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Art Education Partnership with Chandler Middle School
Chandler Middle School in Richmond was identified in the fall of 2006 as a “failing” public school under the No Child Left Behind Act, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch published an article highlighting the school and the issues facing students and faculty related to this new designation. 
After reading the article, Pamela Taylor, chair of the Department of Art Education, contacted the school about ways that the department could support students and faculty in preparation for testing, as well as provide a training ground for future art teachers.
During the first year of the partnership, art was taught in English classes and artistic practices incorporated English skills. The second year, Sara Wilson-McKay’s classes included math in their art teaching.
The partnership with Chandler continues today with interdisciplinary art classes taught by VCU art education students. In 2008, instructor Jan Johnston is coordinating the project, while instructor Sarah Branigan and interior design professor Christiana Lafazani were awarded a grant to create an exhibition space in the school’s cafeteria. Chandler students, teachers and administrators, as well as VCU students and faculty, all report that the partnership has been a positive experience for the students’ standardized test knowledge, self-esteem and hope for the future.
Get involved
To support this program or get involved as a volunteer, contact Sara Wilson-McKay at swilsonmckay@vcu.edu.