Welcome to VAPA Connections

AWARD-WINNING ARTS TEACHERS 2025-2026

• J.P. Balmat | Music Teacher - Mission Bay High School | Finalist - GRAMMY Music Educator Award 2026

• Marc Dwyer | Music Teacher - Correia Middle School | CMEA Paul A. Shaghoian Middle School Jazz Educator Award (January 2026

• Matthew Mulvaney | Music Teacher - Mira Mesa High School | CMEA Richard L. Levin Orchestra Educator Award (January 2026)

• Robin Dye | Elementary VAPA Teacher, TK-3 | Teacher of the Year, January 2026, VAPA Department

AWARD-WINNING ARTS TEACHERS 2024-2025

VAPA SPOTLIGHT AWARDS 2025

Artistic Achievement

• Rylan Bigler - Student, Canyon Hills High School

• Zara Exconde - Student, SCPA

• Angel Garcia - Student, Hoover High School

• Brady Newell - Student, Mission Bay School

• Jeanette Sydnor - Student, SCPA

Artistic Growth

• Genesis Brito - Student, Hoover High School

• Oliver Davis - Student, Mt. Everest 

• Maren Williams - Student, Marston Middle School

Artistic Innovation

• Lola Anderson - Student, McKinley Elementary 

• Kati Behumi - Teacher, Hoover High School

Creative Community Engagement 

• Stacey Allen - Teacher,  La Jolla High School

• Michael Fiedler - Teacher, Canyon Hills High School

• Paula Rivera Corona - Student, Freese Elementary School

• Jill Soulé - Parent, Canyon Hills High School

• Alejandro Tapia - Teacher, Hoover High School

• Playwrights Project - Community Partner

Creative Leadership

• Nicole Cantalupo - Teacher, Canyon Hills High School 

• Jaydah Heald - Student, Clairemont High School

• Glendy Hernandez Orduna - Student , Madison High School

• Richard LeGerrette - Teacher, La Jolla High

• Milena Treviño - Student, SCPA

Rising Star

• Eric Loschen - Teacher, Crawford High School

• Celeste Pastran - Student, Zamorano Elementary School

• Revekah Ramirez - Student, Morse High School

• Sarai Reyes - Student, Bell Middle School

• Mila Vila - Student, Zamorano Elementary School

Ann Marie Haney Advocacy Award 

• Dr. Cynthia Larkin - Principal, Morse High School

AWARD-WINNING ARTS TEACHERS 2023-2024

• Meera Ramanathan | Visual Arts Teacher - Zamorano Fine Arts Academy | CAEA 2023 San Diego Area Ruth Jansen Award for Exemplifying and Promoting Excellence in Visual Arts Education

• Marielena Teng | Choir Teacher - Mira Mesa High School and Challenger Middle School | Pearson-Silver Burdett Choral Educator Award, December 2023, California Music Education Association - Southern Border Section

• Ben Abada | Instrumental Music Teacher - Point Loma High School | New Teacher Award, December 2023, California Music Education Association - Southern Border Section

• Kayla Rodgers | Elementary Music Teacher - VAPA | Teacher of the Year, January 2024, VAPA Department

VAPA SPOTLIGHT AWARDS 2024

• Colette Hopper | Theatre Teacher - SDSCPA | VAPA Spotlight Award for Artistic Achievement, January 2024

• John O'Donnell | Music Teacher - Pacific Beach Middle School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Artistic Achievement, January 2024

• Tamara Paige | Music Teacher - SDSCPA | VAPA Spotlight Award for Artistic Growth, January 2024

• LaTanya Lockett | CCTE Performing Arts Teacher - Lincoln High School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Creative Community Engagement, January 2024

• Art Spurlock | CCTE Media Arts Teacher - Mira Mesa High School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Creative Community Engagement, January 2024

• Cathy Hickman | Theatre Teacher - CPMA | VAPA Spotlight Award for Creative Leadership, January 2024

• Mark Gonzales | Music Teacher - Hoover High School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Creative Leadership, January 2024

• Adam Miller | Music Teacher - Hoover High School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Rising Star, January 2024

SCHUCHMAN & MACKENZIE-HANEY MUSIC AWARDS 2024

• Mark Gonzales  | Hoover High School | Secondary Choir

• Marc Dwyer  | Correia Middle School | MS Instrumental

• Adam Miller  | Hoover High School | HS Instrumental

• Aaron Keane  | VAPA Elementary Music Team 

AWARD-WINNING ARTS TEACHERS 2022-2023

• Trishaa Camp | Dance Teacher - Scripps Ranch High School | SDUSD High School Teacher of the Year, May 2023

• Matt Mulvaney | Music Teacher - Mira Mesa High School | SCSBOA All-Southern Honor String Orchestra conductor, January 2023

• Sara Freese | Music Teacher - Crown Point Junior Music Academy | Peripole General Music Educator Award, December 2022, California Music Education Association - Southern Border Section

• Matt Mulvaney | Music Teacher - Mira Mesa High School | Gold Award of Recognition, April 2022, Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA)

VAPA SPOTLIGHT AWARDS 2023

• Jennifer Dossett | Music Teacher - Clairemont High School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Artistic Achievement, March 2023

• Jessica Rogawski | Visual Art Teacher - San Diego High School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Artistic Achievement, March 2023

• Jason Berman | Media Arts Teacher - Millennial Tech Middle School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Artistic Innovation, March 2023

• Meera Ramanathan | Visual Arts Teacher - Zamorano Fine Arts Academy | VAPA Spotlight Award for Artistic Innovation, March 2023

• Danny Jones | Music & Theatre Teacher - Knox Middle School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Creative Community Engagement, March 2023

• Brianna Valeska | Music Teacher - Grant K-8 | VAPA Spotlight Award for Creative Community Engagement, March 2023

• Teri Ang | Theatre Teacher - Horace Mann Middle School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Creative Leadership, March 2023

• Cassandra Brown | Music Teacher - Wangenheim Middle School | VAPA Spotlight Award for Creative Leadership, March 2023

SCHUCHMAN & MACKENZIE-HANEY MUSIC AWARDS 2023

• JP Balmat  | Mission Bay High School | HS Instrumental

• Marielena Teng  | Mira Mesa High & Challenger Middle | Secondary Choir

• Paula Richardson  | Wilson Middle School | MS Instrumental

• Matt Lyons  | Oak Park Elementary School | Elementary prep-time music

• Wyatt Ellison  | Elementary VAPA music