Vista, CA – Two teachers from Vista Academy of Visual & Performing Arts (VAPA) have been honored as ‘Women of the Year’ by California Assemblymember Laurie Davies.
The Women of the Year program was founded in 1987 and created to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of women across California who have significantly impacted their communities. Assemblymember Bev Hansen (R) and Assemblymember Sally Tanner (D), initially created the program because the California Legislature had no events planned for March, which is Women’s History Month.
The program showcases the extraordinary achievements of women whose ‘unwavering determination, inspiring leadership, and profound compassion… underscores the vital role women play in shaping our state’s social, cultural, and economic fabric.’
Surprised By The Honor
Katie Caldwell, VAPA’s theater teacher, and Monica Sanders, the school’s dance teacher, now join the prestigious list. They received the surprise news of their win from VUSD’s Superintendent Dr. Matthew Doyle.
Unbeknownst to the teachers, the parents of one of their students, who attends the after-school intensive art program, had nominated them.
Katie Caldwell -“We were both shocked!” laughs Caldwell. “Neither of us expected to be nominated for, let alone win, such a prestigious award.” Caldwell has been at VAPA for 10 years and has been teaching for over 20 years. Before becoming a teacher, she was a professional musical theater actor.
She gained her undergraduate degree from Berklee College of Music, a master’s degree from Pepperdine University, and her MFA in Musical Theater from San Diego State. Professionally, she performed off-Broadway and on cruise ships, and worked at San Diego’s Old Globe Theater.
“I like to think that I bring all of that professional training and experience into the classroom to inspire the artists of tomorrow,” she smiles.
Monica Sanders Sanders’ arts trajectory started young: “I started dancing at age seven. I quickly fell in love with it and knew really early I wanted to teach dance.” She did her undergraduate degree and MFA at UC Irvine and gained her teaching credential from CSU Long Beach.
“I feel really fortunate to be teaching at an elementary school because kids are not often exposed to the arts that early,” says Sanders. “With dance, especially with young students, they don’t have that thought of ‘I can, or I can’t do’ something. They just move. I love that we have six years with them, so we’re really able to watch the child grow, develop, and use art for expression to build self-confidence.”
Caldwell illustrates this perfectly with a story of her conservatory’s recent musical performance of Alice in Wonderland: “The first time my lead in the show (Alice) auditioned for conservatory, she cried her eyes out. She could barely get through singing her name, and now she’s standing up there as a fifth grader leading the show.
“The self-confidence, poise, teamwork, discipline, self-expression, and creativity that the kids get through a different lens – other than just pen and paper or typing on a computer – is incredible. They are really using a higher level of thinking skills through the arts.”
Sanders agrees. “Add to that, problem-solving. The arts really ask students to step out of the box and find new ways to think. It all strengthens children’s perseverance and helps them develop the grit to overcome mistakes and struggles and think, ‘It’s okay, that’s how we grow.’
Teaching Goes Beyond the Subject Matter
“I think people often forget that teaching goes beyond the subject. Of course, we teach our content, but we’re helping students build confidence, express themselves, and navigate the challenges that come with being a kiddo growing up.
“At VAPA, it’s six years of those really early educational years where if kids say ‘I can’t’, it’s about getting them to understand ‘you can’t yet. But we keep trying, and we keep growing.’”
“Every child is a storyteller in some way, shape, or form,” concludes Caldwell. “And it is our job as teachers to help them find their voice and shape their stories.”
Women of Impact Across San Diego County
Caldwell attended the Women of the Year awards ceremony, where she met other recipients and heard their stories. “I was blown away by how much they serve their community. Some were working to end food insecurity with school children, or helping domestic violence abuse victims, and others work with the LGBTQIA community. It was such an honor to be part of this group.”
VAPA’s proud Principal Benjie Walker says of her award-winning teachers, “Katie and Monica are not just advocates for the arts. They are heroes of the arts. They go above and beyond for our students in everything they do.
“We’ve had many students with special needs and English learners who have thrived in their classes, programs, and productions. You can’t put a price tag on that. The arts have their own language and are so amazing because it changes lives.”
Read the Original Article: https://www.thevistapress.com/two-vista-usd-teachers-named-women-of-the-year-by-assemblymember-laurie-davies/