BRAVO to DISTRICT K NOMINEES

“Bravo” to three outstanding District K arts teachers, DeLynn Schoenholtz, elementary music; Marcia Barryte, Dodson Middle School and Denice Smith, San Pedro High School, who were nominated for the prestigious Los Angeles Music Center’s BRAVO Award honoring exemplary arts educators and schools. The three teachers are among 60 nominees selected from hundreds of applicants throughout Los Angeles County and have successfully passed the first stage of a rigorous review process.

Each instructor proudly represents a different arts discipline and level. DeLynn Schoenholtz is an elementary music teacher and travels to five different schools throughout District K, Towne Avenue, 232nd, Bandini, Van Deene and Barton Hill. She has been sharing her love of music with students and teachers for six years and has a simple philosophy: “I believe once a child experiences music, the human spirit has been awakened. I love my students and their teachers and adore what I do each day.”

DeLynn Schoenholtz			Marcia Barryte

Marcia Barryte, the Dodson Middle School drama instructor has been at the school for 14 years and began with one theatre class. She now teaches five full classes, has an active Thespian Troupe, a Drama Booster Club and a deep commitment and belief in the importance of middle school theatre programs. She feels that her job is to expose her students to a wide world of theatrical opportunities and though they may not continue in theatre, the skills learned in her drama program will be easily transferred to other areas of their lives. She enjoys watching her students find those special parts of themselves that they did not know existed and “to see the world through the eyes of artists…”

Denice Smith has been teaching visual arts at San Pedro High School for eight years and is a third generation SPHS alumnus. She credits her former high school art teachers for encouraging her to explore and follow her path and is excited to be “home.” Denice currently teaches drawing, painting and design and was Art Department Chair for two years. She gets the most satisfaction from students who suddenly discover accomplishment and are ‘blown away” by what they’ve been able to create.

	Denice Smith

The final winners will be announced at the Gala Awards Dinner on February 24, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Three BRAVO Awards will be presented, one to a school, one to an arts specialist and one to a general classroom teacher. The two winning teachers will each receive $4000. Last year, South Shores Performing Arts Magnet won in the school category, we hope that may happen again for one of our outstanding arts teachers!