Kyrene students will benefit from more than a dozen grants awarded to their arts teachers. Seventeen teachers will now be able to purchase instruments like Mariachi guitars and bongo drums, secure residencies in which practicing professionals will teach alongside them, and stock up on supplies for student theatre productions or art projects.

The City of Tempe awards grants of up to $750 each year to be used for art and music supplies and after school drama support. Additional grants of $2,000 are awarded to support professional clinician visits to provide hands-on experiences for students and professional development opportunities for teachers. Kyrene educators who qualified for the grants include fine arts, performing arts and music teachers. The funds, totaling over $15,000, will fund projects and clinician visits at six Kyrene schools for the 2024-25 school year.
 

Kyrene de los Niños  

Art teacher Linda Sun will pay for a guest ceramic artist to work with a Kindergarten and 1st grade class to guide them through the process of ceramic making from start to finish.

Music teacher Mike Blair will use the grant to purchase a drum set and bongos, expanding access to percussion instruments, especially for 4th and 5th grade students.
 

Kyrene del Norte

Music teacher Scott Harnisch and art teacher Sara Drury collaborated on their submission and will use the grant to support Norte’s annual drama production.
 

Kyrene de la Mariposa

Music teachers Mandy Azose and Ruben Johnson collaborated on their submission and will use the funds to purchase a bass xylophone and alto xylophone.

Art teacher Ashley Wutich will use the grant to purchase supplies that will enable Mariposa students to explore a diverse range of 2D and 3D art projects and allow students to experiment with various art materials such as creating and glazing ceramics.
 

Kyrene de las Manitas

Music teacher Lisa Sellers will use the grant to purchase percussion instruments and sheet music for Manitas music classes.

Art teacher Sarah Craig is using the grant to purchase mixed media art supplies for young artists.
 

C.I. Waggoner

Art teacher Caitlin Sabato will use the funds to introduce Gelli printmaking to students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, enhancing students’ understanding of printmaking techniques.

Music teachers Angie Marshall and Whitney Cuzzolina will use the grant to purchase percussion instruments and ukulele stands for young Waggoner musicians.

Kyrene Middle School

Theatre teacher Erin Passmonick will pay for a resident artist to reach set painting techniques to technical theatre students, integrating art and theatre.

Theatre teacher Rachel Self will use grant funds to help procure props for upcoming school productions.

 Orchestra and Mariachi teacher Julio Contreras is purchasing additional supplies and adding new string guitars to his popular Mariachi program.
Band teacher Selena Ryan will use the funds to purchase new reeds for middle school band students, ensuring resources are available so that all students can play their chosen instruments.

 Art teacher Chiu-Chu Ting will pay for a guest artist to bolster students’ knowledge and skills in art by exploring various artistic media.
 

Many of these teachers are repeat recipients of the Arts in Education grants. The grants promote continued learning and creative expression by enhancing the offerings Kyrene schools provide.