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.
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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.
A+ school White Oak Elementary in Carteret County transforms classrooms using arts-integrated curriculum woven throughout daily lessons. In the article below, third-grade teacher Tiffany Morris shares a recent learning experience that helped students discover and celebrate their unique qualities. Third-grade teachers collaborated to design a meaningful, arts-integrated project that incorporated many of the A+ Essentials—an example of A+ practice in action throughout an entire school community. Well done, White Oak Elementary!****
A revolutionary way of approaching education started in North Carolina nearly 30 years ago, and it has been transforming the lives of students and teachers ever since. A+ Schools of North Carolina is a whole-school transformation model that views the arts as fundamental to teaching and learning. A+ Schools serves more than 60 PreK–12 schools in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the state. In addition, A+ Schools supports transformation at eight pilot schools across the U.S.
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! Gideon finds joy in everything he does, and he shares that joy with educators, students, colleagues, and friends every day.