Cypress Elementary School (Osceola County), Kissimmee, Florida recently was one of five schools named by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a Creative Ticket National School of Distinction! The award recognizes schools that have done an outstanding job of making the arts an essential part of the education of their students. Way to go, Cypress!

The entire faculty at Cypress Elementary shares in the belief that education is only complete when the core curriculum includes the “essentials”: creative movement, dance, drama, music and art. Cypress boasts a rich ethic diversity and more than 25% of the students are serviced in exceptional education classes; every student receives specialized instruction by a certified arts teacher in all five arts areas. is working with the outstanding Cypress faculty and their leader/principal Stacy Burdett to enhance classroom integration of the arts across the curriculum.

Thirty-three students recently represented Cypress in performance on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Other photos show consultants providing classroom demonstrations of arts integration strategies at Cypress.

McNair Middle Magnet School of the Arts ( Brevard County, Rockledge, Florida) was recently honored by the Magnet Schools of America Association with its Magnet School of Distinction Award. This national award is based on the school demonstrating their commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation/diversity efforts, and the consistent delivery of quality services to all school stakeholders. has worked with McNair to develop its innovative arts integration program during the past three years. Way to go, McNair!

Photo shows the McNair team accepting their award at the Magnet Schools of America Conference in Las Vegas in May.

The McNair team accepting their award at the Magnet Schools of America Conference in Las Vegas in May 2007.

Click here to download article (.pdf)

The above document requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Click here to download it for free now.