The arts have long been an important part of the Healdsburg Unified School District community. Over the past several years, we have worked intentionally to ensure that every student has meaningful opportunities to create, perform and experience the arts throughout their education.
California’s Prop. 28 provided new, ongoing funding for arts and music education, and a grant from Creative Sonoma allowed a committee of educators to be paid for the thoughtful work of developing a districtwide Arts Education Plan. The plan was intentionally aligned with the City of Healdsburg’s Arts and Culture Master Plan, reflecting a shared commitment to making the arts accessible and visible throughout our community.
During the 2025-26 school year, two years of planning moved into action as the committee became the Arts Professional Learning Team (PLT). Members mapped essential arts standards across grade levels and created new opportunities for students to learn, perform and share their work.
HHS visual arts teacher Linus Lancaster spearheaded the Arts Education Forum in collaboration with the Healdsburg Arts and Culture Commission. That partnership has also created opportunities for student voice in community arts leadership, with an HUSD student now serving on the commission. At Healdsburg Junior High, visual arts teacher Lauren Spencer brought the first HJH Arts Night to the community, showcasing student creativity across multiple art forms.
The performing arts also continue to connect our schools and community. HJH theater teacher Danette McCormick and HHS theater teacher Monica Chavez produce plays for audiences to enjoy each year. Band teacher John Natelli provided live musical accompaniment for the most recent HHS production and shares the work of HJH and HHS student musicians through concerts throughout the year.
Students have also become teachers themselves. Older students led arts lessons for elementary classrooms, including Maria Hadley’s second-grade students, while HJH students shared their expertise in printmaking with HHS visual arts students.
Community partnerships have extended student creativity beyond school walls. Students created ceramic plates for an HHS Culinary Department Deep Roots Dinner, sourced from and served at Alexander Valley Vineyard. The Farm + Market: Healdsburg book by Liza Gershman offered another opportunity to connect young artists with the community around them.
In 2026-27, HUSD will welcome Autumn Phipps as its new certificated elementary arts teacher, expanding access to dedicated arts instruction for our youngest learners. Arts PLT members will also lead professional learning for fellow educators, sharing practical strategies for integrating the arts across subject areas.
Our next goal is to make student art even more visible throughout Healdsburg. What began as a plan is becoming a connected system of arts education shaped by dedicated educators, enthusiastic students and a community that values creativity. We are excited for Healdsburg to see what our students create next.
Local businesses interested in displaying student work in storefronts, offices, restaurants or other community spaces are invited to contact Tiffany Dougherty, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, at td********@**sd.com or 707.431.3483.
