Youth StARTS
The artist in residence program is a collaborative effort involving the Ross Ragland Theater, traveling artists, teachers and both school districts in the Basin. The goal of The Youth STARTS Program is to integrate performing arts into the traditional classroom setting. Application of artistic concepts engages students more physically and personally in the learning environment, enriching and improving overall academic performance. Artists instruct in three eight week blocks throughout the schoolyear, grades K-5. Rotating artists and subjects through the schools means that each elementary-aged student in Klamath County Schools will receive at least one session each of drama, movement and music each school year. This collaboration program, which started as a pilot with just four rural schools has proved to be a cost effective, public-private partnership; so much so that it has become a state-wide model!
BENEFITS OF ARTS INTEGRATION
Children thrive on the study of the arts. The arts open doors to creativity while nourishing critical thinking and innovation. Integrating the arts with other disciplines (core content areas) through instruction and assessment supports the development of these skills and processes. Arts integration uses teaching practices that have been shown in brain-based research to improve comprehension and long-term retention.
Meet Our Artists
Aria Sha
Drama Instructor
Aria Sha developed her passion for theater at the age of 7 when she participated in her first play at the Linkville Playhouse. She hopes to inspire that same spark for the stage in others by teaching this year’s after-school improv class. Other than theater, she enjoys being active and creative.
Kristalyn Hayes
Visual Art
TBD
Caitlin Guillaumot
Dance/ Creative Movement
TBD
Alex Burris
Dance
Alex has taught in our afterschool programs as well as summer camps and the teen theater program. Now, she is thrilled to be one of our teaching artists as she shares her love and passion for dance. She is starting her second year at KCC. Alex has been a part of the Ragland since she was 6 because her dance shows were held at the theater, until a few years ago. She is currently the Ragland’s unofficial stage manager, and she is loving it. She has recently been getting more and more involved with the education programs such as After School Classes and the Summer Camp programs. She is loving it!