numerous organizations across the state.

Pictured, (Left) Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, Jacques Rodrigue, (Center) Sue turner, (Right) Lieutenant Governor Jay Dardenne