DeSoto County Residency Program

Artist Residency Program (Arts Integration) – specifically for Rural Economically Disadvantaged Initiative (REDI) county and/or communities.

FLORIDA ALLIANCE FOR ARTS EDUCATION: NEA/DCA Teaching Artist Residency DeSoto County

The Florida Alliance for Arts Education (FAAE) through a grant from National Endowment for the Arts via the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs to implement an artist residency program that will support the Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading in DeSoto County. This community has a total of 15 early learning providers who serve approximately 1200 children, caregivers, and families. They include the traditional preschool setting as well as home-based, migrant, and faith-based. Providers and their educators are working with Master Teaching Artists and receive professional development.

FAAE has assembled an incredibly strong, regional team to implement this project.  The School District of DeSoto County has provided accreditation of the professional development as CEUs and provided the Family Service Center in Arcadia for the class meetings.  The Early Learning Coalition of Florida’s Heartland, and the Suncoast Campaign for Grade Level Reading has assisted in recruiting the preK instructors. These residencies employ Master Teaching Artists Mary Kelly and Laura Courter from the Association of Florida Teaching Artists to provide the professional development for 15 early learning centers as well as VPK and Headstart.

 

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