Apply Now to Join LAA+ Schools in 2018

Want to Join Our Arts Integrated Network? Apply Now for 2018/2019!

WHY APPLY?
LAA+ is the first whole school arts-integrated reform initiative of its kind to enter Louisiana. There are currently eighteen (18) LAA+ Schools statewide. The LAA+ network 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 to students in ways they learn best.

"After five years, Louisiana A+ Schools has proven itself as a leader in transforming schools through our professional development training in arts integration. We are excited to welcome new schools into our growing network."

- Jacques Rodrigue, Chairman of the Board for Louisiana A+ Schools

Any Louisiana school (public, private, charter, urban, suburban, rural, PreK through 12) can now begin the application process to be a member of the LAA+ School network by visiting www.aplusla.org and completing the Letter of Interest Form.


"We are thrilled to begin work with a new cadre of schools across the state. The schools in our network have seen growth in academic success and in student engagement."

- Bethany France, Director, Louisiana A+ Schools

About A+ Schools
Started in North Carolina in 1995, A+ Schools is a research-based whole school network with a mission of nurturing creativity in every learner through an arts-integrated school network. Arts integration is achieved through continuous practitioner-led professional development, statewide support networks for teachers and administrators, and school partnerships with parents, community cultural resources, media and universities. There are currently over 150 A+ Schools across the country in North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

The deadline to submit a Letter of Interest is December 1, 2017.

LEARN MORE.

Now Accepting Applications to Join the LAA+ Network

The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts' Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) program is accepting applications for the 2017/2018 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. There are currently 18 schools in the LAA+ network.

Louisiana A+ Schools values creativity as 

essential to the learning process. 

The deadline to submit a Letter of Interest is February 6, 2017.

LEARN MORE.

Louisiana A+ Schools Application Procedure:

Step 1: For more information, all interested schools can visit www.aplusla.org or email LAA+ Director Bethany France at Bethany@georgerodriguefoundation.org.

Step 2: Begin your investigation into what LAA+ Schools can do for your school by completing a LETTER OF INTEREST FORM. This indicates your school's commitment to attend an informational Pre-Appliction meeting. The Letter of Interest Form is due February 6, 2017.

Step 3: Send of team of teachers (5-7), along with your principal, to the Pre-Application meeting to find out more about what membership in the network means. These meetings are half-day events and will be scheduled by geographical interest.

Step 4: Share information, survey your staff, and secure a minimum of 85% faculty support. Pre-Application meetings are designed to prepare you for this step.

Step 5: Complete and submit the application by March 6, 2017. Any Louisiana school (public, private, charter, urban, suburban, rural, PreK-12) can now apply to be a member of the LAA+ Schools network.

Summer Institutes in Lake Charles and Lafayette

Teachers at Lake Charles Charter Academy participated in dancing, drawing, theater, and printmaking workshops to learn how to infuse the arts into all subjects.

Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) held two concurrent Summer Institutes last week in Lafayette and Lake Charles, providing professional development in arts integration to over 170 teachers.

For Lake Charles Charter Academy's faculty, this was their first LAA+ Summer Institute. During a full week of professional development, they were introduced to the A+ Essentials and attended sessions that gave them the skills and resources to use the arts in the classroom.

See KPLCTV's coverage of the 2016 Lake Charles Summer Institute.

Teachers from J. Wallace James Elementary and Ridge Elementary increased their knowledge of arts integration methods at the Lafayette LAA+ Summer Institute.

Over 100 teachers from J. Wallace James Elementary and Ridge Elementary participated in a three-day Summer Institute in Lafayette. Both schools joined the LAA+ network in 2015 and are successfully using the arts in every subject in every classroom.


LAA+ Director Bethany France notes, "These schools have demonstrated their commitment to innovative learning and the importance of implementing the arts into every aspect of the classroom." She continues, "We've studied the benefits, and we're excited to finally see them come to life through these schools."

Read The Daily Advertiser's article and watch KATC's coverage of the Lafayette Summer Institute.

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.