Harrison School for the Arts Parents Association

08/29/2026

🎶 MEET OUR NEW FACULTY: SOPHIA JEAN

We’re excited to welcome flutist Sophia Jean to the UNF School of Music as a new member of our adjunct faculty!

Sophia is a passionate orchestral musician and educator who recently graduated from the Yale School of Music. She is also a member of the Jacksonville Symphony, bringing her professional orchestral experience right here into the UNF classroom.

Her career has already taken her to some of the country’s leading orchestral festivals and ensembles. She has performed as a substitute musician with the New York Philharmonic, Virginia Symphony, Albany Symphony, New World Symphony and West Point Band, and has participated in festivals including the Music Academy of the West and Aspen Music Festival.

Sophia is also an accomplished competition musician. She was the first-place winner of the 2024 National Flute Association Young Artist Competition, where she also received the Paul Taub Award for Best Performance of a Newly Commissioned Work. She previously won first place in both the Chicago Flute Club Kujala International Piccolo Competition and the Donald Peck Flute Competition.

Teaching has always been an important part of Sophia’s work. She has served as a teaching artist and mentor through programs including Yale’s Music in Schools Initiative and Northwestern University’s Academy of Music and Arts for Special Education.

Originally from Lakeland, Florida, Sophia attended Harrison School for the Arts before earning a dual degree in Flute Performance and Cognitive Science from Northwestern University and her master’s degree from Yale.

We’re thrilled to have Sophia bringing her performance experience, teaching experience and passion for the flute to UNF students.

Welcome to the School of Music, Sophia!

08/18/2026

Polk County Public Schools captured last week's visit on video!

08/14/2026

We were honored to welcome our friends from Imabari, Japan, to Harrison School for the Arts. Their visit was a special opportunity to share what makes our school and our arts community unique while learning more about the culture and traditions of our Sister City.

Lakeland and Imabari have shared a Sister City relationship since 1995, creating three decades of meaningful cultural exchange and friendship.

We’re grateful to be part of a connection that brings students and communities together across the world. Thank you for visiting Harrison, we hope to see you again soon!

08/10/2026

We are excited to welcome our new Publicity and Fund Development Director, Heide Evans!

Heide is a seasoned Fundraising and Marketing Strategist and nonprofit leader, based in Lakeland, Florida. With more than 20 years of experience in advocacy and community development, Heide helps mission-driven organizations grow their impact through intentional, data-informed strategies, specializing in capital campaigns, philanthropy, fundraising strategy, and nonprofit operations.

Heide has led and supported transformative arts and cultural organizations throughout Central Florida, including Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras and Creative City Project in Orlando. She was also a founding team member of Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, Florida, contributing to the development of one of the region’s most significant community-focused cultural and recreational destinations.

Heide provides fractional fundraising and marketing leadership, partnering with organizations to design and implement comprehensive development plans, donor stewardship programs, and multi-channel campaigns that drive engagement, build donor trust, and generate sustainable revenue. Known for her strategic insight and creative approach, she blends compelling storytelling with thoughtful planning to deliver measurable results.

Heide’s background spans both the private and nonprofit sectors and includes experience in strategic planning, major gifts, procurement, community relations, art direction, project and event management, board development, and revenue growth. Her work consistently strengthens organizational capacity and positions nonprofits for long-term success, particularly within the arts, education, community development, and philanthropic sectors.

Born and raised in Lakeland, Heide is a proud advocate for the Central Florida community and is deeply committed to elevating the missions of the organizations she serves. Her career reflects a passion for bringing people, ideas, and resources together to create stronger organizations and more vibrant communities, making a meaningful difference one strategy at a time.

For questions on sponsorship and funding, please email Heide at [email protected].

08/08/2026

We are so proud of Mr. Fleitz! This is such a well-deserved recognition for a true pillar of our community. His dedication and tireless work over the years have helped elevate and enrich the Fine Arts throughout Lakeland and Polk County.

Thank you, Mr. Fleitz, for all you do for our students, their families, and our school community. Your impact is truly making a difference, and we are so grateful for you!

Lois Cowles Harrison is another exceptional choice for this recognition. Our institution exists because of her extraordinary vision, commitment, and tireless efforts to establish and support a world-class fine arts education here in Polk County, Florida.

Her legacy continues to inspire generations of students, educators, artists, and families. We are incredibly grateful for her vision and the lasting impact she has had on the arts and our community. What a well-deserved honor!

Congratulations to all inductees!

Polk County Public Schools Harrison School for the Arts

The 2026 Polk Arts Hall of Fame inductees are David and Jean Bunch; Patrick Fleitz; Tom Freeman; Lois Cowles Harrison; and Johnny Bernard Neal, Jr. See link below ⬇️

📸 Polk Arts & Cultural Alliance

08/05/2026

Today is the day!

Orientation Information - It is time to get ready for school year 2026-2027! We cant wait to see you!

08/03/2026

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