For Immediate Release
September 22, 2025
From the Office of Communications
Phone: 803.435.4435
Walker Gamble Elementary Awarded Distinguished Arts Program Grant
Clarendon County School District School Gets DAP Grant for Consecutive Year
Turbeville, SC – Clarendon School District is proud to announce that Walker Gamble Elementary School has been awarded a 2025–2026 Distinguished Arts Program (DAP) Grant from the South Carolina Department of Education. This prestigious grant recognizes schools that are committed to providing high-quality arts education and will allow Walker Gamble to further enrich its Academic Arts program.
The Academic Arts team at Walker Gamble will utilize the grant funds to strengthen and expand opportunities in multiple areas of the arts. A central focus will be on standards-based lessons that emphasize the four artistic processes: creating, presenting, responding, and connecting.
Planned enhancements include:
Photography & STEAM Integration: New backdrops for photography lessons and classroom construction kits to encourage career-focused and engineering-based challenges in the STEAM Lab.
Theatrical Production Support: Updated lighting and sound equipment to enhance school productions while introducing students to behind-the-scenes careers in theatre arts.
Ceramics Expansion: Two additional pottery wheels to broaden ceramic course offerings, highlighting ceramics as both an art form and a future career pathway.
Recognizing the importance of teacher development, a portion of the funding will also support professional learning. Arts teachers will participate in the SC Department of Education’s Summer Arts Institute, as well as statewide professional organizations including SCAEA, SCMEA, and the PSAE Arts Integration Conference.
“Walker Gamble Elementary is a remarkable school that not only shines brightly academically but also artistically. We look forward to the enhanced learning opportunities these grant funds will provide our students during the school year. Each member of the Academic Arts team continues to work tirelessly ensuring students are receiving the highest quality arts education possible,” said Jessie Welch, District Arts Coordinator and Walker Gamble Elementary Art Teacher.
The Clarendon County School District celebrates this achievement as another step toward fostering creativity, innovation, and future-ready skills for all students.
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