Visual Art Signature Academy
Shades Valley High School
A Jefferson County Board of Education Signature Academy
What is the
Visual Art Signature Academy (VASA)?
Click below!
Signature Academy promo 3.mp4Pathway
In Visual Art, students can focus on painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, digital art, graphic design, or digital photography. Each student will produce a final portfolio that will help prepare them for future professional paths or college fields of study.
Courses Offered
• Visual Art 1 (prerequisite)
• Visual Art Signature Academy 1
• Visual Art Signature Academy 2
• Visual Art Signature Academy 3
• Visual Art Signature Academy 4
• Media Arts, Independent Study I
• Media Arts, Independent Study II
• Media Arts, Independent Study III or AP Studio
• Intro to Advertising Design (CTE option)
• Digital Design (CTE option)
• Graphic Design (CTE option)
Purpose
The Visual Art Signature Academy offers a 4 year pathway for students interested in pursing a career in the visual arts offered to Shades Valley High School and Clay Chalkville High School students with transportation provided for Signature Academy classes between the two schools. The prerequisite course of Visual Art I (required) may be taken at the student's home school. It is recommended after taking Visual Art I prerequisite to then schedule Visual Art Signature Academy 1 in the second semester of your freshman year.
In order to join the Visual Art Signature Academy open to current 8th and 9th graders , click here to submit an online application for the upcoming school year 2024-25. The deadline is Friday, January 26 at 4PM. Returning Academy students do not need to re-apply.
Jayla Peterson discusses her experiences at The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and how The Visual Art Signature Academy (VASA) helped prepare her for college
Visual Art Signature Academy
Awards 2022-23
History of Visual Art Programs at SVHS
Shades Valley High School has maintained a decades-long legacy of visual arts programs, formerly the Jefferson County School of Visual Art, and the Shades Valley Art Academy, taught by instructors Mr. Olsen Ross (Fine Arts/Animation), Mr. Richard Moncrief (Photography/Design) and started by former Art teacher Art Ward. In 2006, Jill Ritchey joined as an art instructor at Shades Valley High School teaching a range of art classes, and started the Shades Valley Visual Arts Academy in 2016 open to all students completing visual arts pathway credit requirements. In 2021 Mrs. Ritchey joined the Jefferson County School of Visual Art and Career Tech staff and helped transition to the Jefcoed Eastern Zone Signature Academy of Art and Professional Design program. In Fall 2022 Mrs. Ritchey began teaching Visual Art Signature Academy courses in addition to Painting, Digital photography, Ceramics and Sculpture, AP 2D and advanced art studio courses. In fall 2022 Mr. Phillip Gibson joined in with the Signature Art Academy, offering Career Tech Advertising & Professional Design courses and credentialing. In 2023 The Visual Art Professional Design Signature Academies split into the Visual Art Signature Academy (VASA) and the Advertising and Design Signature Academy..