OLCHS Honored With Fifth 'School Of Distinction Award' By IAEA

OAK LAWN, IL — Oak Lawn Community High School has been recognized by the Illinois Art Education Association as a 2024 School of Distinction. This is the fifth year of OLCHS has received this reward.

The IAEA recognition celebrates schools with rigorous art, design, and media education programs. To earn the School of Distinction Award, the high school evidenced practices directly reflecting the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, the Illinois Fine Arts and Media Standards, and Social-Emotional Learning Priorities.

Participating in high-quality art, design, and media courses develops student creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills in valuable ways. Students in these programs gain social and emotional skills along with college, career, and citizenship readiness. Research indicates that schools with successful programs like that at Oak Lawn Community High School experience increased student attendance, engagement, and academic performance when compared with schools that don’t.

The IAEA honored art, design and media faculty Ailysh Cooper, Jen Wargin, Jen Clark, Eric Kallenborn, and Brian Clifton for the distinguished programming and the significant opportunities offered to students.

“The OLCHS Art Department is a true asset for our school and the entire Oak Lawn community. The teachers are committed to fostering creativity and inspiring excellence, and I am proud to see that recognized, OLCHS principal Lauren May said. “The dedication and talent of our students shines under their innovative and caring instruction and programming.”