U R donation to boost Binford’s new programs

In August, Binford will become the first middle school in Virginia to adopt this method of instruction, which uses the arts in all forms to teach all subjects in the PreK-12 curriculum.

June 4, 2015; 10:32 AM • by Richard Hayes

From the Press Release:

Partners in the Arts (PIA), a program of the University of Richmond School of Professional & Continuing Studies, has awarded a PIA Engaging Creative Thinkers Award to Richmond’s Binford Middle School that will support teacher training in arts integration in the coming year.

In August, Binford will become the first middle school in Virginia to adopt this method of instruction, which uses the arts in all forms to teach all subjects in the PreK-12 curriculum.

The PIA Award provides free tuition for four Binford teachers to attend PIA’s annual Joan Oates Institute for Arts Integration in June, professional development in arts integration for all of the school’s teachers, and $5,000 to pay for visiting artists and materials to implement arts integration projects developed by teachers.

In addition to the teachers whose tuition will be covered by the PIA Award, the majority of Binford teachers will attend this year’s institute, taking place June 22-26 at the University of Richmond Modlin Center for the Arts. Christie-Jo Adams, Richmond’s fine arts instructional specialist, said, “The professional development provided to Binford Middle School teachers by the PIA summer institute will allow for enhanced instruction in every content area through the arts.”