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Three SAUSD Schools Awarded 3-Year Disney Musicals in Schools Programming
The Disney Musicals in Schools (DMIS) is awarded through Segerstrom Center For the Arts (SCFTA). With this partnership, participating schools receive rights to a Disney Musical Production. Through this experience, students are engaged in learning the theatre, music and dance content necessary to participate in a musical. Teachers are provided professional learning through industry professionals provided by SCFTA to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to put on a production. Students have the benefit of these artists, particularly in the first year. The end of the year culminates with all participating schools in Orange County having the opportunity to perform at the Segerstrom Center Performing Arts Center on a professional stage with professional technical support.
There are 16 participating schools in Orange County. This opportunity is awarded after a rigorous grant approval process, including an interview with the school’s staff and administrative leadership.
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Teen Arts Council – Collaboration with Bowers Museum
SAUSD has an established partnership with the Bowers Museum to bring college and career preparation skills to 50 students. The partnership is expanded in support by the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation and Career Technical Education. In previous years, we have developed an Artspiration Track where previous TAC members will be involved in project based learning to develop aspects of this district-wide celebration of the arts to make it more student-centric.
The Teen Arts Council program is designed off the 2009 IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) report defining various skills as essential to success in the 21st Century and reported on ways museums and cultural institutions could approach the development of models to “help citizens build such 21st century skills as information, communications and technology literacy, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, civic literacy, and global awareness.”
While the Bowers Museum Teen Arts Council focuses on career opportunities within the creative industries, the list of Life and Career Skills from the 2009 IMLS study provides a backbone for the program’s curriculum that allows for the exploration of skills that are necessary and applicable across ALL industries.
(To view our 2018 Artspiration event, click here.)
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Turnaround Arts Comes to SAUSD
At Willard Intermediate and Sierra Preparatory Academy, arts education is taking center stage as a result of their participation in Turnaround Arts, a signature program of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Turnaround Arts empowers high-need schools with arts resources, training and arts integration across all subject areas as a strategy to address broader school challenges. Nigel Lythgoe, creator and judge of the Fox Television show, "So You Think You Can Dance" is Willard Intermediate's Turnaround Artist and has built a rapport with the school community as a result, even judging the school’s talent show in 2017.
Click here to visit the Turnaround Arts California webpage.
Photo caption: Willard students attend dress rehearsal of SYTYCD show on August 24, 2017.
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Santa Ana Youth Arts Leaders
In 2019, SAUSD led the state by creating an ASB for the arts where students examined data and began to identify needs for districtwide arts education and enrichment opportunities. In year 2, through Covid, SAUSD Arts engaged 44 students in grades 6-12 with 10 teacher-leaders. Activities include monthly meetings, artmaking activities, community mural development, advocacy activities, social media engagement, and a youth leadership conference.
In Fall of 2020, youth art leader, Walter Scott presented at the state-wide conference, The GRID.
In Spring of 2021, youth art leader, Chloe Ruiz was recognized for her Student Voices Campaign honorable mention.
