I was talking with a young person after an Opera SLO performance at the Center for Performing Arts, and the student said, “Wow, you have been a teacher that long?” Yes, and I have enjoyed every moment because seeing our former students become successful, productive, and positive adults gives me confidence in the future. Karen Salvador’s 2021 Music Educators Journal article on the joy of teaching music explains how teaching music can foster courage, peace, and resilience. Since taking office, I have promoted local arts partnerships with our schools to boost academic success. Collaborations between arts organizations and schools that include professional artists working with students in programs are highly beneficial.
I was lucky to take part in the 2025 Opera SLO New Year’s Eve Gala at the PAC, which featured 200 performers and musicians. Fifty of these participants were students working alongside professionals from the local community, across California, and even from New York. Schools throughout San Luis Obispo County benefit from numerous arts outreach programs. Most notably, these activities are not funded through regular budgets but are supported by local arts patrons, foundations, and grants. In South County, the Clark Center Arts in Education Outreach Program provides programs for students in the county’s largest school district, Lucia Mar Unified. The Poly Arts for Youth (PAYF) program is Cal Poly Arts’ educational enrichment initiative for students of all ages throughout the county. Studios on the Park in Paso Robles and the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation collaborate with the community to deliver arts outreach programs that enrich the community. Other groups, such as Opera San Luis Obispo, Wine Country Theatre, Mary Bianco of the Moca Foundation, retired teachers Bob and Carol Grosse, and the SLO Career and Technical Education Foundation — which I started shortly after taking office — sponsor local student events. These are just a few examples that foster the creative spirit of San Luis Obispo County.
Luciano Pavarotti said, “For me, music-making is the most joyful activity possible, the most perfect expression of any emotion.” In addition to personal expression and growth, our local economy benefits greatly from the arts. According to a recent Arts and Economic Prosperity Survey, arts and related activities in San Luis Obispo County boost the local economy, generating over $30 million in economic activity. The arts are also among the most popular Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways chosen by San Luis Obispo County students. The Central Coast Economic Forecast highlights the positive impact the arts have on our local economy. Our county is becoming more vibrant culturally and artistically because of the dedicated individuals who call the Central Coast home. Students participating in the performing arts develop a sense of community, communication skills, collaboration, public speaking abilities, empathy, and compassion. I hope this article continues to spark discussions among all educational stakeholders about the power of involvement in arts outreach as volunteers, patrons, or participants. It is an honor to serve as your county superintendent of schools.
“I started singing when I started talking.” — Mariah Carey
