A+ News

A+ Fellows are leaders in the arts and education, and each year they facilitate high-quality professional development for A+ schools and partner organizations. Meet Gideon Young, one of our most enthusiastic A+ Fellows!

Photo: Teachers from Odyssey School at the 2024 A+ Summer Institute in Asheville. Photo credit: North Carolina Arts Council.

Welcome to "Capturing Creativity," a visual celebration of the creative and engaging work happening in A+ Schools. This collection of photographs and captions offers a glimpse into the vibrant classrooms, dynamic projects, and dedicated individuals who are practicing A+ philosophy every day.

To celebrate Arts in Our Schools Month, we’re shining a spotlight on A+ Schools of North Carolina. Established in 1995 by the Kenan Institute for the Arts, A+ Schools is the longest-running arts-based whole-school transformation model in the nation.

School’s in for summer!

When students begin their summer vacation, teachers at many A+ schools return to learning at an A+ Schools of North Carolina summer conference.

Marcus Edge, the newest principal at Clarkton School of Discovery, has a special connection to his A+ middle school in Bladen County—he was a Clarkton student from 1997 to 2000!

A+ Schools of North Carolina provides high-quality professional development to A+ educators through skilled facilitators known as A+ Fellows. Every other year, a new cohort of Apprentice Fellows is selected following a comprehensive application and training process.

Two schools in the A+ network have recently received national honors. We congratulate each school’s staff and students on their exemplary work in building a creative and engaging learning environment that helps students enjoy school while achieving success.