GUHSD VAPA Strategic Plan Executive Summary (PDF)

Kirsten is a proud graduate of Santana High School– class of ‘83!! Whut??

Kirsten Giard taught theatre at Valhalla High School from 1991 to 2014.  She taught  theatre and Humanities at IDEA Center High School from 2014-2019.  She served as the theatre teacher/director and VAPA Co-coordinator at Granite Hills High School from 2019-2023.  She is very excited to serve as the new VAPA TOSA effective Frebruary 2023.  

She has a BA in Theatre and a Masters in Curriculum and Education from SDSU as well as a Masters in Theatre Design from Southern Oregon University.  She ius currently studying fashion design through and online program through FIDM.

Kirsten is also a proud parent of two fabulous adult children who participated in the arts when they were in high school.  Her daughter is a theatre person and visual artist, and her son is a band musician who works with Marching Bands throughout San Diego County, Indoor Drumlines and travels with Drum and Bugle Corps through the summer.

Kirsten has worked with local community theatres as a Board Member, Technical Director, Director and Designer. 

She works as a teaching artist with The La Jolla Playhouse and the Juvenile Court Schools teaching Technical Theatre to incarcerated youth.  She also provides Theatre Teacher workshops in Technical Theatre through LJP.

She is co-creator of Teach Tech Theatre, a small business focusing on helping Theatre educators navigate the world of teaching Tech Theatre, as well as creating curriculum and designing productions.

She co-founded the San Diego Educational Theatre Association in 1996 and has served on their board since.  

She served as a teacher leader for the Grossmont Union High School District Visual and Performing Arts Department helping to create the District Strategic Plan for the Arts.  

She has been recognized at the school, district, county and state level for her excellence in teaching and directing. 

Kirsten was awarded Educator of the Year by the California Educational Theatre Association in 2010. Kirsten was chosen Teacher of the Year for Valhalla in 2004 and IDEA Center in 2018. Kirsten was awarded the 2018-2019 GUHSD Innovation and Collaboration Award for her work with Junior Humanities and Project Based Learning.

In her spare time, she has no spare time… but if she has a few moments, she is refinishing furniture, painting, crafting, or going to Disneyland.