A Fouke High School teacher recently participated in a program on the use of historic art and objects to assist in creating lesson plans centered around civic engagement.
Kira Suttee, who teaches visual arts, was one of 26 educators across the state to participate in the third year of the Arkansas Declaration of Learning Program.
"The ADOL civic engagement project helped students think beyond the boundaries of their school and daily lives," Suttee stated in a news release. "Having students excited and willing to talk about their artwork made the most impact."
Arkansas Education Commissioner Johnny Key said the state is the first in the country to implement the program, and that through partnerships with other organizations, student learning has been enhanced by providing access to historically rich objects.
The program was created in 2013 as part of an interagency educational initiative that began when representatives from 13 national organizations signed the Declaration of Learning. Partners include the Arkansas Department of Education, the Clinton Foundation, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Central Arkansas Library System's Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum and the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Reception Rooms.
Applications for the next year are scheduled to open in January.
For information, call Cassandra Barnett, ADE program advisor for school libraries, at 501-682-6576.