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What an honor to be selected for this unique partnership. We believe arts education is a crucial part of our students’ experience here in Buncombe County Schools. This partnership will give us access to world-class art experts which will enhance the learning experience for our teachers and students.
Since 2018, LEAF Global Arts as a team with Buncombe County Schools (BCS) are John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts – Partners in Education Program. This national recognition is only the 3rd cohort in NC! The SHARED purpose of LEAF and BCS as Kennedy Center – Partners in Education is to support teaching and learning by modeling the value of the arts integration and global awareness in all areas of education for lifelong, continued, and relevant learning.
Buncombe County Schools (BCS) and LEAF Schools & Streets were among seven teams nationwide selected to join the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Partners in Education. This program was designed to assist arts organizations throughout the nation to develop or expand education partnerships with their local school systems. Numerous studies point to the value of arts education in improving student outcomes, yet teachers may not have the resources, access, or training to implement arts integration across the curriculum. Partnering with teachers is fundamental to arts-based learning. Partners in Education not only assist with providing these tools but the learning experiences through the program foster and develop stronger collaborative relationships with the community.
A team consisting of representatives from BCS and LEAF Schools & Streets participated in the Partners in Education Institute at the Kennedy Center. The team joined the nearly 100 teams from 39 states and the District of Columbia already participating in the Partners in Education program, now in its 27th year.
Partners in Education 2018-19 Cohort:
Amanda Arrowood, Jolie Atkins, Andrea Bassett, Leslie Cox, Bill Feste, Kerri Hampton, Amanda Hoffman, Rebecca Howerton, Melody McGarrahan , Rachel McKinley, Sara Moore, Lila Morel, Beth Myers, Michael Presson, Ashley Styles, Ellen Wharton, Katharine Zammara
In early 2020, several LEAF Resident Teaching Artists along with a select group of Buncombe County School teachers came together for a three-hour Global Folktales with Shadow Puppets workshop led by Kennedy Center Teaching Artist Hobey Ford. Ford is an internationally renowned puppeteer and constructs his own puppets and sets, using them to perform folk tales and highlight global traditions. We enjoyed collaborating and learning together, to work toward more arts integration in our local schools through our Kennedy Center Partners in Education commitment.
Seven Buncombe County Schools teachers attended the Kennedy Center Arts Integration Conference in Arlington, VA as a part of our Kennedy Center Partners in Education program.
Seventeen Buncombe County Schools teachers completed Phase I of our Kennedy Center Partners in Education program with Buncombe County Schools and were honored on stage at LEAF Downtown.
LEAF Schools & Streets along with Buncombe Co. Schools Awarded National Distinction by John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts!