LaDonna Dixon

Under the guidance of teacher LaDonna Dixon, Round Top Elementary is the first elementary school in Richland School District Two to implement Art in Basic Curriculum (ABC). Dixon holds an MAT from USC and achieved National Board Certification in 2002.

She firmly believes in art’s ability to enhance education. Her belief in the power of art in education led her to implement ABC at Richland One’s AC Moore Elementary. Now, this former AC Moore Teacher of the Year is calling on her experience to bring this unique interdisciplinary approach to more Midlands children.

According to Dixon, “The ABC focus is to build a comprehensive arts program that enriches the school and community environment. It includes visual arts, music, dance, and theater. Most middle and high schools have dance and drama programs, but elementary schools have to make a special effort to get those arts in place.”

ABC helps students put learning in more practical terms and can increase their receptiveness to traditional book learning. For example, in an ABC school, students working on a period in history also study the art, music, and dance associated with that era. Students studying WWII may learn how and why USO dancers danced or create plays based on letters written from the front.

Richland Two is expanding the role of arts education in its schools through ABC. Richland Northeast and Spring Valley High Schools already have successful ABC programs in place.

Individual teachers take on the responsibility of planning and implementing ABC. They must work with administrators, faculty, parents, and students to create a program that works best in their school. Dixon performed research, created a framework for implementation, and wrote grants to secure funding for the program.

She then enlisted a team of 18 dedicated educators, parents, and members of the community to serve on a team that would make ABC at Round Top a reality.

ABC is supported through the SC Arts Commission and Winthrop University. The ABC Project Director, Christine Fisher, and SC Arts Commission representative, Josie Bright–Stone, will serve as facilitators as Round Top develops a five–year arts plan. Dixon will write an additional ABC grant to support the specific needs identified in the arts plan and make the team’s visions “come to life.”

ABC enriches education through things like artist–in–residencies, performances, permanent equipment for arts departments, and dance and drama classes. The Cultural Council has seen positive results from ABC implementation throughout the state. Richland One’s award winning Hand Middle School has been featured many times as a national model for arts integration.