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Visual and Performing Arts

Nick Stearns
Nick Stearns
Director
Enrichment and Expanded Learning
 
 

Contact

Maria Roque 
Secretary II
mroque@mvusd.net
951-571-7500
Ext. 17718

Department Overview

At our Visual and Performing Arts Department, we believe that arts education is a fundamental right for every student. Our mission is to ensure all students have access to high-quality opportunities in the visual and performing arts, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and cultural appreciation. Through comprehensive programs in music, dance, theater, and visual arts, we empower students to explore their talents, express themselves, and develop the skills necessary for personal and academic growth. We are committed to nurturing a vibrant and inclusive arts community where every student can thrive.

Programs

Our Visual and Performing Arts Department offers a diverse range of programs to nurture students' creativity and artistic expression. Core programs include band, choir, visual arts, media arts, theatre, and dance, each designed to engage students in various forms of artistic exploration. In addition to these foundational programs, we provide expanded learning opportunities to enhance arts education. These include guitar, ballet folklorico, art club, hip hop dance, and theatre workshops, giving students additional avenues to explore their passions. Through these offerings, we strive to provide every student with access to enriching, high-quality arts experiences.

Achievements

Our Visual and Performing Arts programs have achieved remarkable success, with student ensembles consistently receiving Excellent and Superior ratings at regional festivals, including SCSBOA and CMEA. Media arts students have earned awards in local film and photography competitions, while theatre students have showcased their talents in district-wide productions, receiving recognition for both individual and ensemble performances. Our visual arts program has seen student artwork featured in community exhibitions and selected for city and state showcases.

Additionally, the Moreno Valley Unified School District has been designated a "Best Community for Music Education 2025" by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation, one of only 830 school districts nationwide to receive this honor. The district is also the proud recipient of the 2022 Magna Award for Equity in Arts Education, further reflecting our commitment to excellence and equity in arts education.

BCME 2025

 

Proposition 28: Arts and Music in Schools Funding Annual Reports

Explore the impact of Prop 28 funding on arts education in our schools. View our Annual Reports to see how the Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) programs have expanded, providing more opportunities for students to engage in music, theater, dance, and visual arts.

Proposition 28:  Arts and Music in Schools Funding Annual Report Fiscal Year 2023-24

Proposition 28:  Arts and Music in Schools Funding Annual Report Fiscal Year 2024-25

Programs

Elementary

An elementary student painting with a paintbrush

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Middle School

A middle school choir performing

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High School

A high school marching band

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Student Spotlight

Canyon Springs High School CETA Awards

 

Canyon Springs Theatre Shines at CETA Festival!

Congratulations to the cast and crew of CLUE at Canyon Springs High School for earning a prestigious SUPERIOR rating at the California Educational Theatre Association's High School Theatre Festival! Out of 64 Southern California high schools, only 18 productions achieved this honor—placing Canyon Springs among the region’s most outstanding programs.

In addition to this top-tier recognition, individual awards highlighted the remarkable talent and dedication of our students. Jackson Rickard earned an Adjudicator’s Award for Acting, while Maria Gonzales received an Adjudicator’s Award for Technical Theatre. Multiple students were honored with Certificates of Merit for both acting and technical excellence, showcasing the collaborative and creative strengths of our theatre program.

These achievements reflect the core values of MVUSD’s Portrait of a Graduate—Creativity, Perseverance, Collaboration, and Communication—and demonstrate the power of arts education to prepare students for success in college, career, and life. Bravo to Mrs. Rodriguez and the entire team for their exceptional work!

 

District Art Show Winners 2025

 

Celebrating Excellence in Student Art - 2025 District Art Show Winners!

The Moreno Valley Unified School District proudly recognizes the outstanding 4th–12th grade student artists who received top honors at the 2025 District Art Show. This annual event showcases the creativity, skill, and vision of our students, reflecting the district’s commitment to arts education and the values of our Portrait of a Graduate.

🌟 BEST IN SHOW
Awarded to one student in each grade band whose artwork demonstrates exceptional technique, originality, and artistic expression:

  • Elementary (4th–5th Grade)Sophia Martin, Cloverdale ElementarySea Otters Chillin

  • Middle SchoolAileene Salgado, Vista Heights Middle SchoolMoon Over the Gate

  • High SchoolAngela Ortega, Vista del Lago High SchoolMoonlite

🎖️ SUPERINTENDENT’S AWARD
Chosen personally by the Superintendent for artistic impact and student voice:

  • Elementary (4th–5th Grade)Saphira Scofield, Creekside ElementaryBeautiful Inside and Out

  • Middle SchoolLizabeth Segura, Sunnymead Middle SchoolJuice Wrld

  • High SchoolDiana Perez, Valley View High SchoolFeminine

These talented students were honored with special prizes including certificates, gift cards, gift baskets, and districtwide recognition. Congratulations to all participants and their dedicated teachers for making this celebration of student artistry truly memorable!

Honoring a Champion of the Arts

Daisy Tate

 

Ms. Daisy Tate and the VSSN Daisy Award!

The Moreno Valley Unified School District proudly recognizes Ms. Daisy Tate, a distinguished philanthropist, decorated veteran, and arts advocate, for her extraordinary support of our 2025 District Art Show. Through her generosity, all monetary awards across grade levels were funded—ensuring that student creativity was celebrated not just with recognition, but with tangible support and encouragement.

In addition to underwriting every prize, Ms. Tate personally selected three student winners for her VSSN Daisy Award, honoring artworks that reflected excellence in artistic voice, expression, and emotion:

  • Elementary SchoolZarah Sotomayor, Moreno ElementaryElegant

  • Middle SchoolSavanna Madrigal, Sunnymead Middle SchoolThe Butterfly’s Golden Gaze

  • High SchoolYailyn Ramirez, Valley View High SchoolBeauty

💐 About Ms. Daisy Tate
A professionally trained ballet dancer, Daisy Tate, Esq., brings the perfect balance of artistic insight and community leadership to her role as a supporter and judge. With a background in military service and law, she has long championed justice, equity, and access—particularly for veterans, students, and marginalized groups. Her passion for the arts is rooted in her own performance experience and her belief in the healing and empowering nature of creativity.

Daisy’s philanthropic work spans mental health, education, and arts engagement. Through her leadership and compassion, she continues to build bridges across communities—using the arts as a transformative tool for connection and growth. Her partnership with MVUSD exemplifies the values of our Portrait of a Graduate and affirms the importance of community in shaping the next generation of artists and leaders.

Thank you, Ms. Tate, for being a visionary force in our students' lives. Your impact is profound and deeply appreciated.

Art Educator of the Year - 2025

Kelsey Appis

 

Art Educator of the Year:  Ms. Kelsey Appis!

Kelsey is a powerhouse of creativity, heart, and resilience. She stepped up in a big way this year by taking on the huge task of organizing the District Art Show, all while juggling her many roles on campus—and in life. Whether she’s leading PBIS efforts, creating personalized Cricut designs for clubs and students, or introducing her classes to exciting materials like ceramics and 3D printing, Kelsey does it all with energy and love.

What makes Kelsey truly stand out is how deeply she cares. She’s the kind of teacher who shows up for everyone—her students, her colleagues, and her own two strong kids, who reflect the same grit and determination she models every day. She’s tough when she needs to be, always kind, and full of brilliant, out-of-the-box ideas that make her classroom and school a better place. Fierce, passionate, and endlessly creative, Kelsey is a shining example of what it means to be an art educator—and a remarkable human being.

Elementary VAPA Teachers

Julie Balos

Itinerant Music Teacher

Linton Dean

Elem Itinerant Theatre Tch

Gina Ghiani

Elementary Pe Teacher

Brandon Harb

Elementary Music Teacher

Sherrie Housel

Elementary Art Teacher

Emily Kelley

Elementary Pe Teacher

Nicholas Kelly

Elementary Music Teacher

Erika Martinez

Elementary Art Teacher

Tania Martinez-Jack

Itinerant Art Teacher

Terrilyn McFarland

Elementary Art Teacher

Timothy Newkirk

Elementary Music Teacher

Kameryn Pfeiffer

Itinerant Art Teacher

Allison Rafanan

Elementary Music Teacher

Maria Roque

Secretary Ii

Cameron Ruffin

Elementary Music Teacher

Michelee Smyth-Tynes

Itinerant Dance Teacher

Stephanie Steele

Itinerant Music Teacher

Kristi Tam

Elementary PE Teacher

Ryan Taylor

Elementary Art Teacher

Kathryn Villareal

Itinerant Art Teacher