Print
E-mail
Rate
Commentary: Marco high school effort learning from the best
By Jane Watt / Special to the Sun Times
What do words like inspiring, challenging, rigorous, creative, productive, sensitive, culturally diverse, and equitable have in common? They are all words found in the Vision and Mission statements of four national exemplary public schools recently visited by members of the Marco Island High School committee. Each small learning community implements a research-based, student-centered approach to learning, with impressive results.
Douglas Anderson School for the Arts, Jacksonville, Florida
The award winning Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (DA) in Jacksonville, Florida has brought faculty and students together with a common bond—a love of the arts, for nearly a quarter of a century. DA turns dreams into reality in state-of-the-arts studios; providing pre-professional opportunities in visual arts, dance, theater, creative writing, and media arts; as well as a rigorous academic curriculum which places DA among the top schools in the nation. DA graduates attend an impressive list of colleges nationwide. DA Principal Jackie Cornelius believes creative students learn differently, and require special education. "We work to fan and spark our students' passion, risk-taking and natural curiosity, and applaud their success in creating their own unique tapestries of learning."
According to Cornelius, teaching is not a job, but a calling. Excellence at DA begins with her exemplary commitment and leadership. In 2009 Cornelius was named Arts Administrator of the Year by the Florida Department of Education. Over the past twenty years, Cornelius has worked tirelessly to make DA one of Florida's top 50 High Performing High schools, and an A+ Florida school for the last eight years with ACT and SAT scores 50+ points above national averages.
In 2008 alone, DA recognition includes: a National GRAMMY Gold Signature School Award, Best Academic High School by Newsweek, US News & World Report, and the College Board, 13 youngARTS Scholars, 2 Florida's First Lady Arts Recognition Scholars, National Service Learning School by the Department of Education, National Leadership School by the International Center for Leadership Education, 3 National Merit Scholars, the NAACP National ACT-SO Award in the Arts, 2 US Congressional District Art Awards, Third Place in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition at Lincoln Center, 2 National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards in Writing, and recognition as a Top Exemplary Arts High School by the Arts School Network.
The Fine Arts Center, Greenville, South Carolina
The accomplishments of students at the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, South Carolina also support the role of the arts in fostering high student achievement. As Director Dr. Roy Fluhrer conducted a tour of the Fine Arts Center's museum-quality facilities, students vibrated with pride and excitement, "Five of us got in to Eastman!" and "I got the scholarship!" Dr. Fluhrer echoed Cornelius' approach to excellence by encouraging students to take risks. "A man who makes no mistakes makes nothing," explained Fluhrer. In a recent Fine Arts Center Newsletter, Fluhrer quotes author Stephen Nacchmanovitch's book, Free Play: Improvisation in Art and Life, saying, "Education must teach, reach and vibrate the whole person rather than merely transfer(ing) knowledge…it takes a teacher who has a passion for people building, whether in the sciences or the arts."
The spirit of innovation at the Fine Arts Center is clearly paying rich dividends in student outcomes. Students attend nationally prestigious schools like the Eastman School of Music, the New School, Julliard, and the University of Chicago in music, dance, theater, visual arts, and filmmaking as well as academic subjects ranging from medicine to law. The best schools in the nation seek Fine Arts graduates for their discipline, early exposure to professional-level training, and state-of-the-art instruction from skilled practitioners.
After occupying an old elementary school for twenty years, Fluhrer's vision for the Fine Arts Center facility was realized two years ago. He encouraged teachers to work with the architects to create learning laboratories, which would meet the unique needs of their disciplines. Fluhrer believes the professional atmosphere raises the bar for students, agreeing with Sir Laurence Olivier, "A building is an outward and visible sign of an inward and probable culture." More than eight hundred students audition each year for four hundred openings in the intensive half-day pullout program in this culture of excellence.
Greenville Technical Charter High School, Greenville, South Carolina
One of the schools where Fine Arts Center students return for their academic classes is the Greenville Technical Charter High School, located on the campus of the Greenville Technical College. Seventy percent of students dual-enroll in college classes, graduating from high school with up to an Associates Degree, tuition free. According to Principal, Fred Crawford, "There are many new and innovative ideas that are used to help students adjust to high school, plan for their futures, and allow for student and faculty growth." Greenville Tech has received ‘Excellent’ ratings from the state of South Carolina, including a 98.9% graduation rate with 97.2% proficiency on South Carolina’s High School Assessment Program (HSAP). As a Coalition of Essential Schools member, Greenville Tech offers Mastery Learning, Common Planning, Senior Projects, Critical Friends Groups, and Family Advisories.
During the tour, a faculty advisor shared notes from a Senior Project Journal, where they wrote; "I have a certain pride about my project. To be honest, I am very proud of myself, and whether or not my grade reflects it; I have succeeded in my mind. It doesn’t matter any more what others think about how I act or uphold myself. I am my own person, and I am going to start living my life that way from now on. Senior project has changed my life, and I think it was definitely for the better!"
Concord Montessori & Community School, Mancelona, Michigan
Authentic learning was also observed at the Concord Montessori and Community School in Mancelona, Michigan where parents are literally a regular part of the landscape. Director, Steve Overton points with pride, to the organic community garden growing in the school yard as a symbol of his efforts to extend learning and service to his community. Concord embraces the research-based methods of Dr. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence and Dr. Maria Montessori’s hands-on methodology. Teachers differentiate to meet each student’s needs in an arts-integrated curriculum. Concord utilizes dance, drama, visual arts, creative writing, and music to bring learning to life. A thematic approach ties lessons together across disciplines, while making the content relevant and real to students. Whether writing, producing, or acting in a historical play, or incorporating music and math, the academic curriculum and the arts curriculum, developed by Concord Academy founder Kim Overton, are uniquely intertwined. Concord Academy in Petoskey, Michigan was named a 2008 US News and World Reports Bronze School for their academic accomplishments.
According to Steve Overton, the success in Charter Schools is leader-intensive because they are people-oriented as opposed to systems-oriented. His success started small, with teachers literally meeting in parks when the school began in 1997. "I remember interviewing one of our first teachers," explained Overton, "When she told me she was a teacher, and she could teach with a newspaper on a tree stump, I told her, 'You’re hired!'" The original Concord Academy in Petoskey has grown to include charter schools in Petoskey, Boyne City, and Mancelona, Michigan. Director, Steve Overton leads with a down-to-earth approach in his small learning community in Mancelona, "Leadership is about logic and love."
The Green School, Bali, Indonesia
The Marco Island parent committee is also visiting schools locally, including The Gateway Charter High School in Fort Myers, Florida and Lely High School in Naples, Florida to expand their understanding of the community they seek to serve. They will continue to explore exemplary schools nationally and internationally, including a remote study of The Green School in Bali, Indonesia; and the Artful Thinking Program, a Harvard Project Zero program, at the Traverse City Public Schools in Traverse City, Michigan.
Committee members are researching national, state, and local grant funding for small, exemplary, ‘Green’ learning communities. By leveraging state, federal, and private monies, the goal of the committee is to create a small learning community without additional expense to the local community.
Jane Watt is in charge of public relations for the Marco High School Initiative.
Douglas Anderson School for the Arts, Jacksonville, Florida
The award winning Douglas Anderson School of the Arts (DA) in Jacksonville, Florida has brought faculty and students together with a common bond—a love of the arts, for nearly a quarter of a century. DA turns dreams into reality in state-of-the-arts studios; providing pre-professional opportunities in visual arts, dance, theater, creative writing, and media arts; as well as a rigorous academic curriculum which places DA among the top schools in the nation. DA graduates attend an impressive list of colleges nationwide. DA Principal Jackie Cornelius believes creative students learn differently, and require special education. "We work to fan and spark our students' passion, risk-taking and natural curiosity, and applaud their success in creating their own unique tapestries of learning."
According to Cornelius, teaching is not a job, but a calling. Excellence at DA begins with her exemplary commitment and leadership. In 2009 Cornelius was named Arts Administrator of the Year by the Florida Department of Education. Over the past twenty years, Cornelius has worked tirelessly to make DA one of Florida's top 50 High Performing High schools, and an A+ Florida school for the last eight years with ACT and SAT scores 50+ points above national averages.
Advertisement
In 2008 alone, DA recognition includes: a National GRAMMY Gold Signature School Award, Best Academic High School by Newsweek, US News & World Report, and the College Board, 13 youngARTS Scholars, 2 Florida's First Lady Arts Recognition Scholars, National Service Learning School by the Department of Education, National Leadership School by the International Center for Leadership Education, 3 National Merit Scholars, the NAACP National ACT-SO Award in the Arts, 2 US Congressional District Art Awards, Third Place in the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition at Lincoln Center, 2 National Council of Teachers of English Achievement Awards in Writing, and recognition as a Top Exemplary Arts High School by the Arts School Network.
The Fine Arts Center, Greenville, South Carolina
The accomplishments of students at the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, South Carolina also support the role of the arts in fostering high student achievement. As Director Dr. Roy Fluhrer conducted a tour of the Fine Arts Center's museum-quality facilities, students vibrated with pride and excitement, "Five of us got in to Eastman!" and "I got the scholarship!" Dr. Fluhrer echoed Cornelius' approach to excellence by encouraging students to take risks. "A man who makes no mistakes makes nothing," explained Fluhrer. In a recent Fine Arts Center Newsletter, Fluhrer quotes author Stephen Nacchmanovitch's book, Free Play: Improvisation in Art and Life, saying, "Education must teach, reach and vibrate the whole person rather than merely transfer(ing) knowledge…it takes a teacher who has a passion for people building, whether in the sciences or the arts."
The spirit of innovation at the Fine Arts Center is clearly paying rich dividends in student outcomes. Students attend nationally prestigious schools like the Eastman School of Music, the New School, Julliard, and the University of Chicago in music, dance, theater, visual arts, and filmmaking as well as academic subjects ranging from medicine to law. The best schools in the nation seek Fine Arts graduates for their discipline, early exposure to professional-level training, and state-of-the-art instruction from skilled practitioners.
After occupying an old elementary school for twenty years, Fluhrer's vision for the Fine Arts Center facility was realized two years ago. He encouraged teachers to work with the architects to create learning laboratories, which would meet the unique needs of their disciplines. Fluhrer believes the professional atmosphere raises the bar for students, agreeing with Sir Laurence Olivier, "A building is an outward and visible sign of an inward and probable culture." More than eight hundred students audition each year for four hundred openings in the intensive half-day pullout program in this culture of excellence.
Greenville Technical Charter High School, Greenville, South Carolina
One of the schools where Fine Arts Center students return for their academic classes is the Greenville Technical Charter High School, located on the campus of the Greenville Technical College. Seventy percent of students dual-enroll in college classes, graduating from high school with up to an Associates Degree, tuition free. According to Principal, Fred Crawford, "There are many new and innovative ideas that are used to help students adjust to high school, plan for their futures, and allow for student and faculty growth." Greenville Tech has received ‘Excellent’ ratings from the state of South Carolina, including a 98.9% graduation rate with 97.2% proficiency on South Carolina’s High School Assessment Program (HSAP). As a Coalition of Essential Schools member, Greenville Tech offers Mastery Learning, Common Planning, Senior Projects, Critical Friends Groups, and Family Advisories.
During the tour, a faculty advisor shared notes from a Senior Project Journal, where they wrote; "I have a certain pride about my project. To be honest, I am very proud of myself, and whether or not my grade reflects it; I have succeeded in my mind. It doesn’t matter any more what others think about how I act or uphold myself. I am my own person, and I am going to start living my life that way from now on. Senior project has changed my life, and I think it was definitely for the better!"
Concord Montessori & Community School, Mancelona, Michigan
Authentic learning was also observed at the Concord Montessori and Community School in Mancelona, Michigan where parents are literally a regular part of the landscape. Director, Steve Overton points with pride, to the organic community garden growing in the school yard as a symbol of his efforts to extend learning and service to his community. Concord embraces the research-based methods of Dr. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence and Dr. Maria Montessori’s hands-on methodology. Teachers differentiate to meet each student’s needs in an arts-integrated curriculum. Concord utilizes dance, drama, visual arts, creative writing, and music to bring learning to life. A thematic approach ties lessons together across disciplines, while making the content relevant and real to students. Whether writing, producing, or acting in a historical play, or incorporating music and math, the academic curriculum and the arts curriculum, developed by Concord Academy founder Kim Overton, are uniquely intertwined. Concord Academy in Petoskey, Michigan was named a 2008 US News and World Reports Bronze School for their academic accomplishments.
According to Steve Overton, the success in Charter Schools is leader-intensive because they are people-oriented as opposed to systems-oriented. His success started small, with teachers literally meeting in parks when the school began in 1997. "I remember interviewing one of our first teachers," explained Overton, "When she told me she was a teacher, and she could teach with a newspaper on a tree stump, I told her, 'You’re hired!'" The original Concord Academy in Petoskey has grown to include charter schools in Petoskey, Boyne City, and Mancelona, Michigan. Director, Steve Overton leads with a down-to-earth approach in his small learning community in Mancelona, "Leadership is about logic and love."
The Green School, Bali, Indonesia
The Marco Island parent committee is also visiting schools locally, including The Gateway Charter High School in Fort Myers, Florida and Lely High School in Naples, Florida to expand their understanding of the community they seek to serve. They will continue to explore exemplary schools nationally and internationally, including a remote study of The Green School in Bali, Indonesia; and the Artful Thinking Program, a Harvard Project Zero program, at the Traverse City Public Schools in Traverse City, Michigan.
Committee members are researching national, state, and local grant funding for small, exemplary, ‘Green’ learning communities. By leveraging state, federal, and private monies, the goal of the committee is to create a small learning community without additional expense to the local community.
Jane Watt is in charge of public relations for the Marco High School Initiative.
 |
|
 |
|
| Attorney general fights fraud, online abuse | Cistern conservations conserve water, say Marco officials |
Article RatingReader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of marcoislandflorida.com.
Submit a Comment |
CaptainKoKo wrote on Apr 25, 2009 5:45 PM: