Latest news with #DouglasAndersonSchooloftheArts
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'I can't thank her enough'; celebration Sunday to honor late Duval principal Jane Condon
The show will go on. Three months after storied Duval County school principal Jane Condon's death, former students, colleagues and friends are meeting this weekend to sing, dance, make music and share memories at a celebration of life for the woman who led both Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and LaVilla School of the Arts. 'People are coming in from out of town,' said Lee Hamby, a 1993 Douglas Anderson graduate helping coordinate a performance involving dozens of artists. 'So many people leave to pursue their art, so I know people are flying in' for the event, said Hamby, artistic director for Jacksonville's fledgling Arts Collective Theatre. More: Douglas Anderson's 'Extravaganza' provides a showcase for the stars of the future Maybe 150 to 200 people are expected at the celebration, scheduled to start at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 1 at the theater in the LaVilla school at 501 N. Davis St. Organizers are asking people attending to wear something red, a nod to Condon's go-to color choice. Condon, who died Feb. 13 at age 86, impacted thousands of lives during a career in education that spanned five decades. A fervent supporter of arts and culture, her signature accomplishments involved developing Douglas Anderson as a nationally recognized arts magnet high school and designing and launching LaVilla as an arts middle school. 'She was amazing,' said Sarah Sanders, a Douglas Anderson graduate widely known in Jacksonville as vocalist Mama Blue. 'I can't thank her enough for what she's done for me and for this community,' said Sanders, who will sing at the celebration. People who try to stay out of the spotlight will be there too. Teacher Abbie Malkewitz had worked as a stagehand before meeting Condon but hadn't seen a role in middle school like the technical director post she has now, training kids to work with lights, props, sets and sound systems. LaVilla has about 50 to 60 kids in the technical program now, Malkewitz said, adding she didn't know of another middle school anywhere offering similar training. While some youngsters will continue in that field through high school and others won't, they'll at least carry lessons about tools they may need for home repairs when they're living on their own. That only happened because Condon shepherded the school from a concept to a design to reality. The celebration will also be a pitch session for another project Condon's family care about, endowing the Jane Condon Outstanding Educators Fund at the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida to nurture educators committed to sharing a passion for artistic and academic growth. The goal is to raise $50,000 to launch the fund as a long-term support to teachers, said Sarah Boren, Condon's stepdaughter. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Celebration Sunday honors Jane Condon, late Duval arts schools principal
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Duval County high schools to dismiss 15 minutes earlier, starting in fall
Starting in 2025-26, most Duval County high schools will dismiss students 15 minutes earlier. The changes were announced in February. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The change comes with a new 3x3 block schedule and a daily 50-minute 'skinny' class. Students will take three 100-minute classes on an A/B rotation. Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Stanton College Preparatory, Paxon School for Advanced Studies, and Samuel Wolfson School for Advanced Studies will keep their current schedule. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Part-time Douglas Anderson employee removed after report of ‘inappropriate conduct'
Another employee has been removed from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville. In an email sent to parents on Tuesday, Principal Timothy M. Feagins said in part, 'we were notified recently of a report of inappropriate conduct from a previous school year involving a part-time staff member.' The employee's name was not released, as the 'matter is still under investigation,' Feagins said. At least six teachers have been removed from Douglas Anderson in recent years. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] All of those cases involve claims and convictions of inappropriate behavior with students. The most recent case was in August. In June, former teacher Jeffrey Clayton was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexual misconduct with a student. Also in August, we told you about an investigation into the former principal and vice principal for not properly reporting accusations. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Here is the full text of the email that was sent to families by Feagins on Tuesday: 'Dear Douglas Anderson families, 'I believe we have established a spirt (sic) of trust and transparency in our school community. In that spirit, I wanted to share with you that we were notified recently of a report of inappropriate conduct from a previous school year involving a part-time staff member. Because this is an active investigation, I am limited in what I can share. I can share that this staff member, who was serving in a part-time capacity, has been released from their position at Douglas Anderson. As this matter is still under investigation, we are not naming this individual. I want to assure you that we will continue to take appropriate action following a full investigation. Please know that maintaining the safety of our staff and students and building trust within our school community remain my highest priorities. 'Sincerely, Timothy M. Feagins, Principal" Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
