Benjamin Franklin Elementary is located in the suburbs of Chicago and has 570 students. It aims to develop lifelong learners through a learning environment utilizing professional learning communities, project-based learning, and collaboration. District 41 values adaptability, collaboration, creativity, and respect. Dana Elementary is a rural Title 1 school in North Carolina serving 46% minority students, with 44% Hispanic and 33% LEP. It uses an interdisciplinary curriculum framed around social studies and incorporates inquiry-based activities, communication, and collaboration. Meadow View Elementary is committed to inspiring creative, innovative problem solvers. It serves 852 students in a rural North Carolina community, half receiving free/reduced lunch. It integrates arts into

1. CULTURALLY RELEVANT INSPIRATION
PRISCILLIA RIVERA
EDU 692:CREATIVITY CULTURE AND GLOBAL CONTEXTS IN
EDUCATION DECISION MAKING
INSTRUCTOR: WILLIAM REEVES
MARCH 14, 2015

2. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY
PRINCIPAL: MS. REGINA ELLIS
Mission of the school: The mission of Benjamin
Franklin elementary school is to provide a
learning environment that will develop productive
and responsible students who will be life long
learners in the community.

3. DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE SCHOOL
• Located in the suburbs of Chicago
• 570 students
• Website: www.d41.dupage.k12.il.us/school

4. TEACHERS & STUDENT RESOURCES
• Professional learning communities
• Dedicated time for cross disciplinary
• Project based learning and Collaboration
• District “Think Tank”
• STEM Lab

5. DISTRICT 41 CHARACTERISTICS
• Adaptable
• Able to embrace change
• Collaborative
• Creative
• Resilient in the free challenges
• Open to diverse view points and experience
• Respectful of the environment & others
• Compassionate
• Nurturing & Optimistic
• Engaged and enthusiastic

6. SKILLS AND APPLICATIONS
A person with skills and applications is a person who can do the following:
1. Solve complex problems.
2. Make connections between present and future opportunities.
3. Use critical thinking skills.
4. Communicate effectively using different areas of media, and technology.
5. Utilize multiple literacy skills & organizational skills to enhance learning.
6. Advocate for self and others.
7. Apply current learning to new situation.
8. Synthesis multiple pieces of information to create new information.

7. DANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
690 RIDGE ROAD, HENDERSONVILLE, NC
Principal: Keely Schofield
21st Century learning is the way we learn in school
everyday. It is our culture how we talk, how we
act, and how our experience with expectation of
what the students life should be. We should
mirror and be that model of school for students
and parents.
Mission: To contribute our voices as we design a
better tomorrow.
www.hendersoncountypublicschoolsnc.org/dan/

8. DEMOGRAPHICS
• Rural school
• Parents work in agricultural and produce
• Title 1 Program
• 46% Minority
• 44% Hispanic
• 33% LEP
• 80% of students receive free or reduced lunch

9. CURRICULUM
The curriculum is designed as an
interdisciplinary approach to plan instructions
for students. The social studies curriculum is the
central thread that everything else is framed off
of. Inquiry based activities are used on a daily
basis so that students are involved in problem
solving, math, science and engineering activities.
Our Inquiry based activities help students use
communication and collaboration skills.

10. TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED INTO THE INSTRUCTIONS
The students use the smart tablets for collaboration and
communication activities.
I pads are used for small group activities with guidance from
the teacher.
Students use MAC computers to create a movie on
immigration.

11. USEFUL TIPS
Set goals and work together with parents and
students to get the best work from students.
Use what technology students have at home to
have a better influence on them using in the
classroom such as smartphones, computers,
and I Pads.
Have 21st Century Skills mindset.

12. MEADOW VIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1026 Fire Tower Road, Jacksonville, NC
Principal: Vickie Brown
Mission: MVES is committed to inspiring students
to be creative innovative problem solvers who
are prepared to globally competitive in the
technological world today.
Vision: Making Valuable Educational Strides
Purpose: To educate students through creativity
and innovative approaches.
www.meadowview.nc.oce.schoolinsi

13. DEMOGRAPHICS
• 852 Students
• Located in a rural community
• Title 1 Funded
• Large population of military students
• Serve grades K-5
• Half of the student population receive free or
reduced lunch

14. CURRICULUM
The school is a hub for using creativity that integrates arts into all
aspect of their curriculum. It also uses the arts to help students
become 21st century skills learners.
Project based learning uses a dynamic approach in which students
actively explore real world problems and challenges and
acquire a deeper knowledge through learning.
A+ is what opened the door to 21st century learning at Meadow
View. It was first taught to staff who then delivered it to
students. The A+ school program is a whole school reform
model that view the arts as fundamental to teaching and
learning in all subjects.
A+ combined interdisciplinary teaching and daily art instructions
that offered students opportunities to develop creative,
innovative ways of thinking, learning and showing what they
have learned.
http://aplus-schools.ncdcr.gov

15. STUDENT SPECIALS
The school specializes in the following:
• Art
• Dance
• Drama
• Spanish
• Science

16. REFERENCES
Aplus-schools.ncdcr.gov
www.d41.dupage.k12.il.us/school
www.hendersoncountypublicschoolsnc.or
g/dan/
www.meadowview.nc.oce.schoolinsi