150 Teachers Train in Arts Integration

The key to the success of Louisiana A+ Schools is the intensive, high-quality professional development that we provide to every educator in our statewide network of 18 schools.

Last week at our Baton Rouge LAA+ Summer Institute, over 150 teachers from five schools joined our team for three full days of educational sessions, workshops, and special presentations where they developed the skills necessary to integrate the arts into all parts of the curriculum. We were especially excited to partner with Apple and have their "Creatives" team lead workshops in Garageband software! 

Teachers attended sessions on a variety of topics including strategic planning, the A+ Essentials, 

and more.

Professional development sessions were led by our Louisiana A+ Schools Fellows, who are experts in arts integration. These individuals bring a variety of talents and experiences to the Summer Institute, and their leadership makes the LAA+ program so successful.

"Teachers and Principals consistently tell us," explains LAA+ Deputy Director Kim Graham, "that the Summer Institute is the best training they have ever received. Our Fellows and LAA+ staff are among the best educators in Louisiana and are in touch with the challenges schools face. Our training focuses on real needs and empowering teachers to utilize the arts in meaningful ways to reach every learner in the classroom."

Our amazing LAA+ Fellows

Schools that participated in the Baton Rouge Summer Institute include:

St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy (Greensburg, LA)

Howell Park Elementary School (Baton Rouge, LA)

Park Elementary School (Baton Rouge, LA)

Rollins Place Elementary School (Zachary, LA)

Messiah Montessori School (Houma, LA)

See a map of all 18 Member Schools.

We would like to extend a big thank you to the Pennington Foundation for allowing us to host the Summer Institute on the beautiful campus of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. In addition, we'd like to thank Apple for providing teachers with technology training at the Summer Institute.

Two New LAA+ Schools and Now Hiring

LAA+ Adds Two New Schools to Network

Last week in Lake Charles, Louisiana A+ Schools announced the addition of two new schools for the 2016/2017 academic year. With the addition of Lake Charles Charter Academy and Bains Lower Elementary School (in St. Francisville, LA) our statewide network of arts-integrated schools is now up to 18!

Click here to see all 18 Louisiana A+ Schools.

The students at Lake Charles Charter Academy welcomed the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts into their classrooms to see the Rodrigue-inspired artwork already adorning the halls. As one of our LAA+ Schools, the entire faculty will receive intensive professional development in arts integration, and all subjects will be infused with the arts. We are thrilled to expand our network into the Lake Charles and St. Francisville communities!

(Top) Principal Pamela Quebodeaux speaks during LAA+ announcement at Lake Charles Charter Academy. (Bottom left) A student shares his artwork. (Bottom right) GRFA Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue spent the morning with students, reading "Why Is Blue Dog Blue?" and leading an art activity.

WATCH NOW: KPLC-TV's Coverage of LAA+ Announcement

Now Hiring: Professional Development Coordinator

Louisiana A+ Schools is now accepting applications for the full-time position of Professional Development Coordinator.

This role supports the vision, motivation, coordination, and evaluation for all academic training activities across the Louisiana A+ Schools program. Working in close partnership with LAA+ Directors, this position ensures consistency of all professional development functions involving LAA+ teachers, administrators, Fellows, and teaching artists.

Click here to view the complete job description and apply.

Applications Due Friday to Join 2016 LAA+ Schools

Applications Due Friday to Join 2016 LAA+ Schools



Through Friday, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts' Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) program is accepting applications for the 2016/2017 academic year. LAA+ is a network that provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning to the real world, and how they can present curricula in ways that nurture the whole student. At the center of this program is the use of the arts in every subject, in every classroom.

Louisiana A+ Schools values the arts as essential to the learning process. 

Joining the A+ Network requires a significant time and resource commitment from a school's entire staff. We anticipate adding 3-10 schools for the 2016/2017 school year.

The deadline to submit a Letter of Interest is January 15, 2016.

LEARN MORE.

LAA+ Evaluation Released

During the 2014/2015 academic year, Dr. James Catterall of the Centers for Research on Creativity (CRoC) in Los Angeles, California, directed a research team to study three high poverty and failing first-year Louisiana A+ Schools.

During the year, Dr. Catterall's team conducted a total of 50 classroom observations in 20 classrooms across all three schools, led numerous teacher focus groups, interviewed principals, and surveyed LAA+ staff and trainers. Their study confirmed that with arts integration:

• School climate and student engagement improved
• Students were given opportunities to grow as critical thinkers and artists
• Parental involvement increased

Click here to see more exciting results from this study and to learn how arts integration is transforming schools in Louisiana.

2016 LAA+ Application Period NOW OPEN

Calling All Louisiana Schools: Join the LAA+ Network in 2016


The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts is pleased to announce that Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) is now accepting applications for the 2016/2017 academic year. LAA+ is a network that provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning to the real world, and how they can present curricula in ways that nurture the whole student. At the center of this program is the use of the arts in every subject, in every classroom.

Louisiana A+ Schools values the arts as 

essential to the learning process. 

Joining the A+ Network requires a significant time and resource commitment from a school's entire staff. We anticipate adding 3-10 schools for the 2016/2017 school year.

The deadline to submit a Letter of Interest is January 15, 2016.

LEARN MORE.

Rodrigue Family Visits 2 LAA+ Schools

Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue and Wendy Rodrigue, widow of George Rodrigue, visited Ridge Elementary School and J. Wallace James Elementary School in the Lafayette area to see arts-integration in action in the classrooms. Both of these terrific schools are part of our network of 16 Louisiana A+ Schools across the state.

Wendy Rodrigue reads to children at J. Wallace James Elementary School. 

(Photo credit: Paul Lieu, The Advertiser)

Jacques Rodrigue gets creative with students during an ornament making project. 

(Photo credit: Paul Lieu, The Advertiser)

The family toured the schools, visited with students and teachers, and saw examples of how the arts are integrated into each subject. Wendy Rodrigue read George Rodrigue's "Are You Blue Dog's Friend?" and "Why Is Blue Dog Blue?" to students, and Jacques Rodrigue led them in a George Rodrigue-themed ornament activity inspired by his Blue Dog series.

Jacques and Wendy were also excited to announce the 2016 application period for LAA+ Schools and to share how a recent independent study by Centers for Research on Creativity proved that the A+ Schools method is transforming classrooms across Louisiana.

Read the full story of their visit to 

J. Wallace James Elementary School in 

The Advertiser.

Now Hiring: Development Associate

The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Development Associate for Louisiana A+ Schools.

Development Associate 

Reporting to and in partnership with the Development Director, the Development Associate will design and implement a fundraising strategy to support the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts' Louisiana A+ Schools program. A new position in the organization, the Development Associate will have the opportunity to expand GRFA's existing development functions.


Responsibilities Include:


Donor Relations

• Assist in the development and execution of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts' Louisiana A+ Schools annual fundraising plan
• Secure financial support from individuals, foundations, and corporations
• Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with major donors and program sponsors
• Create and execute a strategy for a large sustained base of annual individual donors
• Develop solicitations for mail and email fundraising campaigns
• Arrange and conduct school tours with existing and potential donors

Special Events

• Work with Director of Operations and Special Event Coordinator to secure paid attendance to special events, including the statewide Aioli Dinner Supper Club series
• Secure hosts for "Aioli Dinner" fundraising events and follow up with hosts to generate ticket sales

Grant Writing

• Develop and track proposals for all foundation, corporate and government grants 
• Identify, write, compile and submit grants in cooperation with GRFA and LAA+ staff
• Ensure that reporting of the use of grant funds is completed accurately

Reporting

• Prepare monthly reports for the Development Director to assess fundraising program effectiveness

Qualifications

• B.A. required, M.A. preferred
• 5 or more years of experience in Development
• Experience with Raiser's Edge or equivalent donor management solution
• Basic knowledge of Louisiana's education system
• Demonstrated excellence in organizational, managerial, and communication skills
• Must have ability to travel frequently across all of Louisiana

Salary is commensurate with experience. This position is based in New Orleans at the Rodrigue Foundation office. Interested applicants can send their cover letter and resume to info@georgerodriguefoundation.org.

A Creative Start to the School Year

A Creative Start to the School Year

Earlier this week, our LAA+ Schools team was on the road in Northern Louisiana to visit Homer Elementary School in Homer, Grace Episcopal School in Monroe, and South Highlands Elementary Magnet in Shreveport. We loved seeing all of the creative, arts-integrated projects in the classrooms!

Two LAA+ Schools Win Art Education Grants

Congratulations to two of our Louisiana A+ Schools! Rollins Place Elementary in Zachary and St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy in Greensburg have been awarded Community Partnership Grants from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. The schools will use the grants to implement in-school or after-school education programs that support music and arts instruction.

Celebrating 20 Years of A+ Schools

A+ Schools Host 20th Anniversary Conference in North Carolina

Earlier this week, our Louisiana A+ Schools team headed to North Carolina to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of A+ Schools. North Carolina began its A+ program in 1995, and since then, the national network of A+ Schools has grown to include four states and over 150 schools.

The three-day conference celebrated the importance of arts in education and featured keynote speakers and sessions by industry leaders. To learn more about the National A+ Schools Consortium, visit nationalaplusschools.org.

(Top left) The LAA+ Schools team attended the anniversary conference in North Carolina. Pictured: Deputy Director Kim Graham, Professional Development Manager Kathleen O'Shaughnessy, GRFA Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue, Director Bethany France. (Bottom left) John Brown of the Windgate Foundation, Vincent Marron ("The Godfather" of A+ Schools), and Jacques Rodrigue. (Right) LAA+ Director Bethany France addresses attendees.

Week Two of the 2015 LAA+ Summer Institutes

Last week, GRFA hosted our second week of the Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Entire faculties from seven LAA+ schools attended a week of engaging professional development in arts integration in the classroom. Click here to read The Advertiser's coverage of our Summer Institute.

Click here to view photos from Week 1 of our 2015 Summer Institutes.

Louisiana A+ Schools Summer Institute

is presented by