YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Eight Youngstown City School District schools have been awarded a $28,000 TeachArtsOhio grant from the Ohio Arts Council for the 2025-26 school year.
The grants will fund a yearlong artist residency where a professional artist will conduct workshops within classrooms to integrate music into daily learning experiences.
The eight schools are Paul C. Bunn Elementary School, Harding Elementary School, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, Taft Elementary School, Volney at McGuffey Elementary School, East Middle School, Chaney Middle School and Rayen Early College Middle School.
Each school will host hip-hop artist Demetrius “Nova the Rebel” Thomas as part of the school district’s Artist-in-Residence program.
“Arts education is a vital pathway for our scholars to cultivate creativity, build confidence and enhance critical thinking,” Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor said. “We are deeply grateful to the Ohio Arts Council for their continued investment in the Youngstown City School District, and to Nova the Rebel for igniting the spark in our scholars to discover and express their unique voices.”
The residencies will culminate in student showcases, family engagement events and community celebrations while highlighting the role of the arts in education.
Pictured at top: Demetrius “Nova the Rebel” Thomas in a songwriting session with East Middle School students.