MILWAUKEE -- Some very special teachers will help Milwaukee Public Schools this year.
Four nationally recognized artists have signed on to work with local students to help them succeed.
The four artists are:
- Valerie June, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, will share her talents with Lancaster School;
- Larisa Martinez, classical opera singer, will work with Sherman Multicultural School of the Arts;
- Jacqueline Suskin, writer, performance poet and artist, is partnered with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School; and
- Johnny Nunez, iconic celebrity photographer, will be working with Roosevelt Middle School of the Arts.
"Boys and girls, I hope you know just how special this is going to be, how important this is going to be and how transformational this is going to be for all of you," said MPS Superintendent Darienne Driver.
"Turnaround Arts" is a pet project of the president and Mrs. Obama. Four MPS are the only ones in the state picked to take part.
June said she hopes to use this year to instill some of her personal ambition into students.
"I feel like my journey as an artist is always moving forward," June said. "I'm never in the place. It's always more goals, more effort."
MPS hopes this program will help boost attendance and reduce discipline problems.
