Topics Related to A+ Schools

Header image: 2025 Louisiana A+ Schools Fall Fellows’ Retreat, photo courtesy of Louisiana A+ Schools

Header image: Michelle Burrows receives the Secretary's Award of Excellence. From left: N.C. DNCR Chief Deputy Secretary Maggie Thompson, N.C. Arts Council Executive Director Jeff Bell, Michelle Burrows, and Secretary Pamela Cashwell. Photo courtesy of DNCR Michelle Burrows recently concluded her tenure as senior program director for arts learning at the North Carolina Arts Council. We can’t let this milestone pass without looking back at the profound impact she’s had on the agency’s education programs for two decades. 

Header image: students from Mary McArthur Elementary. Image courtesy of Mary McArthur ElementaryIn 1995, A+ Schools of North Carolina launched whole-school arts integration by partnering with 25 pioneering schools. Today, we’re revisiting some of those trailblazers who, 30 years later, continue to innovate with A+ Schools.

Thirty years ago, visionary leaders launched A+ Schools of North Carolina after recognizing the powerful role the arts were playing in classrooms. Drawing from their diverse life experiences, these leaders came together to shape and grow a model of arts-integrated education—one that would evolve into the whole-school transformation approach that A+ Schools represents today. 

Michelle Burrows has played a pivotal role in A+ Schools of North Carolina since its inception, providing steadfast leadership as its director for more than 15 years. She launched her teaching career in Oakland, California, where she embraced interdisciplinary instruction as part of her educational foundation. After relocating to Raleigh in late 1994, she applied for a fourth-grade teaching position at Charles R. Bugg Elementary.

Header image: Photo by Sara Ridings, courtesy of A+ Schools of North Carolina / North Carolina Arts Council. As A+ Schools celebrates its thirtieth anniversary, we’re highlighting the voices of those who experience its impact every day. Teachers, administrators, and students shared what they love about A+ and how this transformative model has enriched their teaching and learning environments.

Header image: Students working together on a class project at Royal Oaks School of the Arts in Kannapolis, N.C. Royal Oaks is part of the A+ Schools of North Carolina network. Photo by Tibor Nemeth.We know that exposure to the arts positively impacts a child’s school experience, boosting retention, empathy, and overall satisfaction. Yet, convincing parents, administrators, and the public of the arts' importance to student performance can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. When it’s time to educate others about the value of the arts, here are five fast facts to share:

Header image: Teachers at the 2025 A+ Schools of North Carolina summer conference at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. Photo by Peter Shanahan

In 1995, the Kenan Institute for the Arts, in Winston-Salem, launched a program to integrate the arts in every aspect of instruction in 25 urban, suburban, and rural pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade schools. Immediately, the results were profoundly positive. Over the following three decades, A+ Schools of North Carolina has revolutionized education through the arts, helping educators create dynamic, engaging learning environments.  

Participating in ongoing, high-quality professional development is one of the three indicators of a highly engaged A+ school (along with principal leadership and teacher engagement), and it is the most important service that A+ Schools of N.C. offers. During the 2024-2025 school year, we have provided more than 25 professional development sessions to schools across the A+ network.