Imagine Safer Schools

Imagine Safer Schools (ISS) was 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 continued until the spring of 2008. ISS addressed the issues of student engagement and conflict resolution for the youth of Victoria through a multi–faceted collaborative program model.

The first feature was a professional development program, which partnered 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 helped teachers take a "fresh look" at their curriculum and allowed students to explore their studies using exciting, hands–on, kinesthetic techniques.

The ISS partnership in Victoria focused 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 facilitated multiple training sessions on drama–based instruction techniques and cooperative lesson planning for VISD teachers, administrators, and curriculum specialists.

The second feature was a youth theatre peer mentorship program:"Fighting the Odds". This Peer Theatre Company was at Patti Welder Middle School. A VISD teacher and UT facilitator collaborated 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 discussionnd oriented performance was shared with peers and local elementary students.