Jocelyn Hanson, arts education director with the city of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, has received the 2005 Star of Excellence award for outstanding public official from the Arizona School-Age Coalition (AzSAC).
Hanson was recognized for her work with the Phoenix Arts Collaborative, which pairs nine leading Valley arts organizations with nine underperforming schools in Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1 to support academic achievement through the arts.
The Phoenix Arts Collaborative received a five-year, 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the Arizona Department of Education to place teaching artists into after-school settings. The instructors provide artistic activities in visual arts, music, theatre, dance, media arts and other culturally-relevant programs for children in grades third through sixth. The result has been an increase in test scores and a rise in grade levels for math, reading and language arts.
AzSAC was established to promote and develop quality care for children and youth during their out-of-school time.
For more information about the Phoenix Arts Collaborative, call 602-495-0189.
