Imagine Safer Schools

Imagine Safer Schools (ISS) is a partnership between Victoria Independent School District (VISD) and the University of Texas Austin Arts in Communities Project. The partnership began in the fall of 2005 and will continue until at least the spring of 2008. ISS addresses the issues of student engagement and conflict resolution for the youth of Victoria through a multi-faceted collaborative program model.

The first feature is a professional development program, which partners VISD classroom teachers with UT graduate student facilitators to explore the potential of drama-based instructional strategies (like cooperative games and role play) to teach core curricular subjects, with a special focus on increasing student engagement and participation. The program helps teachers take a "fresh look" at their curriculum and allow students to explore their studies using exciting, hands-on, kinesthetic techniques.

The ISS partnership in Victoria focuses on meeting the professional development needs on two VISD campuses, Patti Welder Middle School and Profit High School. Seven UT graduate students, a program coordinator, and a faculty supervisor have facilitated multiple training sessions on drama-based instruction techniques and cooperative lesson planning for VISD teachers, administrators, and curriculum specialists.

The second feature is a youth theatre peer mentorship program, which facilitates middle school drama students in the creation of an original interactive theatre performance based on issues of self-esteem, conflict-resolution, identity, and the power of choice. The interactive performance is shared at local elementary schools and for their peers.

"Fighting the Odds" Peer Theatre Company is the youth theatre peer mentorship company of drama students at Patti Welder Middle School. A VISD teacher and UT facilitator collaborate with youth to create an original interactive theatre performance based on issues of self-esteem, conflict-resolution, identity, and the power of choice. During the spring of 2006 and 2007 this discussion-oriented performance is shared with peers and local elementary students.

Read what Victoria teachers are saying about the Imagine Safer Schools program

For more information, please contact Katie Dawson, Imagine Safer Schools Program Coordinator and Adjunct Professor of Theatre at UT Austin, at kathryndawson@austin.rr.com or (512) 507-9484.