Magnet Spotlight: Gregory Lincoln students learn about fine arts, fine cuisine

Campus is second in a series of schools with space available to be profiled in advance of School Choice Fair

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Kellie Karavias (holding rake) poses with some of her students

Students at HISD’s Gregory Lincoln Education Center can not only hone their skills in the visual and performing arts, but also in the culinary arts. This fine arts magnet school, which serves students in grades Pre-K through 8, offers focused instruction in the areas of music, choir, theatre arts, dance, visual arts, and multimedia.

The campus also has a culinary arts program led by Kellie Karavias, who was named a “Food Revolution Hero” in 2013 by celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver. Under her supervision, students learn how food is grown by working in the school garden, how food is prepared by cooking or assembling dishes in the kitchen, and even how restaurants and other commercial food production facilities are inspected by taking tours of district facilities.

Students also receive cutting-edge instruction in other subjects, such as Andrew Bailey’s sixth-grade math class, where he uses class time to help struggling students with homework assignments that reinforce what he is teaching. Students who don’t need extra help become peer tutors or create videos to help classmates.

Gregory Lincoln Principal Carlos Phillips II says he considers it his obligation to provide students with “abundant opportunities” for learning, so that they can build academic skills, self-confidence, and a sense of perseverance. “These skills are vital to be able to contribute effectively to their communities as adults,” he said.

HISD will be holding its annual School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 25, for parents and students who have not yet decided on a school for the coming academic year. Gregory Lincoln is one of several schools that still has space available in its magnet program. For more information about Gregory Lincoln or other magnet campuses, please visit the School Choice website.