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Remembering Jane Condon: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts principal
Jane Condon, a lifelong educator who shepherded early development of Duval County’s high school for the arts and launched another arts school for middle school artists, died Feb. 13 at age 86.
- Arts programs in public schools are underfunded, making institutions like Douglas Anderson School of the Arts vital for aspiring young artists.
- Philanthropic initiatives like the Developing Artists Foundation help bridge funding gaps with valuable resources for students, such as master classes, scholarships and
facility improvements. - Investing in public schools and arts programs is crucial for the future of our youth.
While every child has their own unique journey into adulthood, the student artist often takes the road less traveled to reach their goals. They must have the discipline to meet the academic requirements for graduation, while strengthening and expanding their skills and imagination to meet the criteria of their discipline.
It is a challenge for children to develop their creativity and imagination in today’s public schools. Unlike athletic programs, arts programs are limited — and many parents in our community do not have the ability to pay for extracurricular arts classes. This is why public arts magnet schools like Douglas Anderson School of the Arts are so important.
The Florida Education Association recently released data showing that funding per student in our public schools has dropped by $400 since 2019. Parent-led fundraising efforts like bake sales and car washes are important to every school community, but the impact of larger philanthropic initiatives are essential for healthy public schools.
Such initiatives help close funding gaps to sustain a school environment where children can reach their optimal potential as students. At Douglas Anderson, a philanthropic community provides the school with the ability to offer experiential educational opportunities and professional mentorship to inspire and engage young artists.
The results of these investments speak for themselves. Through the support of parent booster clubs and the Developing Artists Foundation, students at Douglas Anderson reach soaring heights of achievement by the time they wear their cap and gown.
On average, the Douglas Anderson graduating class receives $21 million in scholarships and offers of admittance to some of the nation’s top universities and conservatories. These include The Juilliard School, Massachusetts Institution of Technology, New York University and University of California, Berkeley.
They also earn prestigious national accolades, such as the Most Outstanding High School Performing Arts Big Band in the nation by DownBeat magazine.
For more than 30 years, the Developing Artists Foundation has committed itself to supporting local programs that provide quality arts education and opportunities for the youth of Northeast Florida. We fund programs to bring professional artists from across the nation to teach master classes to students.
In addition, we offer scholarships for young artists to be able to attend special summer art programs. We provide money for technology, tools and instruments, and even help to expand campus facilities — like the new amphitheater project debuting this year at Douglas Anderson.
It is our hope that as philanthropic organizations in the region consider initiatives for next year, they will make investing in our public schools a top priority. The Developing Artists Foundation would like to extend a congratulations to all graduating seniors in Northeast Florida for their hard work and determination. You are our future, and you deserve our investment.
Erin Vance Skinner, board president, Developing Artists Foundation, Jacksonville
This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.
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