For Immediate Release
The VAPA Foundation Announces 2019 VAPA Enhancement Program Recipients
Twenty-One San Diego Unified Teachers Receive Funding
for Visual & Performing Arts
SAN DIEGO (Dec. 18, 2019) - Twenty-one San Diego Unified teachers will receive awards to underwrite visual and performing arts (VAPA) related activities and purchases funded by the VAPA Foundation’s 2019-2020 VAPA Enhancement Program. The VAPA Enhancement Program or VEP, enables any San Diego Unified teacher to apply for funds to enhance the quality of, and access to arts education in the classroom or school. The VAPA Foundation funds arts enhancements not covered by a school’s budget.
The VAPA Enhancement Program or VEP will fund field trips for interactive musical education and artist residencies in dance, theater, music and media arts. Funding for arts equipment range from ukuleles to voice recorders and digital music labs to a laser cutter for media sculpture. Each successful applicant linked the request to ongoing curriculum goals. Requests for funding ranged from $260 to $2,500 with ten teachers receiving $2,500. Recipients include elementary, middle and high schools throughout the district (see list below). For example, Caitlin Black, an art teacher at East Village Middle College High School, received a $2,500 award for an artist residency/field trip cross-curricular experience combining marine biology with visual art. Her students will engage in ocean awareness through photography with an artist in residence from Outside the Lens. The project will culminate with an exhibition of the students’ photography at San Diego City College Gallery in December.
“We were excited to see applications with greater depth of arts learning for students and unique partnerships with our arts and culture organizations including Playwrights Project, Malashock Dance, Outside the Lens, David’s Harp Foundation and Guitars in the Classroom,” said Larry Baza, President of the VAPA Foundation Board of Directors. “A minimum 2,100 students will directly benefit from the VEP projects with additional impact expected to school communities through culminating student performances, art exhibitions and participation in state and national festivals. Plus, the reach extends onward to future years with the purchase of new equipment.”
This year, the VAPA Foundation increased funding for VEP awards by more than 50 percent to a total of more than $34,000. This increase in funding was made possible, in part, by a partnership with UC San Diego and by donors from the community who recognize the impact a meaningful arts education has on students’ attendance, graduation rates, college readiness, civic pride and cultural awareness.
About the VAPA Foundation:
The VAPA Foundation believes that all students benefit from an education rich in the arts – from field trips to museums and theaters, to bringing professional artists into the classroom, to training teachers in their craft or best practices for arts integration. The VAPA Foundation is committed to connecting students and teachers to resources beyond the scope of a school budget and to recognizing student achievement in the visual and performing arts via recognitions, concerts and collaborations. For more information about the VAPA Foundation visit vapafoundation.org or call 619-256-2700.
2019-20 VAPA Enhancement Program Recipients
| FIRST | LAST | SCHOOL | SHORT DESCRIPTION |
| Mike | Baum | Lincoln HS | Playwrights Project "Write On!" residency |
| Caitlin | Black | East Village HS | Outside the Lens artist residency and marine biology classes |
| Alyson | Erickson | Linda Vista ES | Malashock Dance (Math in Motion) |
| Michael | Fiedler | Serra HS | Color guard/Winter guard floor and equipment |
| Andrea | Lemaitre | San Diego School of Creative & Performing Arts | National High School Dance Festival |
| Matthew | Lyons | Oak Park ES | Digital music production lab (partnership with David's Harp Foundation) |
| Don | Masse | Zamorano ES | Laser engraver/cutter (media/sculpture curriculum) |
| Bill | McClain | Carver ES | Malashock Dance (Math in Motion) |
| Lony | Mendez | Audubon | Materials to continue media arts/video integration |
| Francesca | Miller | Hamilton ES | Ukuleles (in partnership with GITC) |
| Matthew | Mulvaney | Mira Mesa HS | CMEA State Band and Orchestra Festival |
| Shelly | Reshes | Jones ES | Malashock Dance (Math in Motion) |
| Zach | Rhines | SCPA | Voice recorders for assessment |
| Karen | Ritchey | Ocean Beach ES | Classics4Kids: "Tubby the Tuba" with Malashock |
| Kayla | Rodgers | San Diego HS | Professional Development - Harmony University |
| Garner | Saguil | Dingeman ES | Ukuleles (in partnership with GITC) |
| Patti | Steele | Paradise Hills ES | Ukuleles - Guitars in the Classroom Residency |
| Debra | Volk | Garfield ES | SD Junior Theatre arts integration |
| Lara | Wuhrmann | Toler ES | Keyboard and materials |
| Maj | Xander | Montgomery MS | PGK Dance Residency |
| Julie | Yaeger | Standley MS | Hausmann String Quartet Residency |
CONTACT: Maureen Magee, Communications Director, (619) 725-5578.