School Board

SEATS AVAILABLE: 3

Christopher G. Salvo

City: La Canada Unified
Position Seeking: Board Member

Question 1: Please share a meaningful experience you had with art (visual, dance, drama, music, media arts) while growing up and its impact on you.

Question 2: How can arts education support student outcomes such as English language development, reducing the achievement gap, and preparing youth for college and/or meaningful careers?

Question 3: What do you think the role of the School Board should be in ensuring that students have continued access to a broad range of study subjects, including the arts (broadly defined)?

Question 4: Do you see a role for arts education in the development of district Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs)? If so, how would you hope to use arts education to advance the eight priority areas identified in the LCAP template?

Kaitzer P. Puglia

City: La Canada Unified
Position Seeking: Board Member

Question 1: Please share a meaningful experience you had with art (visual, dance, drama, music, media arts) while growing up and its impact on you.

Question 2: How can arts education support student outcomes such as English language development, reducing the achievement gap, and preparing youth for college and/or meaningful careers?

Question 3: What do you think the role of the School Board should be in ensuring that students have continued access to a broad range of study subjects, including the arts (broadly defined)?

Question 4: Do you see a role for arts education in the development of district Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs)? If so, how would you hope to use arts education to advance the eight priority areas identified in the LCAP template?

Dan Jeffries

City: La Canada Unified
Position Seeking: Board Member

Question 1: Please share a meaningful experience you had with art (visual, dance, drama, music, media arts) while growing up and its impact on you.

Question 2: How can arts education support student outcomes such as English language development, reducing the achievement gap, and preparing youth for college and/or meaningful careers?

Question 3: What do you think the role of the School Board should be in ensuring that students have continued access to a broad range of study subjects, including the arts (broadly defined)?

Question 4: Do you see a role for arts education in the development of district Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs)? If so, how would you hope to use arts education to advance the eight priority areas identified in the LCAP template?

Joshua C. Gottheim

City: La Canada Unified
Position Seeking: Board Member

Question 1: Please share a meaningful experience you had with art (visual, dance, drama, music, media arts) while growing up and its impact on you.

Question 2: How can arts education support student outcomes such as English language development, reducing the achievement gap, and preparing youth for college and/or meaningful careers?

Question 3: What do you think the role of the School Board should be in ensuring that students have continued access to a broad range of study subjects, including the arts (broadly defined)?

Question 4: Do you see a role for arts education in the development of district Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs)? If so, how would you hope to use arts education to advance the eight priority areas identified in the LCAP template?

Joe Radabaugh

City: La Canada Unified
Position Seeking: Board Member

Question 1: Please share a meaningful experience you had with art (visual, dance, drama, music, media arts) while growing up and its impact on you.

I grew up with music and the arts. It's extremely important to me, and contributed to who I am today. I played piano, saxophone, and guitar as well as sang in many choirs. I was lucky enough to travel the world in college, while singing for the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club.

A meaningful experience I had with the arts, was the role it played in connecting me with others that shared my same passion. My dad was in the military, and we moved around a lot as a kid. Under normal circumstances, this reality is very hard for kids, as they are forced to re-assimilate as they move from school to school. No matter where me moved, music and the arts helped me immediately connect with and make great friends with like-minded kids and families who worked hard to make sure were accepted. Music and the arts has been invaluable in my life.

Question 2: How can arts education support student outcomes such as English language development, reducing the achievement gap, and preparing youth for college and/or meaningful careers?

I'm a believer that music and the arts provides an amazing creative outlet and confidence builder for kids.

They learn how to focus, work as a team, and link effort to shared results (e.g. executing a great performance).

Music and the arts builds well-rounded kids,

Question 3: What do you think the role of the School Board should be in ensuring that students have continued access to a broad range of study subjects, including the arts (broadly defined)?

The School Board should work hard to enable the holistic development of our students, preparing them for the future.

I'm proud of our District's long-standing mission to foster the personal development and academic achievement of our students.
Music and the arts (as well as other extra-curricular activities) are key enablers to mission and critical for us to sustain.

Question 4: In light of the Local Control Funding Formula and development of district Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs), what are your creative solutions for achieving goals in the eight priority areas?

Our District works hard to engage a broad range of constituent groups in soliciting and prioritizing LCAP goals. Inevitably, creative solutions are the norm....especially in the area of raising the necessary funds to protect valuable programs like music, arts, athletics, and more.

Our community and key fund raising groups work hard to articulate and align on needs, then engage the community closing the gaps. Many example of "creative" fund raising solutions exist (e.g. Partner in Excellence, Wine Auctions, Jog-A-Thons, Spring Gala, and more).