White House Committee selects BCPS in expansion of Turnaround Arts Program
Celebrities Cameron Diaz, John Lloyd Young and Carla Dirlikov to work with three Turnaround schools
Recently, the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities announced the expansion of its successful Turn-around Arts initiative to include three elementary schools in Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) – Bethune Elementary School, Lake Forest Elementary School and Walker Elementary School – in an effort to narrow the achievement gap and increase student engagement through the arts.
BCPS is one of five school districts in the nation, and the only school district in Florida, selected to partner with Turn-around Arts. The selected schools will receive arts education training and resources to address their individual needs. Resources include a summer leadership program, in school professional development, partnerships with community arts education and cultural organizations, art supplies, and musical instruments.
“We are excited to partner with Turnaround Arts to provide training and resources for this kind of instruction in our District’s highest priority schools,” said BCPS Superintendent Robert W. Runcie. “Classrooms that are rich in the arts help us to provide important opportunities for creative expression and discovery in developing well-rounded students.”
Additionally, the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities announced that “Turn-around Artists” Cameron Diaz, John Lloyd Young and Carla Dirlikov will adopt BCPS Turn-around Arts schools, and work directly with students and teachers to support their arts education. They join a number of other high-profile artists who will also adopt Turnaround Arts schools for the length of the program, working with students, schools and communities to highlight their success.
“All children deserve to have access to the arts, not only to discover their passion, but as a tool to engage them in the joy of learning,” said Cameron Diaz, actress and Turnaround Artist. “Turnaround Arts is an amazing organization, and I look forward to working to inspire the students at Bethune Elementary to discover and reach for their dreams.”
Attorney Andrew Weinstein, appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, was instrumental in expanding the Turnaround Arts program to South Florida. “It’s an honor and an opportunity to be part of the Turn-a-round Arts program. Traveling to schools in Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Boston has given me firsthand experience about this program and its incredible potential to impact the students of Broward County,” said Weinstein.
For more information about the Turnaround Arts program and profiles of selected schools visit: http://turnaroundarts.pcah.gov.
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