ESD 112 Educational Service Agency

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Music, Theatre

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

I was in theater my entire 4 years in high school. My teacher, Mr. Hyde, became my lifelong friend and mentor. High school can be challenging for many students, and having a teacher that you connect with and a class you feel comfortable in can make a huge difference in your life. The skills I learned in drama as far as public speaking and being comfortable with who I am, have served me well into my adult life.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools
• Develop or expand district support for teaching artist residencies
• Support arts inclusion professional development opportunities for classroom teachers
• Support trauma-informed, culturally responsive professional development for arts teachers
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

I support SB5878 and will work closely with our Superintendent and Administration on the implementation.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

From personal experience, I can say that arts education plays a huge role in student success. I would hope that we are able to provide enough offerings and opportunities so that each student may find an art education that they connect with, find value and are able to grow and succeed as students. The providing of arts education in our schools is vital to the wellbeing of our students.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Music, Theatre, Visual Art

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

We had a neighborhood charity show about twice a year growing up called ‘The Costa Circle Players’ and we would put on plays like ‘The Music Man’, ‘West Side Story’ and “The Man from La Mancha’. I still remember being one of the Barbara Shop Quartet guys. I also sang ‘Thank Heaven for Little Girls’ in front of 1,000 people (all for charity). Being about 9 years old at the time I was not thrilled with that song as I was supposed to do ‘I have often walked down this street before’ which I liked a whole lot better but when the director changes her mind, the show must go on. Me and my older sisters started doing it when I was about 7, then I continued after they got too old until about 13. I loved it, the rehearsals were long but putting the shows on (we usually did several) were a blast. When you sing a solo in front of 1,000 people you feel you can almost do anything and it gives you confidence for the rest of your life as a public speaker which, being a school board member, will help.

I also played the trumpet in school but acting was definitely a character builder.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Research current arts program and assess needs throughout the district
• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools
• Develop or update a district level arts plan
• Develop or expand district support for teaching artist residencies
• Support arts inclusion professional development opportunities for classroom teachers
• Expand district-wide data collection for tracking and accountability
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations
• Attend art classes first hand especially in k-5 since i feel that is where we are lacking the most variety.

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

Ensure that we are complying with this bill and all k-8 and 9-12 students are meeting the requirement. Also, ensure we have the qualified teachers available to meet the requirements of this bill.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

Art even more so than sports and music is a great creative outlet for kids. Academics is using your brain but these three (Arts, Sports and Music) use more of your body where they have to learn to work in symmetry with each other.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Dance, Media Arts, Music, Visual Art

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

I have an interior design business. I am also a ballroom dancer.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Research current arts program and assess needs throughout the district
• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools
• Develop or update a district level arts plan
• Develop or expand district support for teaching artist residencies
• Support arts inclusion professional development opportunities for classroom teachers
• Support trauma-informed, culturally responsive professional development for arts teachers
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

This is already current practice in our district K-12. It is all dependent on levy funding and it would be nice if we had this funded by the state.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

Our district has a long record of supporting the arts. Even during the Covid shutdown we managed to continue our arts programs. I believe the arts is part of a well balanced education. For many of our students it can be the reason they come to school every day. We also see the positive results in our students academic achievement.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Music, Theatre

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

My music education in Evergreen Public Schools formed the foundation of a lifetime of involvement in choral music. Life is more joyful because of that foundation.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools
• Support arts inclusion professional development opportunities for classroom teachers
• Support trauma-informed, culturally responsive professional development for arts teachers
• Expand district-wide data collection for tracking and accountability
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

Access to arts and music is currently part of the educational program in Evergreen, with music in K-8, and a full spectrum of offerings in high school, available for students for over 40 years. Evergreen’s board has always supported the preservation of arts programs when there are downturns in revenue.

While I don’t anticipate that SB5878 will impose new requirements, I’ll ask that the superintendent review the State Board of Education rules (once they’re as we go through the budgeting process

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

It continues to play a similar role in education that it played in mine, growing up in Evergreen’s schools years ago. I loved my years of instrumental and vocal music. Music centered me and fostered an ability to face the rest of the day. As a young neurodivergent student (decades before those traits were well understood) I didn’t know how fundamental music education was to succeeding at school. Research has since informed us why. Kids who study music and arts do better at core academics.

Trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can only improve that offering by fostering interest in more students for their education. Learning is exponentiated even more when a student perceives physical, social, and emotional safety throughout their day. Evergreen is fortunate to have accomplished and dedicated musicians and artists at every level teaching the arts. Improvement in these practices must involve everyone in the district.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, Visual Art

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

I continued my love of the arts through college and still have a love for the arts that stemmed from that. I volunteer with arts programs and my own 9th grader is heavily involved in the HHS theater program after being in Kids Who Care production companies in Texas. I think my experiences in the arts shaped who I am heavily and helped me to grow and learn in a way that fit my brain. I believe all children should be exposed to the arts and given the opportunity to fan that flame within them!

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Research current arts program and assess needs throughout the district
• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools
• Create a local arts education task-force
• Support trauma-informed, culturally responsive professional development for arts teachers
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

Through communication and conversation with both the instructors, school staff (at all levels), and parents/students who it impacts. I believe that implementation of this will only happen fully if we rally support and get more people on board with it and talking about it.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

The arts (all kinds) are some of the best forms of healing and expression any human can have. I know that this will play a role in the connection and growth both mentally and emotionally of students in HISD.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Theatre, Visual Art

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

Not too significantly.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

Continue to hire qualified teachers in fine arts, choir, band, art, etc.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

Arts education is a valuable part of our curriculum.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Theatre

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

I ended up graduating with a Theater Arts degree. Having a great Arts program at my High School prepared me for an amazing college experience.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Research current arts program and assess needs throughout the district
• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools
• Create a local arts education task-force
• Develop or update a district level arts plan
• Develop or expand district support for teaching artist residencies
• Support arts inclusion professional development opportunities for classroom teachers
• Support trauma-informed, culturally responsive professional development for arts teachers
• Expand district-wide data collection for tracking and accountability
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations
• Expand the needs for expansive electives

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

I would support and bring the policy to the board. I would stand firm with the demand to have arts education as part of La Center’s education and pressure the board to make quick decisions to make the arts more accessible to students.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

It would help our district have a deeper understanding of human behavior, diversity, and inclusion. It would create a better learning environment focused around creativity which studies have proven better prepares students for a diverse world.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Dance, Media Arts, Music, Visual Art

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

I love art! My favorite medium during my education, was fabricating jewelry with metals. I began selling earrings in a leather shop shortly after graduating and currently have my own small successful business. It greatly impacts my life each time I step into my workshop, bringing great joy along with challenges in creating new items. Every student needs to have the opportunity to explore art in different forms.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Support arts inclusion professional development opportunities for classroom teachers
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

Since the school district I would represent as a board member is very small, with K-8 teachers each responsible for three grade levels there are unique challenges. The high school has a professional who is shared with the grade school, doing wonderful visual lessons. The high school has an individual student plan, which follows each student, meeting the requirements of the path they develop for their educational goals. Therefore, I would seek out ways the grade school classroom teachers could develop and acquire resources in order to incorporate art into their everyday instruction of basic skills.
Each student has different learning styles, so including color and visual opportunities for them to fulfill assignments would tap into these styles.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

By using trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices, students could be allowed to unlock suppressed feelings and experiences in an acceptable and advantageous way. Acceptance and a caring school community, will help unblock learning and moving ahead at their young age.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Music, Theatre, Visual Art

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

Being a part of the music and theater communities in junior high and high school provided me with a sense of family during those formative years. It positively benefited my social and emotional health as well as gave me an opportunity to learn a new language through the reading of music. I continued to be involved with the arts after high school and went on to study dance in college. Post-university I continued to dance and was with a local dance company for six years.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Research current arts program and assess needs throughout the district
• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools
• Support arts inclusion professional development opportunities for classroom teachers
• Support trauma-informed, culturally responsive professional development for arts teachers
• Expand district-wide data collection for tracking and accountability
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

I believe that our district is currently meeting the requirements of the policy. I would support the continuation of the current coursework offerings and look for opportunities to increase what we are able to provide to our students.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

Creative and artistic expression can have profound impact on how students are able to communicate with others and reflect on their own experiences. We all have different ways of learning and expressing knowledge. Ensuring that our visual and kinetic learners have opportunities to excel and thrive as well will help more of our students experience success.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Dance, Music, Visual Art

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

I came to recognize the importance of the arts on each of us individually and as a community. As a teacher, a mom and a bonafide child development nerd I have learned about the impact that the arts has on growing our brains, our social skills, and our capacity to regulate our emotions.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Research current arts program and assess needs throughout the district
• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools
• Create a local arts education task-force
• Develop or update a district level arts plan
• Develop or expand district support for teaching artist residencies
• Support arts inclusion professional development opportunities for classroom teachers
• Support trauma-informed, culturally responsive professional development for arts teachers
• Expand district-wide data collection for tracking and accountability
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

Our district currently offers arts at all our schools. My biggest concern is in our middle and high schools. With so many course requirements, many of our students find it difficult to fit an art into their schedule. Reviewing this issue and was that we can support students so that they can experience art education during their upper grade years would be the first step to assuring true access to the arts for all.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

The power of the arts to heal can not be overstated. The research is clear that when people, especially children, who have suffered trauma are given access to various forms of art they heal more quickly, have better reintegration into the community, and lead more fulfilling lives.

Which of these arts did you have as a part of your own K-12 education?

Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Art

How did the arts impact your education and life after high school?

Although I never did consider myself ìartisticî anything art related in school was meaningful. I think theater/drama/dance helped me develop confidence in public speaking and poise. There was also learning about commitment to the ìteam,î benefits of practicing and exposure to an aspect of culture I may not have had otherwise. It also helped me realize that art, dance, music was not my path.

If elected, which of these strategies would you consider to support arts education in your district?

• Research current arts program and assess needs throughout the district
• Work for a budget to finacially support arts instruction at all schools
• Create a local arts education task-force
• Develop or update a district level arts plan
• Develop or expand district support for teaching artist residencies
• Support arts inclusion professional development opportunities for classroom teachers
• Support trauma-informed, culturally responsive professional development for arts teachers
• Seek out insights from local PTAs, Booster Clubs, and arts organizations
• I would consider any effort to bolster opportunities for our students. But if art/music/theater
• etc is considered part of core curriculum and basic education then the State of Washington is falling far short of ìample funding.î

How do you plan to support and implement SB5878 this school year?

I plan to advocate with our legislature to recognize the vast inequity in the funding formulas that make it nearly impossible to grow and maintain art/music/theater programs in small schools. Small and rural school rely heavily on the community, Band Boosters and levies. Also, as our district works to rebuild following a series of challenging years, our prized music program remains at the forefront of conversations. Recruiting and retaining talented teachers is a priority in all areas, but definitely in this area. Finally I will encourage my board and superintendent to make sure these priorities are reflected in the strategic planning we are undertaking. The community and the students are very clear that this is a necessary tradition in our district.

Arts education which incorporates trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices can be uniquely beneficial, especially during this challenging period in history. How do you see the arts playing a role in student success in your district?

Like I said, art, creativity, etc has never been my path, but I have seen what it means for kids and adults. The Arts is at minimum enriching and part of a well-rounded education. But very often it is oneís identity, their voice, their salvation and survival. Kids in my district are struggling like all districts. In a rural town the healthy outlets and experiences are not ìjust down the street.î So itís critical that any student who walks through our doors is encouraged and supported in finding their creative voice in whatever medium that is meaningful to them.