Loren Bucek retired from the City of Columbus as a dance teacher, K-5 teacher, and K-5 literacy specialist. He is also the project director of Global Water Dances Columbus.
Duxberry Park Arts IMPACT (Interdisciplinary Model Program in the Arts for Children and Teachers) Elementary School celebrated its 40th Arts Festival in May.
It has been many years since I visited the school that shaped my entire professional educational career. As I entered the house, a flood of strange memories rushed through me.
I was a co-founder of the school and its first K-5 dance teacher. As I walked through the halls filled with art created by seven-plus generations of K-5 students, I felt peace, love and joy. I was at home.
Duxberry Park Arts IMPACT Elementary School is a special place and a gem in Columbus City Schools. It is also a school that has been neglected for many years and is currently under construction.
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One important change for the 2022-23 school year is that its 40-plus-year, full-time teaching staff are now assigned to two schools – Duxberry Park (three days) and Columbus Gifted Academy (two days).
I am afraid that this decision – to reduce the physical presence of the artists and the time to learn at Duxberry Park – is disturbing and will lead to the gradual decline of the Arts IMPACT program.
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While Duxberry Park continues to enrich the lives of its students through culturally relevant education and quality instruction development, I’m worried that too many changes will happen without the full-time involvement of its design team.
They are the backbone of the program.
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Obviously, splitting the teaching time between the two schools will greatly affect the expertise of the Ohio Department of Education. Less time in school means less dedicated arts/programs to inform student learning.
Additionally, the artists will not have time to meet with teachers in grades K-5 (within each school) to intentionally plan, teach and learn with integrated learning and lessons to their students. To me, this feels like a big step in breaking the program.
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Duxberry Principal Margaret Berrios Brown needs the support of our community to restore peace and obtain special benefits for the continuation of this program. integrated and supervised training.
Now is the time to reinvest and build on the Arts IMPACT educational philosophy while introducing new learning areas to support the world community that Columbus now calls home.
It is my sincere hope that one day soon we can come together and help Berrios Brown and his talented staff find more ways to spread the word. in the Columbus community the Duxberry Park Arts IMPACT Elementary School.
Duxberry Park Arts IMPACT Elementary School is a wonderful place to learn. It is for everyone who believes in the power of art to imagine possible worlds, deepen understanding, and change lives.
. Duxberry Park Arts IMPACT Elementary School is a place people want to be.
Loren Bucek retired from the City of Columbus as a dance teacher, K-5 teacher, and K-5 literacy specialist. He is also the project director of Global Water Dances Columbus.
