Collaborating to Expand Inspirational Cultural Experiences
Online, September 23, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Between interactive theatre games and dramatic readings presented by Florida Studio Theatre, more than 80 Sarasota County curriculum specialists and education leaders from local arts, science and history organizations met Wednesday to exchange ideas at a symposium hosted by The Patterson Foundation and the Sarasota County School District.
During the gathering, which is the first of this size and scope, participants discussed Florida's Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS) and how cultural organizations and teachers can work together to better align student experiences with the curriculum.
"We wanted to create the space for local cultural organizations and curriculum specialists to collaborate freely," said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. "We hope to take connections to new heights and show the country that Sarasota's students are exemplary because of the hands-on experiences they have available."
The symposium included small workshops, remarks from Sarasota County District Superintendent Lori White, technology platform demonstration and panel discussions.
"Through our baseline research, we learned that Sarasota County public school students participate in more than 200,000 cultural experiences annually," said Laurey Stryker, Cultural Connections with Students Initiative Manager. "This symposium was a great way to build upon connections that already exist and start forging new paths using technology."
The symposium follows TPF's survey of more than 2,700 teachers and 50 cultural organizations in Sarasota County. The purpose of the study was to identify cultural connections that currently exist between the school system and the arts organizations, and to uncover teachers' perceptions and classroom practices.
Preliminary analysis of the survey revealed tremendous teacher engagement and passion, but varied collaboration between the school system and the cultural organizations beyond field trips. The
foundation refers to this collaboration as 'connective tissue', and hopes to increase it through this initiative.
"The symposium was a wonderful opportunity for the school district and our community organizations to find new and innovative ways to partner together for the educational benefit of our students," said Lori White, superintendent of Sarasota County Schools. "Technology tools provide new ways for us to bring the expertise and experiences of cultural community organizations into the classroom to further enhance the achievement of our students."
The foundation and school district are planning a series of similar symposiums throughout the year, Stryker said.
"We found a tremendous need and hunger for conversation and collaboration between schools and the organizations," she said.
About The Patterson Foundation
The Patterson Foundation, based in Sarasota, Fla., seeks to motivate others to think and act beyond today's reality and strives to generate philanthropic impact by finding innovative ways to join together with individuals and entities. The Foundation's ultimate work can be divided into two parts. The first is to transform communities by taking novel approaches to the challenges they face. The second is to provide relief to individuals during times of crisis. For more information, please visit www.ThePattersonFoundation.org.
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