NEW VIDEO: LAA+ Students Talk Arts Integration

New Video: LAA+ Students Talk Arts Integration, Academic Success, and FUN

We are pleased to present a new video featuring the students of Louisiana A+ Schools! Hear their perspectives on how arts integration is transforming their classrooms, improving their academic performance, and bringing out the best in students.

Irvin Mayfield Inspires Students at Homer Elementary School

Last week, the students of Homer Elementary School in Homer, LA, welcomed a very special guest to their classrooms. Irvin Mayfield, a Grammy and Billboard Award-winning jazz trumpeter, was there to see first-hand how arts integration is transforming this Turnaround Arts: Louisiana school.

As one of three Turnaround Arts schools in the state, Homer Elementary School has been adopted by Turnaround Artists like Mayfield, who seek to inspire students to pursue their academic goals through the arts, as well as draw attention to the impact the arts are having on their school's revitalization.

In 2014, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts was selected by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities to implement the Turnaround Arts initiative at three schools in the state using the Louisiana A+ Schools method of arts integration. Already the teachers and students of our Turnaround A+ Schools are embracing the arts in curriculum -- creative projects line the halls, music can be heard in classrooms, and student engagement is reaching new heights.

2015 LAA+ Schools Application Deadline EXTENDED

Please note: The deadline to submit a Letter of Interest for Louisiana A+ Schools has been extended to January 23, 2015! Click here to learn more about requirements and the application process.

Announcing 2015 Application Process & Professional Development with Crayola

2015 Application Process Now Open!

The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) announces the 2015/2016 application process for Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+).

"We are thrilled to grow the A+ Network in Louisiana," says Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of GRFA. "We believe LAA+, the first whole-school, arts-integrated reform initiative of its kind for our state, has the potential to influence the way that all Louisiana students are taught."

How To Apply

If your school is interested in applying to be part of LAA+ Schools, the statewide application process first requires schools to submit a Letter of Interest to the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. A link to this form, along with the 4 steps to the application process, can be found at www.aplusla.org.

Letters of interest are due January 23, 2015.

Please be aware that schools applying to LAA+ will be asked to provide a $75,000 payment that can be distributed over three years. Full and partial scholarships are available on a needs basis. Schools accepted into the LAA+ Schools make a commitment to a three-year implementation process. This includes customized professional development training for full faculty based on the school's needs, attendance at an annual LAA+ Summer Institute (including room and board), professional development for school leadership, and art supplies for the entire school. A sampling of schools may also be asked to participate in a 3-year quasi-experimental evaluation.

Click Here To Register

Professional Development with Crayola

An essential component of LAA+ is our dedication to professional development for all educators in our network of nine schools. Each school is offered two Full Faculty Professional Development (FFPD) sessions a year where Louisiana A+ Fellows lead customized workshops in arts integration methods. In addition to FFPD, all educators attend the LAA+ Summer Institute for a week of intensive training.

On Monday, teachers from St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy, Homer A. Plessy Community School, Grace Episcopal School, and The Dufrocq School gathered for FFPD.

St. Helena Arts & Technology Academy and Homer A. Plessy Community School are also Turnaround Art: Louisiana schools with the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. Crayola is a proud partner of the Turnaround Arts initiative and provided our teachers with free Crayola products, information about grants for schools, and sessions focused on creativity, critical thinking, and literacy.

A Year in Review

2014 brought exciting growth in our network of Louisiana A+ Schools, as well as a new partnership with the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. This year, Louisiana A+ Schools:

Added 3 new schools to our LAA+ network

Our network of LAA+ Schools has expanded to 9 schools across the state. We are so proud of the tremendous work all of our schools are doing to engage their students and transform their classrooms through arts integration. Click here to learn more about our Member Schools.

Welcomed new arts integration experts

We are happy to announce that our network LAA+ Fellows has expanded to include 50 arts integration experts from all over Louisiana. Their commitment to arts integration and passion for training other educators is invaluable to our program. Click here to learn more about our LAA+ Fellows.

Trained 500 educators at the Summer Institute

Professional development is an essential part of LAA+ Schools. In July, all 500+ teachers in our 9 schools gathered at University of Louisiana at Lafayette for a week of specialized training in arts integration. Each day of the Summer Institute featured engaging workshops to provide teachers with the tools and resources necessary to implement the Eight A+ Essentials into their curriculum. Click here to take a look inside the 2014 LAA+ Summer Institute.

Became Program Director for Turnaround Arts: Louisiana

This year, the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities selected the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts to be the program director of the new Turnaround Arts: Louisiana initiative. Using the research-based principles of LAA+, GRFA is working with three Turnaround A+ Schools to boost academic achievement and motivate student learning through arts integration. As part of this program, the three schools have been "adopted" by celebrity artists to draw attention to their transformations. Our Turnaround Artists for Louisiana are Alfre Woodard, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, and Irvin Mayfield. Click here to see photos of our Turnaround Artists visiting their adopted schools.

Impacted over 3,500 students in Louisiana

Our real success this year has been the number Louisiana students we have been able impact through arts integration. Each day, the lives of the 3,500+ students in our nine LAA+ Schools are enriched by arts education in the classroom. We can't wait to celebrate their successes in 2015!

LAA+ Fellow to participate in artist residency in Arctic Circle

LAA+ Fellow Chris King

When you think of the Arctic Circle, it usually brings to mind a frozen landscape, polar bears, and perhaps, Santa’s workshop at the North Pole. Few people will likely visit this distant place, let alone create works of art there. However, a select group of scientists, artists, educators, and activists are chosen twice a year to join The Arctic Circle program, a one-of-a kind international residency. For three weeks participants live aboard a tall ship, working on individual and collaborative projects as they float through the icy world.

Chris King, a Founding Fellow of the Louisiana A+ Schools program, will be calling the Arctic Circle home from October 2-20, 2014. As an artist and educator, King has served as head of the Visual Arts Program and Gallery Director at the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) in Natchitoches since 2008. His artwork includes painting, sculpture, performance, and video and has been exhibited in venues such as Diverse Works (Houston, TX), Acadian Center for the Arts (Lafayette, LA), Cirrus Gallery (Los Angeles, CA), Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE), and the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art.

During the Arctic Circle residency, King intends to document his journey with digital photography and video – with plans to create a website upon his return. The ideas of innovation and experimentation are central to the residency, and King will explore various creative methods including drawings on ice and using ice as a mold for casting sculptural objects. The pieces he creates will result in an exhibition in 2015, as well as a public presentation at LSMSA about his experience in the Arctic.

The collaborative nature of the program is a source of inspiration for King and draws a striking parallel to the work he does with Louisiana A+ Schools program. He elaborates, “My dedication to being a Louisiana A+ Fellow inspired me to pursue opportunities for collaboration with experts in all academic areas, which led me to this residency program. This is a once in a lifetime adventure bringing artists and scientists together, and I intend to make the most of it. I can’t wait to share my story with the LAA+ community.”

To learn more about The Arctic Circle residency, visit www.thearcticcircle.org.

Now Hiring Office and Events Coordinator

Louisiana A+ Schools, a program of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, is seeking applicants for the position of Office and Events Coordinator.



Position Summary:

Provides programmatic and administrative assistance to the Director of Louisiana A+ Schools, a program of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.. Renders administrative decisions to carry out a program, acts collaboratively in executing and bringing focus and cohesiveness to the program. Plans and makes arrangements for a wide variety of events for Louisiana A+ Schools and encompassing the state of Louisiana, ranging from special meetings with the program partners up to regional meetings involving hundreds of people. This position assumes the responsibility to work within the organizational constraints, secure cooperation from others in the organization, focus the program on meeting the goals intended, manage available resources wisely and keep the program on schedule. The Office and Events Coordinator is responsible for bookkeeping, budgeting, and facilitating partnerships for the good of the organization.



Administrative Responsibilities:

· Facilitates communication between A+ staff, A+ Fellows, consultants, and schools participating in the LAA+ Schools Program.

· Assists with public relations and publicity material, including social media

· Coordinates and participates in staff meetings, regional meetings, state conferences, local conferences and annual summer institutes, some of which happen on weekends, with A+ staff, A+ Fellows, consultants, and public school personnel including site planning and booking locations, invitations, catering, program and/or entertainment, materials, scheduling payments, notifications and follow up with participants.

· Makes travel arrangements.

· Monitors budget and bookkeeping supplies and equipment.

· Seeks proposals from vendors, caterers, printers, rental companies, hotels motels, etc.

· Initiates contracts.

· Assesses effectiveness at the conclusion of various meetings or conferences using working knowledge, observation and solicited written comments from participants.

· Regularly reports to the Director of the A+ Schools Program.

· Maintains the A+ database and Dropbox, which consists of multiple tables, forms and reports.

· Maintains LAA+ Calendar

· Develops invoices, reimbursement forms and registration materials.

· Provides reimbursement for travel expenses, stipends, etc.

· Collects forms and verifies for accuracy.

· Submits forms for payment.



Supervision Received by Employee:

· The A+ Coordinator reports to the Director of the A+ Schools program. The position requires a great deal of self-supervision and initiative. Work is reviewed by conferences and meetings with the employee and by the results of performed duties.

· The LAA+ Office and Events Coordinator receives instructions from the Director of the program; however, the Coordinator is expected to work independently, to appropriately prioritize tasks and to exercise his or her judgment and initiative.



Dynamics of Work:

The work in this position is marked by continuous change and progress. The Coordinator can expect considerable interruptions in work and changes in the level of activity, and must be prepared to be flexible. This individual must be able to juggle a number of duties at one time and be able to deal with the challenges that normally accompany this type of work environment. The work varies from that of an administrator, conference and event planner and secretary which requires a great deal of flexibility and ability to shift gears and concentrate without losing thought process or progress.



Experience Requirements:

Excellent oral and written communication, public relations, and organizational skills required. Must pay attention to detail. Ability to follow instructions and work independently. Must be able to work in a busy environment and maintain a positive attitude. Ability to contribute to an atmosphere of teamwork is essential. Must be flexible and a self-starter. Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and maintain confidentiality. Must type a minimum of 40 net words per minute. Computer proficiency required in Microsoft Office. Two years of college or office management experience required. Experience with event planning required. Bachelor’s degree preferred.

This position is domiciled in Baton Rouge, LA. However, event locations vary across the state and the Coordinator’s participation at these events is mandatory.

For consideration, please email cover letter and resume to bethany@georgerodriguefoundation.org.

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!