Mrs. Valerie Petty - Band & Orchestra

vapetty@capousd.org

I have been teaching at Newhart and this coming year brings me to year 30! I love this school & we have loads of fun doing what we love to do.

Being a part of a musical family was an important part of my upbringing. My father was a middle school music teacher in Santa Fe Springs for 35 years. I began playing the French Horn in 3rd grade which was fun, exciting, thrilling, hard-work, and friend making. I have also learned the flute, played trumpet in jazz band, and sung in choirs. I went to U.S.C. (fight on!) on a full scholarship (thanks to the French horn) and earned a Bachelor's Degree of Music in Music Education and California Teaching Credential while learning to play many, many more instruments, including piano, percussion, and strings. I have also performed in numerous bands and orchestras throughout the years including the the 1995 All American College Band at Disneyland, the 1996 National Orchestral Institute in Maryland, and the Henry Mancini Institute Jazz Orchestra through the American Jazz Philharmonic in 1997. In 2010, I earned a Master's Degree is Educational Leadership with an Administration Credential California State University, Fullerton.

I have 2 amazing daughters (20 & 23), a wonderfully supportive husband, and still carve away a little time to play my horn. My oldest daughter, Allison, went through CUSD schools and graduated from the University of Utah (U of U) with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a Utah teaching license. She hopes to teach kindergarten soon but in the meantime she is pursueing a Masters in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Elementary Arts Integration at the U of U while substitue teaching in CUSD and neighboring districts. My youngest is starting her junior year at Cal Poly SLO also studying elementary education, is studying abroad in Florence this Fall, is a Cal Poly Ambassador, and participating in the University Summer Arts Education Research Project. 😉 They both love playing soccer, creating art, cooking, baking, going to the beach, running, and being musicians themselves. Both of my daughter's CUSD music teacher's went to Newhart either as MY band student or as a my student teacher. Talk about full circle...makes a teacher proud!

Outside of teaching, I like to go for walks with our dog, watching soccer or football games, going to concerts, and travel. We live in Wagon Wheel and have a cute rescue dog (chi-weenie), Paisley.

In Spring 2024, I received 2 Music Educator Awards! The first one was the SCSBOA award for "Best Middle School Teacher 2024" at their conference on Jan. 27th. This was in recognition of being the best middle school teacher in Southern California. Click here to see the CUSD Insider article about Tesoro's Orchestra and myself being honored at the conference. On Feb. 27th, I also earned the OCMAA award nomination for the Orange County Department of Education Outstanding Music Educator Award. Not everyone nominated received a nomination. "It is such an honor and pleasure to receive the recognition!"

My teaching goal for every student is that they enjoy music, gain a greater love for music now and in their future, learn more than they thought they ever knew they could, to work as a positive member of their musical team to make amazing music and most importantly to have fun! One of my favorite music quotes is "music can change the world because it can change people." Bono

• Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from USC, May 1997

• K-12th Grade Single Subject Music Credential from USC, May 1997

• Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from CSUF, May 2010

• Administrative Credential from CSUF, May 2010

• Band & Orchestra Teacher at Newhart M.S. from 1997 - Current

• Choir Teacher at Newhart M.S. from 1997-1998 & 2012-2017

• 2024 Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association "Middle School Teacher of the Year"

• 2024 Orange County Music & Arts Administrator Award Nominee for Outstanding Middle School Music Educator 

• 2016 Newhart M.S. Teacher of the Year

• Master Teacher for Student Teachers at CSUF, CSULB, Univ. of Redlands, and Vanguard (7 students = 2006, 2007, 2009-2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, & 2024-2025)

• Manager of District Honor Groups for 6 Seasons (various years, most recent in 2019)

• Technology Lead Teacher for CUSD, 2000-Current

• Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association "Middle School Teacher of the Year" 2024

• Elective Department Chair, 2005-2009 & 2024-Current

• Induction Mentor for New Teachers 2023-24

• CUSD VAPA Representative 2023-Current

• High School Graduate from Troy High School, Fullerton, 1997

• Local freelance French horn player playing in various local groups, 1988-Current

• Performed as a member of Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra, Santa Ana Winds Youth Marching Band, Tournament of Roses Honor Band, All CA State & All Southern CA Honor Bands & Orchestras, National Orchestral Institute, Henry Mancini Institute, Debut Chamber Orchestra and in the Disneyland's All American College Band

Mrs. Alex Forester - Band, Choir & Guitar

arforester@capousd.org

2025 - 2026 will be my first year teaching at Newhart but I am no stranger to the district! I am so excited to join the music department and share my love of music and the arts with students!

I grew up in Mission Viejo and attended Carl Hankey Elementary, Newhart Middle School and Capistrano Valley High School, loving my music classes throughout. I am primarily a flute player but picked up trombone in high school and college, and have dabbled in everything else over the years. I started my college journey at Saddleback Valley College before auditioning for and transferring to UCSD. I played in as many groups as I could throughout college from wind ensembles, to orchestras and chamber groups. I also worked closely with composition majors at UCSD, debuting pieces written for flute. Once I finished my performance degree at UCSD, I began coaching music within CUSD at Tesoro H.S., Capistrano Valley H.S., Dana Hills H.S. and Newhart M.S.. During my masters program at UCI, I was fortunate enough to return to Newhart and complete my student teaching with Mrs. Petty as my mentor.  

Following my student teaching I spent one year in Fountain Valley School District, teaching choir and general music at Newland, Gisler and Plavan Elementary Schools. I spent the next six years in Orange Unified School District at Yorba Middle School, teaching Band, Orchestra and Guitar ensemble classes. Teaching group guitar classes was a new experience for me, but after taking some lessons myself that summer, I quickly began to enjoy both playing and teaching the instrument. So many students know of a friend or family member who has a guitar sitting unused in a garage somewhere - it is nice to breathe some new life into them! Coming back to Newhart, where I first fell in love with music, is a dream come true and I can't wait to bring my all to this wonderful music program.

I recently got married to my husband, Josh, who I met in grad school at UCI. We even held our wedding on the college campus campus and Mrs. Petty was there! Josh is a high school physics teacher which makes us a household of educators. The darling little flower pup you see in our photo above is Zuzu, the 4 year old mini-goldendoodle. To say we are animal people is an understatement - Zuzu definitely rules our home. I also love houseplants and have about 30 occupying every available surface of our home (all non-toxic to pets of course!). 

In addition to music, I am also passionate about the visual arts. I have always enjoyed drawing and painting but this Summer, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take a pottery class and had a blast! I am a strong advocate for trying new things and never being too old to learn a new skill. Pottery was humbling; a lot of pieces failed or did not come out how I imagined them. However, the experience reinforced that patience is everything and that sometimes the journey is more important than the product. Try to enjoy learning even if you are not amazing at something first try - by your third or fourth small bowl it really starts coming together. Just don't ask to see the vase.

I am passionate about all students having access to music should they choose to pursue it. Music can seem so daunting with all of the rehearsals, equipment, performances and practice time but it is so rewarding, and we're here to help! There are very few things that have brought me such lasting happiness, and connected me with such wonderful people as music. Music brings us together and lets us share in something wonderful.

• Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance from UCSD, June 2014

• K-12th Grade Single Subject Music Credential from UCI, June 2018

• Master's Degree in Teaching from UCI, June 2018

• Band, Choir and Guitar Teacher at Newhart, 2025 - Current

• Band, Orchestra and Guitar Teacher at Yorba M.S. in Orange Unified School District, 2019 - 2025

• O.C. GRIP teacher mentor 2023 - 2025

• PreK-5th Grade General and Vocal Music Teacher for Fountain Valley School District, 2018 - 2019

• Student Teacher at Newhart 2017 -2018

• Music Coach for CUSD 2014 - 2018

• Performer in the Orange County Flute Association 2010 - 2018

• Private Flute Teacher 2010 - 2021

• Graduate of Capistrano Valley High School, Class of 2009

Michael Ellerby

Percussion Coach

Ann Ludwig

Oboe & Bassoon Coach

Christy Alesi

Violin & Viola Coach

Karen Deaner

Cello Coach

Christine Allen

String Bass Coach