Student Artwork featured in 2025 CISC Symposium
Left to right: “O Great Pumpkin”, by Adaleen B., 2nd Grade, Stanislaus County, “Landscape”, by Mateo G., 1st Grade, Sonoma County, “The Crisp Crunch of Fall”, by Giselle L., 12th Grade, San Bernardino County
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Inside This Issue
- California County Superintendents Arts Initiative News
- Looking Back with Gratitude with Letty Kraus
- New Welcome from Kyle Holmes, New Director of the Statewide Arts Initiative
- Student Art Featured on Membership Directory Cover
- Arts Integration Workshop Inspires Educators This Summer
- New Strategic Planning for Arts Education Web Page
- New Teach the Arts Web Page
- Expanding Access to Arts Education: 25-26 Community of Practice
- Regional and County News and Events from Kings, Los Angeles, Monterey, Riverside, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Ventura County Offices of Education.
- State Partner News from California Arts Education Association, California Educational Theatre Association, AME Institute, Create CA, and The California Arts Project
Arts Initiative News
Looking back with Gratitude with Letty Kraus
As I prepare for retirement and my last day as “a professional,” I find myself reflecting on the path that brought me here.
It all began in 1992. California was emerging from a recession, and with my credential in history–social science and a supplementary authorization to teach dance, I landed my first teaching position at a brand-new middle school in south Sacramento.
The school offered an exploratory arts wheel, where every student rotated through classes for just a month at a time. My classroom had 40 desks, no mirrors, and students who would pass through, only spending between 20 and 60 days with me over the year. I was tasked with creating a dance curriculum before state standards even existed. On top of that, I taught one period of physical education—because, why not?—and, of course, history, where, to keep students engaged, I wove visual art and music into my lessons whenever I could.
Those early years were challenging. I learned the hard lessons of classroom management and the deeper lessons of listening to my students. My students were, in fact, my most important teachers. They shared their stories, their talents, their struggles, and their passions. With time, I not only survived but began to thrive. I carry with me countless memories from that first decade, which shaped me as an educator and as a person.
My journey eventually led me to the California Subject Matter Projects, the California Department of Education, and ultimately to the California County Superintendents, where I have had the privilege of serving as Director of the Statewide Arts Initiative. Along the way, I have been fortunate to work with Pulitzer Prize–winning scholars, nationally recognized arts education experts, and the incredible leaders who support California’s students, educators, and families through the county office system.
Looking back, one conviction has remained constant and only grown stronger: arts learning changes lives. As a student, my own arts classes were a safe haven—a respite from the cruel, competitive, and sometimes boring aspects of school. In those spaces, learning was alive: engaging, challenging, relevant, and creatively fulfilling. That is what all students deserve, and it has been my most fulfilling work to advance this vision across California.
Though I am retiring from my professional role, I am not retiring from this cause. I look forward to spending more time advocating for arts education, volunteering for local arts organizations, and serving my community in new ways. To all of the colleagues, partners, students, and friends who have walked this journey with me—thank you. It has been the honor of a lifetime.
Welcome from Kyle Holmes, New Director of the Statewide Arts Initiative
Dear Friends,
Like many of you, my journey to this work began with teachers who encouraged me to create – Ms. Peralta casting me in the eighth grade play, Ms. Chadwick allowing me to present musical book reports in English class instead of PowerPoints, or Mr. Miller encouraging me to audition for college theatre programs. They lit a spark in me that I am honored to carry as I join the California County Superintendents Statewide Arts Initiative as its new Director.
As I begin this role, I’m inspired by the unprecedented momentum of arts education in California. With new Arts Standards and Framework in place, new theatre and dance credentials, Proposition 28 funding, and new state leadership on the horizon in 2026, there is tremendous opportunity ahead
This momentum is made possible not only by the commitment of teachers who continue to inspire new generations of artists and creative thinkers, but also by the leadership of county and district offices, building sustainable systems that expand student access to music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and media arts.
It has also been shaped in large part by my predecessor, Letty Kraus. Whether in the classroom promoting arts integration, at CDE guiding the development of our standards and framework, or with the Statewide Arts Initiative providing steady direction through the uncertainty of Proposition 28’s early days, her leadership has left a lasting impact. Like many of you, I am deeply grateful for her vision, and honored to carry forward the work she championed with such heart and dedication.
I look forward to building on the Arts Initiative’s nearly twenty-year legacy by connecting, supporting, and amplifying the work of our county offices across the state. Together, we are shaping a future where every student in California has access to equitable, high-quality arts education.
The arts change lives – they changed my life. I’m grateful to join you in this work.
Kyle Holmes
Director, Statewide Arts Initiative
California County Superintendents
Student Art Featured on Membership Directory
Continuing our new tradition, a standout piece from the CISC Symposium has been selected to feature the cover of the California County Superintendents 2025–2026 membership directory. This year’s featured artwork, “My Childhood”, was created by talented student artist Karla C., from Imperial County. Congratulations to Karla for this well-deserved recognition!
Arts Integration Workshop Inspires Educators This Summer
This July, the Arts Initiative wrapped up a busy summer with its second annual Arts Integration Workshop, a five-day experience for 25 PK-6 educators hosted at the Crocker Art Museum and UC Davis.
We were delighted to be hosted by Houghton Kinsman, Adult Education Coordinator at the Crocker, where educators explored visual literacy with Kate Bowen (UC Davis), engaged in movement by dancing and responding to a minuet in the ballroom with Emili Danz (Better Humans Education), and discovered how the arts can deepen classroom learning across subjects.
At UC Davis, Daniel Mendoza, Placer County Arts lead, guided our educators through a thought-provoking tour and discussion around the iconic Egghead sculptures, which then sparked creativity for a hands-on Egghead inspired classroom activity.
The workshop was filled with fresh ideas, meaningful connections, and renewed excitement for integrating arts into everyday teaching. We’re already looking forward to next summer’s workshop!
New! Strategic Planning for Arts Education Webpage
We’re excited to announce the launch of our new Strategic Planning for Arts Education webpage created for county and district leaders, educators, and advocates working to advance arts education across California.
This new page offers a range of tools to support your planning efforts including our interactive Strategic Planning map, which features a growing collection of county and district-level strategic arts education plans. These plans serve as valuable examples for anyone looking to develop or refine their own plans. If your district or county plan isn’t on the map yet, we encourage you to submit it using the intake form on the page. By contributing, you help grow this collective resource and support peers across the state.
In addition to the map, the webpage includes curated planning resources to help guide you through the strategic planning process, from initial visioning to implementation. Whether you’re just beginning your planning process or seeking ways to refine existing strategies, this page is designed to support your journey toward a more vibrant and equitable arts education landscape in California.
New! Teach the Arts Webpage!
Prop 28 is in its second year of implementation and school districts STILL need arts teachers! We have updated our 2023 teacher credentialing document and organized it into three NEW pages on our website.
- What individuals who want to teach can do
- What school districts can do
- What colleges and universities can do
Expanding Access to Arts Education: 25-26 Community of Practice
We are excited to announce the return of our Community of Practice for the upcoming school year! Join colleagues from across the state as we explore and share new ideas and strengthen our collective practice. Topics include expanding access to arts education, Prop 28, and more.
Open to all county and district arts education leaders, PK-12 VAPA instructors, and educational partners.
Dates: 10/17, 12/5, 2/6, 3/6, 4/3
Time: 10:00 – 11:30am
Location: Virtual
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.
Kings County Office of Education
Summer of the Stage
Lakeside Union Elementary School's Theatre Week!
This summer, Kings County Office of Education had the pleasure of working with Lakeside Union Elementary School for its first-ever Theatre Week. Led by KCOE Arts Education Consultant Tawnya Larkin, students engaged in activities and games designed to build communication, teamwork, and self-expression skills before preparing for their performances. Students from grades TK through 8th took the lead in costume design, set design, prop creation, and staging, resulting in some truly impressive final performances!
Handford Joint Unified HS District's first Summer Arts Program Musical
Over the summer, Hanford Joint Unified High School District put on its first Summer Arts Program musical for students in grades 5th through 12th attending their elementary and middle feeder schools. Leading a Musical Theatre Workshop, students participated in everything from acting to backstage crew, rehearsing for the final production of MTI’s Willy Wonka Jr. On a rotating schedule of singing, dancing, and acting, these kids did an amazing job of putting on a full production after only 9 days! It was a huge success thanks in part to an amazing staff who worked hard on the show and are excited for next summer!
Staff:
Kayla West: Director/Costume Designer
Jeffrey Detlefsen: Assistant Director/Set Designer
Vivian Santos and Jennifer McGill: Vocal Directors
Kaylee Hernandez: Choreographer
Adam Long: Accompanist
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Collective Impact through the LA County District Arts Coordinator Network
Region 11 is a model for collective impact focused on arts education. The District Arts Coordinator Network Convenings provides a space for district arts leaders to gather, learn, and support each other. These convenings connect peers across school districts, exchange promising practices to ensure all students have access to the arts, and assist in staying updated on opportunities and resources from the field. There will be two virtual meetings in the 2025-2026 school year with in-person meetings to be announced. In alignment with the goals of LA County’s Regional Blueprint for Arts Education, these convenings are coordinated for the LA County Arts Education Collective by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture and the LA County Office of Education.
ECELA-bration! Celebrating Four Years
The Engage California! English Learners through the Arts project was a federal grant awarded by the Office of English Language Acquisition to the Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Center for Distance and Online Learning and Multilingual Academic Support units. The ECELA Project provided research and evidence-based professional development and family literacy programs that integrated arts in the content areas with strategies to increase literacy for English Learners (ELs) and support Social Emotional Learning. ECELA provided professional development to support improvement in classroom instruction for ELs. In addition, this project aimed to create greater equity and inclusion for ELs to participate in the arts aligned with the California (CA) English Learner Roadmap, CA Standards for English Language Arts and English Language Development.
District and school leaders gathered in August 2025 to celebrate four years of learning and growing. Participants revisited the effective arts and ELD strategies used to integrate visual arts, dance/movement and music with ECELA teaching artists. The ECELA grant included schools from Inglewood Unified School District, Rosemead School District, Los Banos Unified School District with support from the Merced County Office of Education and led by the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
Monterey County Office of Education
Fall Events in Monterey County
Click on the flyers below to learn more!
Riverside County Office of Education
The Arts at RCOE had a busy summer with its Summer Book Study on The Creative Act by Rick Rubin and the 2nd Annual Artslift Conference, which was attended by over 180 people. The fall is kicking off with an Arts Now Meeting, and several professional development workships including topics such as film, puppetry and teachers health and wellness. The 5th Annual Teen Poet Laureate competition is currenty underway and we look forward to presenting our 5th Riverside County Teen Poet Laureate at the awards ceremony and reading on October 27th. We have 4 other student arts showcases coming up throughout the school year.
Arts Now Meeting
Arts Now Riverside County is a professional arts network for administrators, arts leads, teachers, students. and arts partners. Each meeting features arts activities, prominent speakers, state and county updates, and networking time. Click on the flyer to register.
Other Fall Events in Riverside County
Click on the flyers below to learn more!
San Mateo County Office of Education
Fall Events in San Mateo County
Click on the flyers below to learn more!
Santa Clara County Office of Education
The ArtsEdConnect mini-grant applications are now available for Santa Clara County teachers to bring arts experiences into their classrooms or take their classes to arts venues or performances in the county.
Strategic Arts Planning in Santa Clara County!
Artspiration is engaging in strategic planning this year! We have also been engaging in arts strategic planning with the Franklin-McKinley School District with the support of funds from Arts and Music in Schools.
Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Carnegie Hall and the Santa Cruz Symphony Link Up Youth Concerts
It’s that time of year again when our 4th and 5th grade students sign up for the Santa Cruz Symphony Youth Concerts. The Santa Cruz County Office of Education and the Santa Cruz Symphony partner with Carnegie Hall to bring the Link Up: The Orchestra Swings! concert to our students.
Arts Happenings in Santa Cruz County
This year, the Santa Cruz COE is working with many arts organizations to bring Visual & Performing Arts opportunities to our TK-12 grade students. For more information, please see the offerings in our Arts Happenings flyer. Learn more by clicking here.
Reading and Celebrating of "Waking Up": A Collection of Teen Poetry
Join us in celebrating these teen poets at the Museum of Art & History in the Garden Room on Sunday, September 14 from 6:00-8:00 ! Listen to them read their poems about challenges in America and their hope for a better future.
Tulare County Office of Education
The Tulare County Office of Education is hosting a suite of professional learning sessions throughout the 2025-26 school year. Open to educators from Tulare County, these in-person and virtual sessions include workshops on the SEL and the Arts, arts integration, and networks and collaboratives. TCOE is also pleased to share information about several upcoming student events. To learn more about the sessions, click on the image below or visit this link.
Ventura County Office of Education
Ventura County Fair
This year’s Ventura County Fair played a positive role in the promotion of student art across the county. The display was a vibrant celebration of young creativity across Ventura County. Featuring artwork from elementary through high school students, the exhibit showcased a wide range of styles, from paintings and drawings to mixed media and digital art. On display for the entire duration of the fair, the exhibit offered thousands of visitors a glimpse into the talent nurtured in local schools. Prior to the Fair’s opening, Students from Ventura County participated in the Official Fair Poster competition, which was won by a 4th grade student from Camarillo, California. By providing a prominent platform for student artists, the fair played a key role in promoting the importance of arts education and encouraging youth to express themselves through creative outlets. The fair spanned 12 consecutive days, running from Wednesday, July 30, 2025, through Sunday, August 10, 2025.
25-26 VCOE VAPA Leadership Network
VCOE looks forward to hosting this year’s 25-26 VCOE Visual and Performing Arts Leadership Network series. During this year’s FREE networking opportunity, we welcome Sandy Seufert, an experienced Arts Education Leadership Consultant, to lead Ventura County districts/LEAs in a dynamic professional development series titled: “Flexing our Inquiry Muscle – Supporting All Arts Learners through the Power of Questions.” This series will empower leaders and Grade Span Teams to cultivate curiosity and enhance learning for all students in the arts. LEAs will gain practical insights and tools for crafting impactful questions, designing inclusive instruction, and leveraging technology for innovative lesson planning. The Network dates will be October 9, 2025, December 9, 2025, and February 24, 2026. Register here!
VAPA Showcase
The Ventura County Office of Education is proud to present its annual Visual and Performing Arts Showcase on November 5th 2025 at 6:00 PM. This exciting event gives students the opportunity to showcase their creativity. Whether it’s classroom art projects, poetry, or performance art, your work will be on display in a public space that truly celebrates student talent. Art is a powerful process that builds creativity, emotional growth, problem-solving skills, and confidence in every child.
The 2025 Visual and Performing Arts Showcase will feature the amazing work of Ventura County students at the Ventura County Office of Education Conference and Educational Services Center (CESC). If you would like to participate, please contact Shannon Krone at skrone@vcoe.org for more information. Families, educators, and community members are invited to attend and support the next generation of artists. The showcase provides a platform for students to express themselves and gain valuable performance experience. Join us for an evening of imagination, expression, and artistic excellence in Ventura County. Hors d’oeuvres will be catered for a limited time at the beginning of the event, by Pacifica High School Culinary Arts Academy. Admission is free. Event Flyer!
California Arts Education Association
CAEA Regional Conferences
South Conference
Location: La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, 501 North Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90012
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 10am – 4:30pm
Maximum attendees: 100
Central Confernece
Location: Cambria Center for the Arts, 1350 Main Street, Cambria CA 93428
Date: Saturday, November 15
Time: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
North Conference
Location: Crocker Art Museum, 216 O St, Sacramento, CA 95814
Date: October 18, 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Maximum attendees: 80
San Diego Art Exhibit and Educator Special
Date: September 13, 2025
Time: 4:00 -7:00 pm
Location: Emo Brown Foundation HQ
689 Marsat Court, Ste. B, Chula Vista, CA 91911
Contact: sandiegoarteducators@gmail.com
San Diego Art Educators Printing Workshop
Participants will explore a variety of printmaking techniques such as monoprinting, stamping, and relief printing. Educators will leave with easy to implement lessons that are sure to expand critical thinking, empower artistic expression, and connect to curriculum.
SAT OCT 18th, 2026, Time TBD, Location: High Tech High Chula Vista
Contact Bob Medina bobrobart@gmail.com or email: sandiegoarteducators@gmail.com for more information
Lemon Grove History Alive Lecture Series
CAEA San Diego Member, Alyssa Navapanich, will be a featured speaker at the Lemon Grove History Alive Lecture Series at the Lee House Cultural Center on November 6, 2025, at 7 pm
CAEA Youth Art Month
The YAM theme for 2025–2026 is The World Needs Art. Online submission date: October 14, 2025. Exhibition December 4, 2025 to January 11, 2026. Closing reception January 11, 2026, 2 pm-4 pm
Contact Theresa Nguyen yam@caea-arteducation.org OR your CAEA area representative below for more information
Northern California Chair: Maryann Schultz (maryann.schultz@gmail.com)
Central California Chair: Vacant; if interested, contact Central Area Director Vicki Smart (giraffe622@icloud.com)
Inland Empire Chair: Kristen (Ursenbach) Carrillo (kurse00@gmail.com)
Los Angeles Chair: Christine Terry (cterry@buckley.org)
Orange County Chair: Vacant; if interested, contact CAEA Southern Regional YAM Chair Kristen (Ursenbach) Carrillo (kurse00@gmail.com)
San Diego Chairs: Alyssa Navapanich, Hilary Spitzer, Grace Colletta (sandiegoarteducators@gmail.com)
California Educational Theatre Association
CETA Conference 2025
Dates: September 25th – 28th
Location: San Diego
Registration Link
AME Institute
The AME Institute Burbank 2025 Kick-Off videos are now live on YouTube, giving educators who missed it a chance to check out the incredible line-up of speakers. The Kick-Off opened with remarks from Allison Frenzel and Dr. Erika Torres from the CA Department of Education. The program followed with “Get in the Arena: AME Careers in Sports,” where AME Institute Executive Director Ashley Adams spoke with panelists Crystina Poncher (Top Rank Boxing), Laura Ramirez (ESPN Features/Originals), Whitney Unruh (Wasserman), and Surf Melendez (Arizona Cardinals). And a big congratulations to Jeff Larson, educator at Balboa High School, and Leah Medrano from the California Film Commission, who were honored with the 2025 Mitchell McClung Award for their outstanding contributions to the AME community!
This year’s AME Institute Burbank programming also featured the “AME is Everywhere” podcast, recorded live in the Soundtrap Studio. Host Shari Holly spoke with five innovators who use Arts, Media, and Entertainment skills in interdisciplinary ways to solve real world problems. Podcast guests included Margaret Kerrison (TAIT), Claire LaBeaux (NASEF), Brian Dickman (Cleverlike Studios), Matthew Dombrowski (Limbitless), and Marco Pinter (Mindclay) The episodes will drop this September—stay tuned to catch these conversations and bring them into your classroom.
Looking ahead, tickets are now on sale for the Bay Area Pop-Up on February 13, 2026, and January Software Bootcamp tickets will be available soon. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other educators and industry leaders, while exploring the tools and experiences shaping the future of the creative workforce!
Create California
Save the Dates for Arts Now Meetups 25-26
Attend the Arts Now Meetups to connect with your peers and colleagues in the community! These open-format meetings discuss the realities of the arts education field across the state, offering the opportunity to address shared challenges, share promising practices, request support, and discuss new ideas and trends in arts education. Find community, partnership, and motivation that will help you be a better arts education advocate!
Sign-up for the meetups of the new academic year here!
Your Resource Hub to Launch into the New School Year with Drive!
Navigating your student’s right to quality arts education can be complex, but we’re here to help! Understand current arts data, make an ask to your school leadership, offer solutions, work with your community, and provide our ample resources to decision-makers to develop sustainable plans for visual and performing arts courses. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or advocate, empower yourself with knowledge and ensure students receive the arts education they deserve!
The California Arts Project
Upcoming TCAP Programs 25-26
TCAP has many programs for the 2025-2026 school year. Click the flyer to learn more.
