Elolf STEAM Academy, Franz Leadership Academy and the Fine Arts Academy at Olympia Elementary were all developed in response to feedback from staff and the surrounding community.
Unlike other innovation campuses, these campuses were not funded through outside grants. Instead, they continue to grow using local campus budgets and strategic planning that prioritizes autonomy and innovation.
Fine Arts Academy at Olympia Elementary
Principal Shannon George saw an opportunity to meet community demand for more arts programming at Olympia Elementary. With support from families and staff, he transformed the campus into a Fine Arts Academy that now provides students with up to three hours a week of dedicated art and music instruction.
“We also have an opportunity at the end of the year to do a music showcase,” George said. “Every grade level has an opportunity to do some type of presentation during the day so they can show off their art.”
This restructuring has benefitted teachers and staff as well.
“Towards the end of the week, we can provide more music and art for all of our kids at the same time and I get more time to sit down with teachers and do instructional talks,” George said. “They get extended planning on top of the students getting that opportunity for music and art.”
Franz Leadership Academy
At Franz Leadership Academy, students are learning what it means to be leaders in the classroom and in life. The campus follows the Leader in Me framework, based on the 8 Habits of Highly Effective People from Stephen Covey's book, and provides students with opportunities to take ownership of their goals, serve their campus and reflect on their growth.
“They apply for jobs on campus, lead morning announcements, mentor younger students and run their own parent conferences,” Principal Kari Savage-Egg said.
Franz students lead their own student-parent conferences rather than having a traditional parent-teacher conference to review their academic process throughout the year. These student-led conferences give students the opportunities to learn about their own strengths in the classroom and where they need to improve.
Elolf STEAM Academy
Students at Elolf explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math through a mix of project-based learning and dedicated STEAM classes. Students also complete two to four hands-on design challenges in their homerooms each year.
“We want to become a destination campus, where people want to come here because of all the exciting things that they can get from this experience,” Principal Scott Wilson said.
Staff at Elolf STEAM Academy focus on teaching real-life problem solving skills to students starting in Kindergarten. Older students complete problem-based learning projects, which sets them up for future success.
Enroll today
Each campus is open to in-district transfers through Judson ISD’s school of choice process, and families say they’re seeing the difference.
“Students are constantly being challenged,” Wilson said. “Kids have been pushed to do more and aspire to greater heights and they take that home to the community. It's contagious.”
Don’t miss this chance to be part of one of Judson ISD’s innovation campuses. Returning student registration and new in-district enrollment are open now and out-of-district registration opens June 9 (in-person only).
Learn more at www.judsonisd.org.
The above story was produced by Multi-platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
