Mrs. Valerie Petty - Band & Orchestra

vapetty@capousd.org

I have been teaching at Newhart and this coming year marks year 28! I love this school and I get to 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 also 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 played flute, trumpet in a few jazz bands, 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 1997 Henry Mancini Institute Jazz Orchestra through the American Jazz Philharmonic. In 2010, I earned a Master's Degree is Educational Leadership with an Administration Credential California State University, Fullerton.

I have 2 amazing daughters (18 & 21), a wonderfully supportive husband, and still try to carve away a little time to play my horn from time to time. My oldest daughter, Allison, went through CUSD schools and is a senior at the University of Utah (go Utes!) to study elementary education. She starts her student teaching in a kindergarten classroom in SLC in Fall of 2024. My youngest will be a Freshman at Cal Poly SLO also studying elementary education. They love playing soccer, creating art, cooking, baking, going to the beach, and being musicians themselves. Both of my daughter's had a CUSD middle or high school band director who came through Newhart either as MY band student or as a music student teacher. Talk about full circle...makes a teacher proud!

I also like to run, love going to my daughter's soccer games, concerts, and volunteer with both of my girls. We live in Wagon Wheel and have a cute rescue puppy (chi-weenie), Paisley.

In Spring 2024, I gladly accepted 2 music educator awards! I received the SCSBOA award for "Best Middle School Teacher 2024" at their conference on Jan. 27th. Click here to see the CUSD Insider article about Tesoro's Orchestra and Mrs. Petty being honor at the conference. On Feb. 27th, I also earned the OCMAA award nomination for the OCDE Outstanding Music Educator Award. Not everyone nominated received a nomination. "It is such an honor and pleasure to receive the recognition!"

My goal for every student is to 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

• Administration 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 

• Master Teacher for Student Teachers at CSUF, CSULB, Univ. of Redlands, and Vanguard (7 students = 2006, 2007, 2009-2010, 2012, 2017, 2018, & most recent will be in 24-25)

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

• Technology Lead Teacher for CUSD, 2000-Current

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

• Elective Department Chair, 2005-2009

• 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

• Growing up she played in many performing groups including: OCYSO, Santa Ana Winds 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