History of Hattie Casey Elementary

Namesake

Casey Elementary was named for one of the many devoted teaching professionals who spent her career educating and influencing the lives of Jackson school children.

Miss Hattie Casey was educated in the public schools, Hillman College, and Mississippi College. She did post-graduate work at the University of Alabama, Millsaps College, George Peabody for Teachers, Belhaven College, and Columbia University. Miss Casey entered the Jackson Public School system in September 1921. She devoted 38 years to teaching Power Elementary School, retiring in June 1959. Miss Casey believed in discipline, order, and in having her students master the tool subjects, especially arithmetic.

Miss Hattie Casey was an inspiration to her colleagues and students.

Arts in Education

The arts have long been an important focus of the curriculum at Casey. Today the arts are a significant part of each student's education in two ways. First, there are individual classes in each of the four arts disciplines identified by the Mississippi State Department of Education in the Fine Arts Framework. All Casey students have a weekly music classes taught by a certified music teacher and a weekly visual arts class taught by a certified art teacher. In addition, each grade level takes 12 consecutive classes in dance and drama taught by part-time specialists. The last of these classes involves a short, informal presentation for parents. In planning, the art teachers look for connections between their own arts curricula and the subject matter of the academic curriculum in order to enhance and reinforce concepts introduced in the regular classroom.

Secondly, classroom teachers at Casey are committed to reaching every student by infusing the arts into their standard curriculum, teaching all subjects with and through the arts. Here again, the teachers plan significant ways of using concepts from the arts (such as creative writing, painting, acting, dancing, singing, and making music) to enable students to explore and better understand concepts in language arts, science, math, and social studies. Research shows that students taught through the arts learn to develop creative ways to approach problems; critical thinking skills; confidence and self-esteem; and a deeper understanding of themselves, their own culture, and the cultures of others.

In 1997, Casey became an Arts Acesss School and with parent leadership and support, we developed into an Arts Integration school in 1999. Casey received the National Blue Ribbon School designation in 1999. We adopted the WSI model in 1999 and Casey was named by the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) as a "Model Whole School" in 2004. We have been awarded Model Whole School status every year since then. Casey has been awarded the Governor's Award in Arts, and the Mississipi Alliance for Arts Education Award.

In addition to the arts programs integrated into every students' curriculum, Casey provides other opportunities for further studies in the arts. Beginning in first grade, interested students may apply to enter the Strings program and take lessons onve a week to play violin or cello with a teacher provided by Jackson Symphony Orchestra. Ballet classes are taught after school once a week by a teacher from Ballet Mississippi.

In December of 2004, Casey was awarded Model School Status by the Mississippi Arts Commission.