MURDY Elementary School Principal Marcie Griffith, music teacher Darci Gibson, and instrumental teacher Eric Simons were honored at the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators awards ceremony this week (GGUSD photo).

The Orange County Music and Arts Administrators recognized three Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) educators for making a difference in the lives of students through arts education during a special awards ceremony at Segerstrom Center for the Arts on May 9.

Eric Simons, instrumental teacher at Irvine Intermediate School was recognized as an Outstanding Arts Educator among an elite group of 50 educators from across Orange County.  Darci Gibson, K-6 music teacher at Paine Elementary School and Mark Twain Special Education Center, received the Special Education Arts Educator Award for providing exceptional arts instruction to students with special needs.  Principal of Murdy Elementary School Marcie Griffith was one of only 11 administrators to receive an award for Outstanding Leadership in the Arts.

At GGUSD, Visual and Performing Arts programs are offered at all schools. Every transitional kindergarten through sixth grade student receives weekly music instruction and 7-12 enrollment in VAPA exceeds the state average.  Our students have opportunities to participate in Disney Musicals in Schools productions; ukulele clubs; classes in photography, art, graphic design; and a variety of extra-curricular clubs in art and music.

The Orange County Music and Arts Educator Awards are presented annually to teachers and administrators who guide and direct art programs at schools throughout the county including instrumental, theater, visual arts, choir and dance.