Dozens of professional artists constantly walk around Douglas Anderson School for the Arts, but the halls will be busier this fall.
The Florida Alliance for Arts Education has named Douglas Anderson one of eight Arts Achieve Model schools. It?s the first time any Duval County school has received the award.
The alliance believes the school?s fundraising efforts, extra attention toward struggling students and visiting professionals distinguish it from many other arts schools in Florida. The award means that for the next three years Douglas Anderson will host any organization or group of educators wanting to tour the school to glean ideas for other arts programs.
Douglas Anderson Principal Jackie Cornelius said she will enjoy giving tours to the increased number of guests the school expects.
The alliance, a nonprofit based in Orlando, has been awarding ?model? distinctions to schools for 10 years.
The alliance staff visited Douglas Anderson this spring. They talked to parents and students and viewed a few classes. After the visit, the reviewers reported they like Douglas Anderson because the school raises thousands of private dollars, the teachers instruct like university professors and outside working professionals continually hold workshops at the school.
Cornelius said the school has dozens of professional artists every year, at least 14 in the dance department alone. The principal also said, between the dance, music, theater and film departments, parent support groups raise at least $270,000 a year.
?These parents are very busy, and they?re real creative in raising funds,? Cornelius said.
Aside from those funds, the school also has an endowment worth $2.8 million housed at The Community Foundation.
?I?d love to see it at $5 million one day,? Cornelius said.
Jennifer Coolidge, one of the reviewers, said she visited other schools and Douglas Anderson stuck out because the teachers are practicing artists. Coolidge said the school is also unique because arts teachers weave in lessons from traditional high school subjects like English, math and science.
The reviewers? report gives Douglas Anderson kudos for finding food and shelter for homeless students. The school also pays some ACT or SAT costs for struggling students, the report says.
Cornelius said ?we don?t go out and advertise? helping homeless students, but the school does so because teachers have faith in those students? raw ability.
?You know they can make it if someone just believes in them,? she said.
The other model arts schools this year include Hillsborough?s Muller Elementary School, Palm Beach County?s Bak Middle School, Gocio Elementary in Sarasota and Davenport School for the Arts in Polk County.
khristopher.brooks@jacksonville.com,?(904) 359-4104
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