From D.C. to NOLA: Cool artwork decorates U.S. Department of Education tour bus
Stephanie Oswald
New Orleans (WGNO) – With a 100 percent college acceptance rate for three years in a row, Cohen College Prep was the perfect spot for U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. to wrap up a 1,500-mile “Opportunity Across America” tour.
In four years, Cohen College Prep has transformed from a struggling school into an educational success story.
Secretary King spoke to students in several classrooms and was part of a teacher/student discussion in the school library, where several students described the “family atmosphere” that they believe has led to success at Cohen College Prep.
The school band welcomed the head of the U.S. Department of Education and his entourage with plenty of fanfare.
This is the seventh tour of its kind and a trademark of the Obama administration.
“It really is about equal education for everyone, about the great teachers everywhere, about the amazing work that they do, saving and changing lives everywhere and also just the importance of having access to higher education,” says Adria Marquez, the Director of Digital Content for the U.S. Department of Education.
Secretary King and his team traveled from Washington D.C. to New Orleans in a signature bus — yellow like a school bus on one side and a traveling art show of sorts on the other!
The bus that wrapped up the “Opportunity Across America” tour Friday in New Orleans.
What started out as a blank canvas is now decorated with drawings and signatures gathered throughout the journey. A few highlights include a drawing from NASA, a cartoon by the Cartoon Man from Baton Rouge, and a colorful sketch by Google Doodle winner, 10th grader Akilah Johnson.
One side of the U.S. Department of Education tour bus was transformed into a giant traveling canvas.
In case you missed it, News with a Twist has some photos to share:
Here’s what the 2016 Google Doodle winner (Washington D.C.10th grader Akilah Johnson) drew:
Here’s a bus doodle done by the 2016 Google Doodle winner.
Check out what the Baton Rouge Cartoon Man put on the bus:
The bus made several stops in Louisiana before arriving in New Orleans. This was done by the “Cartoon Man” of Baton Rouge.
Look what some tiny tots came up with: (They drew the stick figures and their teacher added the words as directed!)
It doesn’t get much cuter than these stick figures, filled with artists’ responses to the question “What does opportunity mean to you?”
NASA’s bus art is out of this world…
The theme of NASA’s drawing is that education provides infinite possibilities.
News with a Twist’s Travel Girl just had to get a photo with this cool tour bus!
Our Travel Girl, Stephanie Oswald, was excited to learn about this colorful mode of transportation — even in the rain!
The artwork was done with permanent Sharpie markers.
Here’s a colorful Louisiana addition to the art bus.
There’s a sign on the bumper that says ‘Honk if you like teachers!’
This tour is a signature of the Obama administration; this is the seventh year in a row that the U.S. Education Secretary has put the spotlight on educational access in the United States with a bus tour.
The tour included stops in Washington, D.C.; Charlottesville, Virginia; Bristol, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis, Tennessee; Harvest, Alabama; North Little Rock, Arkansas; Indianola, Mississippi; and Monroe, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana.
