THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF DIANA FEDDERMAN KAREN WHETSELL
DIRECTOR ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION 3300 FOREST HILL BLVD., SUITE C‐223 WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33406‐5813 PH: 561‐434‐8255 FAX: 561‐434‐8091 WWW.PALMBEACHSCHOOLS.ORG May 14, 2015 Ms. Tracy Butler Director of Education Kravis Center for the Performing Arts 701 Okeechobee Boulevard West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 Dear Ms. Butler, On behalf of the School District of Palm Beach County, I would like to express the importance of our partnership with the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Since 2005, the School District of Palm Beach County and the Kravis Center have customized a symbiotic partnership, in which students in kindergarten through 12th grade have experienced education and outreach programs that foster creativity and learning. Under our partnership, we strive to promote teachers’ professional learning so that the arts are a part of every student’s education in Palm Beach County. The Kravis Center has been instrumental in providing professional development, programs and resources to students and teachers throughout each year of the partnership. The School District of Palm Beach County has been awarded two Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Grants through the U.S. Department of Education in which the Kravis Center has played and continues to play a critical role. The Arts in Education grant provides a vehicle for the Kravis Center and the School District of Palm Beach County to provide arts integration demonstration teaching while incorporating science, technology, engineering, reading, and math. As a result, it is our goal to increase the amount of arts engagement among students locally and nationally. Since 1994, the Kravis Center has played an instrumental part in organizing and hosting Spotlight on Young Musicians. This annual music advocacy event was created to promote excellent music programs in Palm Beach County, and provide a platform for students to display their talents. Since Spotlight on Young Musician’s inception, over 16,500 students have participated and performed in the Kravis Center’s Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. Concert Hall. As a member of the Kravis Center’s Education Advisory Committee, I am able to communicate to stake holders the importance of the Kravis Center’s S*T*A*R Series, Kravis – On – The Road, ArtScholars, ArtSmart, and ArtScholars pragrams. These programs allow students to connect the dots of their education, and make connections beyond anything we could ever imagine. I fully support the School District of Palm Beach County’s partnership with the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. If any additional information is needed, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at (561) 434‐8161 or via email at edrick.rhodes@palmbeachschools.org. Sincerely, Edrick D. Rhodes K‐12 Arts Administrator The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida A Top‐Rated District by the Florida Department of Education Since 2005 An Equal Education Opportunity Provider and Employer May 2015
Grant Panel:
I have had the privilege of serving as a member of the Kravis Center's Board of Directors for the
past ten years, as well as on various Standing Committees of the Board, including Nominating,
Governance, Strategic Planning and Employee Relations and Benefits. In these roles, I have been
able to understand firsthand the inner workings of this unparalleled cultural institution, its artistic
excellence and exemplary operation following best practices, and our management team's constant
striving to provide the community with the finest of national and international performers and
companies as well as exciting arts education opportunities for community members of all ages and
socioeconomic backgrounds.
In addition to my service as a Board and Committee member, for the past twenty years I have been
proud to serve as Co-Chair and to host the Kravis Center's Lunch and Learn Series. This series is
offered through ArtSmart, the umbrella program of continuing arts education classes, workshops
and lectures that take art lovers behind the curtain to enrich the performance experience. The
Center believes that enlightenment and inspiration provided by the arts and thought-provoking
entertainment can bring lifelong rewards; the ArtSmart program provides frequent opportunities
for such ongoing educational opportunities. This programming continues to challenge our adult
community, providing lectures, creative writing and dance workshops, and pre-performance
sessions to intrigue and involve our adult community members.
The Lunch and Learn Series is available to community members for a small fee, revenues of which
help fund the Kravis Center's student education programs, such as the S*T*A*R (Student & Teacher
Arts Resource) Series and Kravis on the Road. Both of these programs bring classroom curricula to
life for tens of thousands of local students each year. The S*T*A*R Series brings students to the
theatre to experience live performances and Kravis on the Road takes the performances to them.
Funding from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs will help the Kravis Center to bring arts
education programs to a diverse audience of all ages in the South Florida community. I strongly
support the Kravis Center's request for grant funds and urge your positive consideration of this
application to provide vital arts and education programming. Many thanks.
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