For every musician, there’s someone who inspired them to play and helped shape their musical journey. For many elementary students in the Irvine Unified School District, that person is likely music teacher Katherine Findlay.
Findlay, who teaches at Meadow Park, Woodbury and Westpark elementary schools, as well as the Irvine Adult Transition Program, was recently named a semifinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award. She is one of 25 semifinalists selected from more than 2,000 nominations across the country.
Sponsored by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum, the award recognizes teachers from kindergarten through college who have made an impact on students and are dedicated to inspiring the next generation of musicians.
Over the years, Findlay has also received Irvine Unified’s Teaching in Excellence Award, the SCSBOA Rising Star Award, the Orange County Outstanding Arts Educator Award, and the Orange County Special Education Arts Educator Award.
Ten finalists will be announced in November, and one winner will be chosen. That educator will be flown to Los Angeles to attend the Grammy Awards, honored on stage during Grammy Week and receive $10,000 plus a matching grant for their school.
To nominate a teacher or apply for next year’s award, visit the Grammy Museum website.
Here are some other stories from the week:
- OCDE has launched Orange County Impact Schools, a new program to recognize and learn from innovative schools that set up their students for success. The 12 schools selected will receive special certificates and a badge to be displayed.
- Fremont Elementary in the Santa Ana Unified School District will be renamed after Latino activists Virginia and William Guzman, who were one of the five families to take legal action against Orange County school districts in their effort to end forced school segregation.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a wide range of education bills at the close of the 2025 legislative session, enacting new laws on literacy, school safety, nutrition and student well-being.
- According to data from the College Board, more California students are taking and passing Advancement Placement exams.
- The Anaheim Union High School District and Fullerton College are launching a Game Design and Esports Pathway to prepare students for careers in the global gaming industry. The program debuts Nov. 3 at the district’s College and Career Fair.
- A new study has shown that children who use increasing amounts of social media in their early years develop poorer cognitive skills, especially in reading, vocabulary and memory tests. Children can grow accustomed to the instant feedback and reactions provided by social media, negatively impacting their ability to sit and learn.
- Among a variety of education bills signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, SB 640 will make it easier for qualified California students to be admitted to California State University. Students who complete required courses and maintain a sufficient grade point average will be automatically accepted to participating campuses.
- The Laguna Beach Unified School District released the LBUSD 100-Day Report after new Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass launched a listening and learning initiative. Dr. Glass spoke with parents, staff, community members and school leadership to better understand the state of the district and its needs.
- Despite the U.S. government shutdown, the 2026-2027 FAFSA application has officially opened with applications set to be processed by the Education Department.
- Former heavyweight boxing champions James “Buster” Douglas and Lamon Brewster visited OCDE’s Otto A. Fischer School to teach students about redemption and courage. Their message especially resonated with the students, who reside in Orange County Juvenile Hall.
- After being named an Orange County Impact School, Sunburst Youth Academy celebrated the recognition with a ceremony. Dr. Bean and ACCESS Chief Dr. Maria Martinez-Poulin were among those in attendance.
- Teacher unions from across the country are partnering with tech giants like Microsoft and OpenAi to teach educators how to best utilize AI.
- The California State University system will look to secure a state loan of $144 million to provide its workers with a one-time bonus roughly equalling 3 percent of their total pay.
- After making improvements in graduation rates, California State University is shifting its focus to connecting graduates with jobs and graduate school opportunities.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.