The Education Theatre Association honored Fullerton Union High School with the distinction of being named a Premiere Community for Theatre Education in April.
Recognizing only 25 schools nationally, the association honors programs that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide theater access and education all students. The Fullerton Union High School District program was the only campus in the state to be on this list.
“Receiving this award is a reflection of the hard work and talent of our teachers and our community and the commitment we have to educate our children well, especially in the arts,” said Principal Laura Rubio.
Research conducted by the Hewlett Foundation in 2021 found that powerful arts education programs help young people develop their voice and the skills and confidence to express themselves.
“Theatre at FUHS is important because it provides a safe space for every student on campus” said senior Lily McWatters. “Personally, theatre has provided me with a comfortable place where I can express fully who I am as an individual.”
Also earning a spotlight is the high school’s theatrical arts director, Michael Despars. OCDE’s Orange County Music and Arts Administrators honored the educator with the 2023 Jim Thomas OCMAA Award for Theatre.
“Beyond putting on highly-acclaimed performances, Michael provides real-world theatre experiences that go beyond the classroom to increase student ownership, and prepare students for their future academic and career endeavors,” said Jim Thomas, formerly OCDE’s arts coordinator.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond are encouraging students to pre-register to vote during High School Voter Education Weeks, which begins Monday, April 17.
- Vanguard University in Costa Mesa appointed Dr. Jeff Hittenberger to lead the School of Education as part of a new academic structure. Hittenberger formally served for eight years as OCDE’s chief academic officer.
- Following a nationwide search, the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Education has unanimously appointed Dr. Alex Cherniss as its new superintendent.
- The artistic abilities of students and adults with disabilities will be celebrated at the 47th annual Orange County Arts and Disability Festival on April 29.
- OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors will welcome students back to its popular Summer Day Camp in June at the Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach.
- The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District Board of Education voted 3-2 to introduce a revision to the district’s current book selection and evaluation policy that will allow trustees to approve book titles before educators and administrators from the literature review committee examine them.
- California’s public school enrollment dropped for the sixth straight year, but data released by the state Department of Education suggests the declines are slowing. This year in Orange County, enrollment for kindergarten rose by nearly 2,500 students.
- Citing low enrollment and funding concerns, the Anaheim Union High School District is considering cutting its Arabic language program, believed to be the only one of its kind in Orange County.
- The Orange County District Attorney’s office cleared all but one Orange Unified School District against claims that the board violated California’s open meeting laws, the OC Register reported.
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, Twitter and Instagram.