Focus on TUSD - June 2007

OMA and Fine Arts News
OMA Program Wins Two Major Awards
Gov. Janet Napolitano honored the Opening Minds through the Arts (OMA) Program with Arizona's outstanding Arts in Education award in April. The governor presented the award at the Camelback Inn in Phoenix with a crowd of over 600 people from throughout the state looking on. Judges chose OMA from 25 nominees in the Arts in Education category.

Joan Ashcraft, TUSD Director of Fine and Performing Arts/OMA, and Patricia Lopez, TUSD's deputy superintendent, accepted the award, which was an original piece of art created by Arizona artist Hilary Meehan.

"This is the most prestigious art award offered in Arizona, and it is an exceptional honor to receive it on behalf of the teachers and artists who implement the program," Ashcraft said.

Twenty people from TUSD, the OMA Program and the OMA Foundation also attended the ceremony.

The Governor's Arts Awards, now in its 25th year, celebrates individuals, corporations, community organizations, artists, arts educators and programs. The celebration is presented by the Arizona Citizens for the Arts, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the governor's office. Proceeds from the dinner help advance Arizona Citizens for the Arts' mission of increasing discussion and awareness of the importance and impact of the arts in achieving quality of life, educational excellence and economic health for Arizonans and Arizona enterprises.

The second award was presented in early May by Arizona State Superintendent Tom Horne at a banquet honoring schools and innovative initiatives with the Spotlight on Success award. OMA was recognized for its dramatic student achievement results and improved student attendance and discipline. The Cavett and Davidson elementary schools were named as particularly distinguished.

Davidson Principal Art DeFilippo, Arts Integration Specialists Karen Fields from Cavett and Karen Yeager from Davidson, along with Lopez and Ashcraft accepted the award. In another category, Miller Elementary School and Rincon High School were also recognized.

Both OMA awards were presented to the Governing Board at the June 12 meeting.

OMA, which began in 1999, operates in 37 TUSD elementary and middle schools, serving 17,000 students during the school year.

OMA Foundation Awarded Grants and Contributions
The OMA Foundation has received contributions from the Tucson Federal Credit Union, Emerald Foundation, the Big Arizona Music Festival, and the 4th Avenue Business Alliance totaling $170,000. In early July, the Foundation will find out whether it will receive two other grants totaling $29,000.

The Foundation's contributions to OMA are used primarily to pay the professional teaching artists, a critical component that contributes substantially to the program's success, explained Dr. Joan Ashcraft, the TUSD Fine Arts Department Director/OMA Director.

OMA founder Gene Jones is a finalist for the Civic Ventures Purpose Prize that recognizes seniors who are give significant personal financial contributions to their communities. The winner of this prize will be announced at the end of the summer.

Fine Arts Summer Institute, July 30 -- Aug. 3
The TUSD Fine Arts Department invites K-12 teachers to participate in the July 30-Aug. 3 Fine Arts Institute, where they will create music, dance, drama , and visual arts and learn how to integrate these art forms into lesson plans. Over 175 teachers and artists joined the first FASI in May and June. The second session will feature sessions presented by the Smithsonian Institute, OMA artists, master classroom teachers, and arts integration specialists. Workshops with the Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, and Zuzi Dance Theatre will highlight presentations that these organizations will offer TUSD students in the fall. Schools bringing at least four team members will receive 30 student tickets to a UA Presents event in the 2007-08 school year.

TUSD - Proud Supporter of Small Classes

All photos in the June issue by Jes Ruvalcaba of Communications & Media Relations.

The deadline to submit material for the August Focus is Friday, August 3. The Focus will be published Monday, August 13. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the Focus Online Submission Form.