Joan Oates Institute for Integrated Learning

The Joan Oates Institute for Integrated Learning (JOIFIL) is a comprehensive training, planning, and project implementation opportunity for PK-12 educators from member divisions in the Partners in the Arts Consortium. JOIFIL equips teams of Richmond-area educators to implement school-based projects with visiting artists and community experts.

Partners in the Arts Consortium

Partners in the Arts (PIA) is a consortium of Richmond-area school divisions, community experts, and arts and culture organizations. PIA began in 1994 with the PIA Award Grants program, providing teams of teachers support to implement projects in school with visiting artists and community experts. You’re a PIA member if you work in one of the following school divisions:

  • Chesterfield County Public Schools
  • Goochland County Public Schools
  • Hanover County Public Schools
  • Henrico County Public Schools
  • Powhatan County Public Schools
  • Richmond Public Schools

What Is JOIFIL?

JOIFIL is PIA Grants plus the Joan Oates Institute.

After the first year of PIA grant projects in schools, educators requested time to reflect and work on their instructional practice. In 1995, PIA held its first summer institute, now the Joan Oates Institute (JOI, pronounced “joy”). JOI is a five-day course that trains PK-12 educators and community experts how to integrate community and culture into their instructional practice using the arts and technology, experiential methods, reflection, and collaboration. The JOI page outlines the Institute’s specific objectives and outcomes.

Launched in 2022, the Joan Oates Institute for Integrated Learning (JOIFIL, pronounced “joyful”) model streamlines integrated project implementation for teachers by combining the PIA Grant Awards with the Joan Oates Institute. Instead of writing grant proposals and managing funds, educators focus on collaborating with visiting experts to bring creative, sustainable instructional practices into their classrooms. PIA also handles all contracts and payments for visiting experts.

Who should participate?

JOIFIL is designed for educators of all content and grade levels and administrators. Teams of 2-4 educators will receive training, planning, and in-school project implementation support from experts and artists from the community.

Consortium-member teams selected by their school divisions are eligible to participate at no cost, thanks to partial funding from an R.E.B. Award and division support of the PIA Consortium. 

Steps to Participate in JOIFIL

  1. Submit the interest form to indicate your interest in participating with a team from your school or multiple schools. PIA will forward your request to your division representative upon receipt.
  2. Divisions will select and notify team(s).
  3. Teams selected by divisions should register for JOI individually by May 15. PIA will provide a promo code to cover the cost of registration.
  4. Registrants attend JOI as scheduled.

If you are not selected by your division, or if you are interested in attending JOI as an individual rather than as a member of a division-sponsored team, please visit the JOI page to learn more and register for graduate credit or PD hours. Any educator is welcome to register and attend.

JOIFIL Part 1: Training

During the summer, attend the Joan Oates Institute (JOI), held in-person at the University of Richmond.

  • Earn up to 50 recertification hours.
  • Join a learning community based on equity, trust & candor.
  • Create a standards-aligned unit plan with performance-based assessments.
  • Brainstorm & learn with teaching artists & community experts.

JOIFIL Part 2: Implementation

During the academic year following JOI, work as a team with your students to implement your project.

  • Work with PIA staff and community experts.
  • Plan and implement your project in your school(s).
  • Engage with your students and a visiting expert or artist.
  • To view past projects, visit the PIA blog.

PIA Consortium Division Representatives

  • Chesterfield County Public Schools: Jimi Herd, Visual Arts Curriculum Specialist
  • Goochland County Public Schools: Stephen A. Geyer, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction 
  • Hanover County Public Schools: Jennifer Stackpole, Visual Art Curriculum Specialist 
  • Henrico County Public Schools: Michael Kalafatis, Art Education Specialist
  • Powhatan County Public Schools: Tracey Ingle, English Instructional Specialist
  • Richmond Public Schools: Christie-Jo Adams, Fine Art Instructional Specialist