Sponsored by East Baton Rouge Parish School System
The arts are alive and thriving in East Baton Rouge Parish Schools, where students in nearly every school have the opportunity to explore creativity through music, visual arts, dance, theater and digital media. Across East Baton Rouge Parish, the district has built a comprehensive fine arts program, ensuring students of all ages and skill levels can discover their talents, express themselves and connect their learning to the world around them.
For Administrative Director of Fine Arts Dr. Sean Joffrion, the mission is both professional and personal. After nearly 30 years serving as a teacher, administrator, and now district leader, he has witnessed firsthand how access to the arts can transform students’ confidence and academic experience.
“What’s unique about our district is that we can fit the needs of any child with any talent or interest,” Joffrion says. “Creativity should be inclusive, and every student deserves the opportunity to be an artist in their own way.”
The district’s fine arts offerings span an impressive range of disciplines, including vocal and instrumental music, dance, drama, visual arts and TV, film and media arts. Visual arts alone can include everything from drawing and painting to sculpture, photography and digital design. In total, more than 225 art teachers deliver instruction across more than 125 specialized courses, giving students the opportunity to develop their skills from elementary through high school.
Just as important as the breadth of programs is their accessibility. Today, nearly every school in the district offers at least one art discipline, ensuring students across all communities have the chance to participate.
Beyond the classroom, districtwide events give students meaningful opportunities to perform, collaborate and showcase their talents. One of the most inclusive is the annual Gospel Choir, held each February in recognition of Black History Month. Open to any student who wants to participate, regardless of musical background, the choir brings together young voices from across the parish.
“It gives students the opportunity to learn a new genre, meet peers from other schools and connect through music,” Joffrion explains. “It’s about more than singing, it’s about belonging.”
For students seeking advanced performance opportunities, audition-based Honor Band, Honor Symphony and Honor Choir programs bring together some of the parish’s most talented young musicians to perform in ensembles.
March brings another major highlight: Arts in Schools Month, a celebration that showcases student creativity across every campus. Throughout the month, schools host programs that give families and the community a firsthand look at the depth and diversity of student achievement in the arts.
“Every school showcases what their students and teachers have accomplished,” says Joffrion. “It’s a powerful reminder of how much talent exists in our district.”
Joffrion emphasizes that the arts are not simply extracurricular, they are essential to student growth.
“The arts help students build confidence, communication skills and the ability to express themselves,” he says. “When students are given the opportunity to be creative, they make deeper connections in their learning and discover new ways to engage with the world.”
That commitment to creativity is shared at every level of leadership across the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, including Superintendent LaMont Cole.
“When students engage in music, visual arts, theater or dance, they develop creativity, discipline and confidence that support their success in the classroom and beyond,” Cole says. “We are proud to ensure that every student in East Baton Rouge Parish has access to programs that inspire their talents and help prepare them for bright futures.”
With a continued commitment to expanding access and celebrating student talent, East Baton Rouge Parish Schools are ensuring the arts remain a vibrant and essential part of every child’s education.
For more information about Fine Arts programs and upcoming events, visit ebrschools.org or follow EBR Fine Arts on Facebook.
