Three GGUSD Educators Receive Awards as Stars in Arts Education

• Friday, May 11, 2018

The Orange County Music and Arts Administrators recognized three Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) educators for making a difference in the lives of students through arts education during a special awards ceremony at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on May 9.

Eric Simons, instrumental teacher at Irvine Intermediate School was recognized as an Outstanding Arts Educator among an elite group of 50 educators from across Orange County.  Darci Gibson, K-6 music teacher at Paine Elementary School and Mark Twain Special Education Center, received the Special Education Arts Educator Award for providing exceptional arts instruction to students with special needs.  Principal of Murdy Elementary School Marcie Griffith was one of only eleven administrators to receive an award for Outstanding Leadership in the Arts.

“Garden Grove Unified School District has always made it a priority to offer our students a robust Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Program because we know how important music and art are to the growth and development of students,” said Dina Nguyen, Board of Education trustee. “We are so proud of our educators for all they do to enrich the lives of students through music and art.”

At GGUSD, Visual and Performing Arts programs are offered at all schools. Every transitional kindergarten through sixth grade student receives weekly music instruction and 7-12 enrollment in VAPA exceeds the state average.  Our students have opportunities to participate in Disney Musicals in Schools productions; ukulele clubs; classes in photography, art, graphic design; and a variety of extra-curricular clubs in art and music.   

The Orange County Music and Arts Educator Awards are presented annually to teachers and administrators who guide and direct art programs at schools throughout the county including instrumental, theater, visual arts, choir and dance.

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