Stevenson fine arts fair won't change despite staff change

Stevenson High School's Odyssey fine arts festival shouldn't change significantly after the imminent departure of its longtime leader, officials said.

Janet Jesse, the coordinator of the schoolwide, biennial event since 2000, has been laid off and her position eliminated, Stevenson High spokesman Jim Conrey said. Thursday is her last day at the Lincolnshire school.

Odyssey, which last was staged this past February, will continue, officials said. The next festival is scheduled for February 2010, and those plans haven't changed, said Stephen Plank, the school's fine arts director.

Jesse's responsibilities likely will be spread among other staffers, he said.

"We're excited about Odyssey 2010 as we have been for the previous Odysseys," Plank said.

Jesse called coordinating the program for the last eight years "an honor and a privilege."

"I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of community volunteers, student volunteers and outstanding presenters," said Jesse, who joined Stevenson in 1999 and also served as its event coordinator and sponsored the school's diversity council. "I hope I was able to help students discover their creative energy and to foster a lifelong appreciation for the arts."

Launched in 1996, Odyssey is a two-day festival involving every Stevenson High student. Regularly scheduled classes are suspended and teens attend workshops and programs on a variety of arts-related subjects, such as writing, stand-up comedy, film, dance or acting.

Hundreds of workshops are offered each year. Activities typically are led by professionals from throughout the Chicago area.

The festival also fulfills a state-mandated fine-arts requirement for students.

Odyssey's mission and concept won't change, Plank said.

"What the students experience should be the same as it has been in the past," he said.