Student Artwork: “Shining Adobes”, Emery Ryan, 3rd Grade, Spreckels Elementary School, Monterey County
Inside This Issue
- California County Superintendents Arts Initiative News
- Regional and County News and Events from Butte, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Monterey, Riverside, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Ventura County Offices of Education.
- State Partner News from The California Arts Project, California Arts Education Association, California Educational Theatre Association, and Create CA.
Arts Initiative News
National Teacher Appreciation Week
According to the National Education Association, National Teacher Appreciation Week is May 5–9 and includes the National Teacher Day on May 6. The Arts Initiative is a network of skilled and dedicated educators, most of whom are former classroom teachers. We offer our gratitude to the individuals in this network who continuously collaborate to move ever closer to the goal of access to high quality, sequential, standards – based arts education for every student everywhere in the state.
Readers of this newsletter may remember the story of Oswaldo Joan Arreola, whose art was selected to be on the cover of the California County Superintendents 24–25 Directory (if you need a smile today, revisit his story!). Oswaldo’s work was submitted by his teacher, Alyssa Navapanich. Besides being a full-time classroom educator, Alyssa has a long record of state and regional leadership with the California Arts Education Association and other organizations and Senator Brian Jones recently named her a Woman of Distinction for the 40th Senate District. You can read more about her work in the California Art Education Association update below. We congratulate Alyssa and the many other dedicated arts teachers who work diligently to bring the arts to our students every day.
Growing More Strategic Arts Education Plans
Developing a strategic arts education plan helps ensure that arts education is prioritized and delivered in a meaningful, impactful, and sustainable way that benefits all students. We estimate that 34 of the 58 COEs have strategic plans in place (view a map with links to published plans here). In 2018, the Stuart Foundation provided funding that yielded strategic arts plans in 11 counties. In 2024-25 the Arts Initiative provided grant funds to Butte, Inyo (See photos below), Kings, Lake, Riverside, San Joaquin, and Siskiyou COEs to develop or update strategic arts education plans. Those COEs assembled planning teams and worked with Arts Initiative leaders to develop plans to be completed by June 2025. Several other COEs including Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Mono, Orange, Placer, Santa Clara, Sonoma, and Ventura, have also taken action to refresh or develop plans.
County News and Events
Explore how County Offices of Education are supporting arts education implementation across the state through professional learning, and celebrations of student artists. Please refer to the updated arts leads contact list if you have questions about any of these items.
Butte County Office of Education
Summer Events in Butte County
Contra Costa County Office of Education
Professional Learning: Our Food, Our Culture
The Contra Costa County Office of Education provided a Professional Learning event for all elementary school teachers titled “Our Food, Our Culture.” In this session, teachers experienced a lesson from the VAPA Lesson Library in order to prepare them for implementation. This visual arts lesson focuses on foods from students’ cultures and offers a space for students to share something they value with their classmates. In some cases the foods come from their heritage, and in other cases the featured food is a modern favorite. Students are encouraged to think about the process of their food from raw to cooked, using oil pastels. Two pieces of artwork from teachers in the workshop are provided below.
The first image is a modern favorite food, cheese curls. The second image is pan dulce, Mexican breads. The teacher shared this is something all of the women in her family enjoy for breakfast when they have gatherings.
Strategic Planning in Contra Costa County!
CCCOE is excited to publish our first Strategic Arts Plan 2025-2030! With the guidance of Peggy Burt, Mindful Strategies Consultant, and Jeannine Flores, Los Angeles County Office of Education STEAM Coordinator, a diverse team of educators and community partners worked together for two days to determine county priorities for the arts. The large team of 20 members followed the Strategic Arts Planning Guide 4th Edition to highlight dreams for the arts for all students and create a practical vision to meet those goals.
This photo features the majority of the CCCOE Strategic Arts Team Members in front of our collaborative work on the second day of planning. Members include teachers from all corners of the county, district administrators, county office coordinators, the superintendent of schools, and representatives from four community arts organizations.
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Engaging English Learners Across the State
In April 2025, Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) worked with the Merced County Office of Education to support the Engaging California English Learners through the Arts (ECELA) grant in the Los Banos Unified School District. Los Banos Elementary and Miano Elementary Schools opened their doors to share model lessons that used the arts to support literacy. Teachers used music and visual arts strategies to reinforce English Language Development standards to support their English Learner students.
The Rosemead School District has been celebrating by bringing their families and communities together by using all arts disciplines. As stated by one of their administrators: “because music and movement have no limits, no boundaries, and no borders – They speak to all of us, in every language, and in every culture”. Rosemead schools have proudly woven and integrated language development and the arts into their ECELA lessons, giving access to all their students.
Inglewood Unified School District partnered with Education Through Music- Los Angeles (ETM-LA) to provide music as a core subject for all children. ETM-LA utilizes music education as a catalyst to improve academic achievement, motivation for school, and self-confidence. They have proudly trained dozens of teachers on music’s power to connect and communicate Focused Listening-Space Exploration. A team from Woodworth-Monroe Elementary from Inglewood USD presented at the CUE Conference in Palm Springs this Spring and shared how teachers have integrated language development and art strategies into their classrooms.
The ECELA project is a federal grant awarded by the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) to LACOE’s Center for Distance and Online Learning (CDOL) and Multilingual Academic Support (MAS) units. The ECELA Project provides research and evidence-based professional development (PD) and family literacy programs that integrate arts in the content areas with strategies that increase literacy for English Learners (ELs) and support Social Emotional Learning (SEL). ECELA will provide a PD program to support improvement in classroom instruction for ELs. In addition, this project creates greater equity and inclusion for ELs to participate in the arts aligned with the California (CA) English Learner Roadmap.
Celebrating Scale Up! 2.0
The Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Center for Distance and Online Unit (CDOL) hosted the second annual SCALE UP! 2.0 Leadership Event in February 2025 at SoFi’s YouTube Theatre and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. The 3-day event was packed with creative experiential learning activities for participating county, district/school leaders and teachers; aligned to project goals of promoting wellbeing through the Arts, raising awareness and empowering student voice and leadership, building literacy through the power of diverse libraries, addressing equity with an Arts-Integration lens.
The SCALE UP! 2.0 Project is an opportunity for districts to support grades TK-12 educators, students, parents and the community with interdisciplinary approaches and instructional materials. SCALE UP! 2.0 is aligned with content standards, increasing knowledge through culturally inclusive arts/social emotional-learning engagement, specifically in the Arts. This customized hybrid project allows inclusion of arts Integration to meet the needs of schools’ staff, students, and community with LACOE’s CDOL educational and technology innovative team and our talented Collective Impact Community Partners throughout Los Angeles County, including, but not limited to Disney Imagination Campus, Youth Creating Change and Teaching Artists throughout California such as Viver Brasil, Conga Kids and 24th Street Theatre.
Monterey County Office of Education
Alisal High School VAPA Day
The Alisal High School Art Program is a vibrant hub of creativity where students dive into the rich history of art while discovering and expressing their own artistic voices. From mastering the fundamentals to exploring individual artistic styles, students are encouraged to take creative risks and bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s drawing, painting, or sculpting with materials like cardboard, clay, wire, or foam, artists of all levels are empowered to create meaningful, diverse works in an inclusive and supportive environment.
On Friday, April 11th, the campus came alive during AHS VAPA Day, a dynamic celebration showcasing student talent across Visual Arts, Music, Theater, and Dance! The event highlighted the incredible work happening across the VAPA disciplines and celebrated the creativity that thrives at Alisal.
Huge appreciation goes to the dedicated VAPA Department leadership team: Samuel Oh (Music),Veronica Pulido (Theater), Karina Garcia (Visual Arts), Andre Fernandez (Visual Arts), Adrian Cornejo (Visual Arts), Oscar Joel Benavidez (Dance). Special shoutout to Maestro Benavidez for spearheading this unforgettable event and bringing the arts to center stage!
VAPA Network
On Tuesday, March 4th, the Monterey County Office of Education proudly hosted our VAPA Network, bringing together educators and arts leaders from across the county for an afternoon of collaboration and creativity. The session kicked off with an immersive music-making experience where participants of all levels had the opportunity to jam using 3D-printed pan flutes, sparking joy and connection through hands-on exploration. Following the musical engagement, the group engaged in a rich discussion around the current and future needs for VAPA credentialed educators in Monterey County. The conversation highlighted the importance of building sustainable pathways for arts education and supporting a robust pipeline of qualified VAPA teachers to meet the growing demand in our schools.
2025 Summer Arts Institute
Date: June 10, 11, 2025
Location: MCOE Rooms G and H
Audience: VAPA Teachers, TOSAs, and Administrators
Registration Link
Riverside County Office of Education
Summer Book Study
Louisa Higgins, Arts Administrator for Riverside County Office of Education and Patrice Cooley, Arts Education Coordinator for San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools are offering a Summer Book Study. They will host six sessions, including a culminating presentation. The sessions are free, and participants are responsible for purchasing their own copy of the book “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin.
Dates: On flyer
Location: Zoom (attendee limit 50)
Audience: All teachers, artists, and administrators
Registration Link
2nd Annual Artslift Conference
The Arts at Riverside County Office of Education is very pleased to present this amazing day of 32 presentations/workshops. This conference is intended to enrich the counties of Riverside, San Bernardino, Mono, and Inyo. Attendees will hear from an incredible keynote speaker, our Riverside County Teen Poet Laureate, and have their choice of four different arts sessions, both hands-on and lecture style. There will be awesome swag and raffle prizes you won’t want to miss. Come spend the day with us, deeply involved in the joy and practice of the arts!
Date: July 11th, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Riverside COE Conference Center
Audience: Arts teachers, Arts teachers on special assignment (TOSAs), Arts coordinators, Artist in Residence, Arts organizations, and Arts advocates.
Registration Link
San Joaquin County Office of Education
one.Program Art Show
The San Joaquin County Office of Education one.Program – their alternative education department – hosted its inaugural Art Show last month.
More than 130 students submitted pieces, which were judged by local artists and members of the one.Program administration. Twenty-two pieces were recognized in three mediums – painting, drawing, and mixed media. The artwork will hang alongside works of art selected from districts across the county at the County Art Show in May 2025. The path to this artistic milestone for the alternative education program started long before the students put paint to paper.
Erika Chapman, director of Student Engagement and the Arts, hosted a series of professional development opportunities with one.Program teachers to grow their skills in art mediums. The teachers then brought those lessons- like how to integrate abstract art, shading techniques, etc.- back into the classroom.
“We wanted to give our students a platform to shine and express themselves,” said Annie Camacho, director of alternative education within the County Operated Schools and Program division.
San Mateo County Office of Education
Summer Events in San Mateo County
Santa Clara County Office of Education
2025 ¡Viva el mariachi! Showcase
The Santa Clara County Office of Education sponsored its third annual showcase of youth mariachi and folklórico groups. The event took place on Wednesday, April 3, from 5-8 PM at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, featuring visiting guest performers Mariachi Los Gavilanes from Monaco Middle School in Las Vegas. School mariachi and ballet folklórico groups will also be performing, including those from East Side Union High School, San Jose Unified, Campbell Union School District, Luther Burbank School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District in Santa Cruz, and San Jose State University. Mariachi Los Gavilanes also toured county schools! Special thanks to the Mexican Heritage Plaza for graciously hosting this event!
2025 Young Artist Showcase
This year’s artwork theme was inspired by research highlighted by the National Endowment of the Arts in 2004: Arts as Civic Engagement: Involved in Arts, involved in Life (National Endowment for the Arts, 2004). In 2017, the Invine Foundation funded a study that had similar findings (Rabkin, 2017). There is a consistent correlation between arts participation and civic engagement, and experiences during adolescence are particularly impactful (Rabkin, 2017, p. 5). The arts build connections between people, evoking trust, and are crucial in rebuilding social capital – shared values and resources used towards achieving a common goal or set of goals. Students can speak to their experiences of arts participation and how they have engaged as volunteers in their communities around environmental, socio-economic, and political issues. Because the nature of the arts is a collaborative and expressive one, youth will be able to create expressive pieces about the ways they engage with their respective communities. A virtual celebration will take place on Friday, May 23, at 4:00 PM.
Ventura County Office of Education
VCOE: Strategic Arts Education Plan
Ventura County Office of Education is proud to announce the development and implementation of the Ventura County Office of Education: Strategic Arts Education Plan for VCOE Operated Schools & Programs 2025-2030. The plan opens with the Arts Education for Ventura County Office of Education Schools: Vision Statement, and provides an overview of the school programs in which it will be implemented, an Executive Summary, Survey Responses, Phases and lists the Strategic Arts Planning Team. The plan will be implemented in three Phases: 2025-27, 2027-29, and 2029-30 focused on developing arts content, infrastructure, and sustainability for arts education in our schools.
State Partner News
The California Arts Project
TCAP Workshops
NCAP Beat The Heat
Date: June 9-11, 2025
Location: CSU Chico
Registration Link
SCAP: Artful Connections
Date: August 5, 2025
Location: San Diego State
Registration Link
California Arts Education Association
Alyssa Navapanich awarded the Woman of Distinction Award
Senator Brian Jones named Alyssa Navapanich a Woman of Distinction for the 40th Senate District in an awards ceremony on Friday, April 18, 2025. This recognition represented Alyssa’s contributions to arts education and community engagement. A dedicated educator and advocate for over two decades, Alyssa holds multiple teaching and administrative credentials and has served in leadership roles with the California Art Educators Association San Diego, including Board President. Her award-winning column “Art with Alyssa” in San Diego Family Magazine and her work in national education platforms reflect her passion for making art accessible and meaningful. Alyssa’s extensive volunteer work with schools and organizations such as the 9th District PTA, Westview Foundation, Girl and Boy Scouts San Diego, along with numerous accolades such as the 2023 Arts Empower Ovation Award, reflect her commitment to empowering youth, connecting communities, and enriching lives through the arts.
NAEA 2025
In March 2025, over 220 California Art Educators attended the National Art Education Association (NAEA) National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Attendees participated in diverse sessions and workshops that focused on everything from equity to technology integration to promoting inclusivity. The Digital Playground was an immersive hub within the Exhibit Hall that showcased educator-led sessions that demonstrated the innovative use of technology in visual arts education. Attendees were inspired by keynote speakers: The Guerrilla Girls, Roberto Lugo, and Nate Powell, who shared their artistic journey and advocacy. Several CAEA members also led workshops, and some were recognized for their outstanding contributions to arts education.
YAM Museum 2025
This year, forty-five students from all over California showed their art in the Youth Art Month Museum at the National Art Education Association (NAEA) National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. There was representation from grades TK through grade 12. This year’s flag, designed by Isabella Ortega from La Sierra High School, was also on display at the museum. Her work showed major California landmarks while encompassing the theme Healing Through Color. The flag can be seen here https://www.caea-arteducation.org/flag-and-banner-program
Gross High School Art Exhibition
The 2025 CAEA San Diego County Groff Art Exhibit honors Bruce Wayne Groff’s passion for fostering excellence in the visual artwork of high school students. Art will be on view from April 14 to May 9, 2025. A closing reception for artists, their families, and teachers will be held on May 10, 2025. Awards for Ceramics, Excellence in Artistic Precision, Creative Expression, and an Award of Design will be given out, with awards provided by Blick Art.
CAEA Central Area Meetups
After several very successful meetups this spring, CAEA Central Area teachers are now hosting monthly art-making workshops and lesson swaps at various locations in the Bakersfield Area. The sessions are hosted by volunteer CAEA teachers. Membership is not required to attend, but reservations are necessary due to space limitations. Teachers are asked to bring a lesson to share that can be added to the Central Area’s lesson bank. Each session is an opportunity to connect with like-minded art educators and create a piece of art. Upcoming sessions are scheduled for June 14, July 12, and August 11. For more information, please contact Vicki Smart at vicki_smart@kernhigh.org or giraffe622@gmail.com
CAEA Scholarships
CAEA awarded three college scholarships to high school students this year: Ankhil Enkhbayar received the Laurel Burch Scholarship (teacher: Christine An, Los Altos High School), Iris Wu received the Duane Hagen Scholarship (teacher: Christine An, Los Altos High School), and Lana Wurtz received the Duane Hagen Scholarship (teacher: Holly Stuczynski, New West Charter High School, Los Angeles). The scholarships are awarded to students who intend to pursue visual art and/or design in college. These awards honor students who exemplify creativity, dedication, and service in the arts. Scholarship recipients and their art can be seen here: https://www.caea-arteducation.org/student-scholarship-recipients
California Educational Theatre Association
CETA's Middle Stage Fest
More than 300 students from 14 California middle schools participated in CETA’s 24th annual Middle Stage Fest on Saturday, April 5, 2025. The festival competition allowed students to create and submit work in the categories of Acting, Musical Theatre, and Theatrical Design for adjudication, receiving expert feedback and positive recognition for their accomplishments. Students, teachers, parents and other supporters gathered in person on festival day at Katherine L. Albiani Middle School, in Elk Grove, CA. While there, students got to participate in each of 4 workshops led by Guest Artists. Middle Stage Fest culminated in an awards ceremony, with live performances from All Festival winners in each category, and the presentation of bronze, silver, and gold medals.
Create California
Take the Prop 28 Survey!
WestEd is partnering with Create CA to conduct a study on the impact of Prop 28 funding on the arts education landscape in California. We are surveying arts education leaders to assess Prop 28’s impact and to gather your insights. Take the survey and share the flyer.
Create CA's 2025 Advocacy and Legislative Priorities
The future of California’s prosperity, well-being, and civic engagement depends on our vision of all students having access to a high-quality, culturally responsive arts education. To ensure all students benefit from arts education’s ability to develop 21st-century competencies, social-emotional skills, and civic-mindedness, we must invest in students, strengthen the teacher pipeline, and address the systemic inequities in public education. Read and share our priorities!
Wear your advocacy out loud!
We’re building a movement for arts education in California—because every student deserves access to the creativity, self-expression, and healing that the arts provide. But this movement only grows if more people see it, feel it, and join in. One simple way to take action? Order merchandise from our site. Gift a mug or hat to a teacher. Hang a poster in a café, a library, or anywhere it might spark a conversation. Let’s make this vision real!
May Arts Now Meetup
Attend the Arts Now Meetup to be in community with your peers and colleagues! This open-format meeting provides the opportunity to connect with colleagues around the state, share promising practices, ask for support, and discuss new ideas and trends in arts education. Find community, partnership, and motivation to help you be a better arts education advocate! Register Here!
Save the Date: Create CA's Fall Fundraiser
Create CA is thrilled to announce that its next fundraising event at the Museum of Neon Art in Glendale, CA is back on! Join our Executive Director Veronica Alvarez and co-hosts Jeannine Flores and Jesús Holguin for a fundraiser for arts education access. All tickets include admission to the museum’s after hours, food, and an open bar. We hope to see you September 13th!
Use the School Board Tool
It’s never too late to inform your school’s decision-makers about what YOU want to see in your school! Use the school board tool to contact administrators all year through a pre-filled message to share the importance of arts education! See outdated information? Email Comms@CreateCA.org with your school board’s correct addresses.
