Spring 2015 Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys: Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education District 2
Candidate order: Roy Boulghourjian, Evan Dagger, Marcela Rojas
As part of its work to connect voters and candidates, Arts for LA presents these Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys to promote dialogue around issues related to arts education and its benefits.
Survey responses provided by each candidate are for voter information purposes only. Arts for LA does not endorse candidates seeking office. We are committed to fostering respectful, nonpartisan dialogue about issues relating to arts and culture. For more information, please read about our mission and values or our FAQ.
All eligible candidates were contacted to participate in the survey. If you would like to submit new or revise existing responses, please contact Cristina Pacheco at [email protected] or 213-225-7580.
Arts for LA thanks the Pasadena Arts Council for supporting the process as a local partner. The Actors Fund, KCET Artbound, California Alliance for Arts Education, LA2050, LA STAGE Alliance, Latino Arts Network, Otis College of Art and Design, and the Social & Public Art Resource Center (SPARC) served as Regional Partners by promoting Arts & Culture Candidate Surveys throughout Los Angeles County.
Voting for Pasadena Unified School District will be held on Tuesday, March 10.
1 seat is available in this election. Elections are at large; voters may vote for any of the eligible candidates in this election.
For more information on where to vote, visit the Los Angeles County Clerk/Registrar-Recorder’s Office website.
Question 1: Tell us about a meaningful experience you had with art (visual, dance, drama, music) while growing up? (Approximately 75-100 words)
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I attended TCUSD schools which have a performing arts program head-and-shoulders above most districts in the surrounding area. I started playing the cello at age eight, and played until i graduated. Along the way, I also picked up the double-bass. I played in the high school orchestra, musicals, jazz band, as well as their show choir, the Brighter Side Singers. I was active in the drama productions, too. After high school, I was active int eh drama department at Cal State Los Angeles, as well as driven t perform as a stand-up comedian around the greater LA area.
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Question 2: What role do you think creativity can play in supporting key priorities of the district, such as reducing the drop out rate, closing the achievement gap, and preparing more students for college eligibility and/or meaningful careers? (Approximately 75-100 words)
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My experiences in public school at TCHS essentially centered around my involvement in their performing arts program. I self-identified as a performer, and it gave me a purpose and circle of friends at school. It got me to school, motivated me excel in academia in order to perform, and it opened up social opportunities all developing children/teens need.
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Question 3: Los Angeles USD district has embarked on an initiative to restore meaningful sequential arts education into its core curriculum. What do you feel are the strengths and the weaknesses of the plan? (Approximately 75-100 words)
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I feel any effort is a good start. Unfortunately I am not informed of the particulars of performing arts in the Pasadena Unified School District. My experiences are entirely from TCUSD both as a student, and as a science teacher teaching there for the last ten years. My aspiration to the PUSD BOE is motivated partially by my desire to see public education grow to a robust and nurturing place for all students. I will take my experience from TCUSD and find ways to grow them in PUSD.
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Question 4: How can your district make the Los Angeles USD arts education plan, and its progress on the plan, more visible to parents and leaders in your community? (Approximately 75-100 words)
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Create a Performing Arts Booster Parent/Community association. Find collaborative venues in the city to showcase PUSD students, such as the Boston Theater, Ice House Comedy Club, and the Pasadena Theater. Participate in the inter-school competitions for orchestra, band, and even ComedySportz improv competitions (which I coach at TCHS, and would love to see Pasadena pursue).
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Question 5: In light of the new funding structure for school districts in the state (i.e. the Local Control Funding Formula), how do you see arts education aligning with the eight new priority areas? (Approximately 75-100)
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Pasadena has four high schools/secondary schools that could easily be presented as campuses specializing in certain kinds of performing arts; say, music at Pasadena High, Drama at Marshall, Fine Art or Media Arts at Blair, for instance... Given that Los Angeles is a huge hub for entertainment, to not direct students to potential careers in Hollywood seems particularly obtuse. We could easily increase enrollment by re-imaging PUSD with a strong -- even core -- arts curriculum.
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