RADFORD -- Two weeks ago, Richard Bay, Dedmon Teaching Award winner and associate professor in Radford University’s art department, traveled to Gordon Parks Elementary School in Kansas City to teach the utilization of children’s literature as a catalyst for art.

Marking his second visit to the school, Bay led a series of projects for Family Art Night revolving around the book, Aunt Flossie’s Hats, by Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard. Students and parents were encouraged to create spring hats and prepare family recipes that would be bound into handmade books.

“I was really excited to visit Gordon Parks Elementary School again and work with the parents and students,” said Bay. “To me, it’s an opportunity to do what I love and get back into the urban classroom to engage students.”

Gordon Parks Elementary School is a nonprofit public charter school established to educate urban-core children. Its namesake is the famous African-American photographer, writer, poet, composer, painter and filmmaker.

The school uses children’s literature as a principal teaching tool instead of textbooks. The school also believes in honoring each child’s individual learning pace. Children are welcome to remain in the school for seven years.

To learn more about RU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, visit http://cvpa.asp.radford.edu/. For more information about Gordon Parks Elementary School, please visit http://www.gordonparks.org/index.php.