LEA Profiles: San Gabriel Unified School District: The Power of a Strategic Plan

by Create CA

The following is part of a series of profiles highlighting various local education agencies’ (LEAs) efforts to develop quality arts education programming for their students. These profiles intend to support LEAs in generating ideas for effective arts programming that school leaders could implement with Prop 28 funding in different contexts.

San Gabriel Unified School District: The Power of a Strategic Plan

Overview

San Gabriel Unified School District (SGUSD) established an arts strategic plan in 2019. This strategic plan was largely spearheaded and led by the district’s VAPA Program Administrator, Samantha Theisen. Although Theisen led this effort, the community was deeply involved in creating the district’s arts strategic plan. The community is engaged and excited about supporting arts education across their district, which serves a diverse population of just under 5,000 students across its eight schools. This profile showcases how the district went through a strategic planning process to support all of its students in receiving arts education in their school and highlights the important role of their VAPA Program Administrator.

Background Information

Regional information
1. District Name: San Gabriel Unified School District
2. County Name: Los Angeles County
3. California County Superintendents Service Region: Region 11
School information
1. Number of Schools: 8
2. Urban, rural, suburban classification: Suburban Urban
Teacher information (2021–22)
1. Total number of FTE teachers in district: 218.6

Table 1. Snapshot of 2021–22 Teaching Assignment by FTE: San Gabriel Unified School District

Data provided by Samantha Theisen, VAPA Program Administrator: San Gabriel Unified School District on May 24, 2024

4. Student information (2022–23)

1. Number of students served: 4,936
  1. Percentage of English language learner (ELL) students: 21.0%
  2. Percentage of students with disabilities: 11.1%
  3. Percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch (FRL): 68.0%
2. Demographics of students
  1. Percentage of African American students: 1.1%
  2. Percentage of American Indian or Alaska Native students: 0.1%
  3. Percentage of Asian students: 45.4%
  4. Percentage of Filipino students: 2.2%
  5. Percentage of Hispanic or Latino students: 41.7%
  6. Percentage of Pacific Islander students: 0.4%
  7. Percentage of White students: 3.9%
  8. Percentage of students who identify as two or more races: 2.5%
  9. Not reported: 2.7%

5. Elementary arts course information (2022–23)

1. Music
  1. Grades Tk-1: A minimum of 1 trimester per year of weekly general music instruction, taught by credentialed teacher.
  2. Grades 2-3: Weekly general music classes all year long taught by a credentialed teacher.
  3. Grades 4-5: All students have a choice between choir, orchestra, or band, taught weekly all year long by a credentialed teacher.
  4. Roosevelt Elementary: Music Immersion Experience Program – Provides daily music instruction, up to 11 hours/week, taught by teaching artists after schools. All Roosevelt students are automatically enrolled in this program.
2. Visual art and media art
  1. Grades TK-5: A minimum of 1 trimester per year of weekly art instruction, taught by a credentialed teacher.
  2. All teachers receive arts integration training from credentialed art teachers on special assignment.
3. Theater
  1. Grades 3 and 5: Receive 13 weeks of theater instruction taught by a teacher artist.
  2. All teachers have access to arts integration training from teaching artists to implement theater standards.
4. Dance

6. Middle and high arts course information (2023-24)

1. 1. Total number of arts courses offered: 89
  2. Total number of students in arts courses: 1,809

Program Description

In 2019, SGUSD established an arts strategic plan led mainly by the VAPA Program Administrator, Samantha Theisen. Although Theisen led this effort, the San Gabriel community was largely involved and played a pivotal role in shaping arts education across the district. The district includes eight schools: one traditional high school, one continuation high school, one middle school, and five elementary schools. They serve a diverse student body across the 5,000 students; around 50 percent of students are Asian, 40 percent are Hispanic, 60 percent are English language learners (ELLs), and a significant portion of the student body, close to 70 percent, is socioeconomically disadvantaged.

The district recognized prioritizing arts education would support its goal of ensuring all SGUSD students receive a well-rounded education and embarked on a strategic planning process. Back in 2009, SGUSD initially began work to establish a comprehensive, integrated visual and performing arts (VAPA) program for all students; however, this plan was shelved as economic and financial pressure impacted the district. For nine years, the district’s VAPA program remained largely the same until an in-service day brought Theisen and all district arts teachers together in 2018, and conversation related to arts programming district-wide resurfaced. By 2019, 20 community members came together, with the support of the LA County Arts Ed Collective, to create a five-year VAPA strategic plan. Theisen stated, “Having a strategic plan is everything. Without it, things get shelved, and ideas come and go.”

Leading the Strategic Plan Effort

Theisen’s journey in SGUSD began with her role as the coordinator for the Extended Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) Music Immersion Experience, an after-school initiative providing daily music education. During a district in-service session, it became clear there was a lack of professional development opportunities for arts teachers in the district, and she coordinated programming to fill this gap. With all art teachers in the same room, it quickly came to light that an arts strategic plan would help fill the needs of teachers and students across the district, and Theisen stepped up to lead the charge.

In 2018–19, Theisen, in partnership with SGUSD and the LA County Arts Ed Collective, formed a committee to carry out this effort and brought along a coach to help guide them through the process. Her passion for arts education and leadership led to the formation of a committee of 20 community members who created the five-year strategic plan. Part of this plan included ensuring there was a person on staff to oversee plan implementation, a role Theisen was ready to fulfill. This led her to her current position as the VAPA Program Administrator, overseeing all K–12 arts programming, supervising music teachers, managing the teaching artist program, and coordinating the schedules and resources for VAPA teachers.

Challenges with the Strategic Plan

The district’s art program success is a direct result of strategic planning and the relentless pursuit of excellence among district leaders. Theisen played a pivotal role in bringing the arts strategic plan to fruition, which was approved in June 2019. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as declining enrollment and limited funding, Theisen’s advocacy for arts education ensured the continued implementation of the program, thanks in part to funding obtained through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program and an advancement grant from the LA County Arts Ed Collective. As stated in the strategic plan, “It is clear to [SGUSD] that the time is NOW to undertake these efforts for the long-term benefit of ALL SGUSD students, as well as our community at large.”

“It is clear to San Gabriel Unified School District (SGUSD) that the time is NOW to undertake these efforts for the long-term benefit of all SGUSD students, as well as our community at large.” -SGUSD Arts Strategic Plan

Implementing and Funding a Strategic Plan

Like most arts programs, the SGUSD arts program requires substantial material and equipment investment, which was partly addressed through grant funds and the creative use of one-time ESSER funds. The district proactively acquired instruments, sound production equipment, cameras, and podcasting tools to support the burgeoning arts programs. SGUSD sought grants from organizations like the LA County Arts Education Collective to implement some of the programs in their arts strategic plan.

The passage of Proposition 28 marked a significant milestone for the district’s arts programming. Theisen shared, “As soon as Prop 28 was passed, all principals in the district were informed about what it is and what their responsibilities were. Principals are busy and wear multiple hats, but I was there letting them know I could help take ownership of this.” Theisen drove the effort of planning out what the district could do with these funds, aligning it to their arts strategic plan. This planning helped facilitate the hiring of full-time elementary art teachers and provided stipends for programs like picture debate, while also expanding dance and theater to all grade levels. The strategic plan, combined with these new Prop 28 funds, enabled introducing a middle school choir and the enhancing media arts at the secondary level through Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways.

Student Impact

Although the full impact of the arts program is yet to be realized, early indicators are promising. The introduction of a 5th grade music class that does not require parents to purchase or rent instruments, the addition of a jazz band and choir at the middle school level, and the annual art fest are examples of how SGUSD’s art program has begun to enrich the educational experience of students across the district. The district anticipates these programs will significantly affect students as they progress through their educational journey, and with a leader like Theisen driving the effort, San Gabriel students will continue to benefit.

Appendices

Create CA and WestEd would like to thank and acknowledge individuals who supported the creation of the LEA education program profiles for Create CA’s Prop 28 AMS Planning Toolkit.

San Gabriel Unified School District

Samantha Theisen, Visual and Performing Arts Program Administrator
San Gabriel Unified School District
theisens@sgusd.net

This profile was made possible by the generous support of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and developed by Create CA and WestEd

The following is part of a series of profiles highlighting various local education agencies' (LEAs) efforts to develop quality arts education programming for their students. These profiles intend to support LEAs in generating ideas for effective arts programming that school leaders could implement with Prop 28 funding in different contexts.

Prop 28