Principal, Arts Director honored by state music educators

Cadman Elementary School Principal Elizabeth Ballard and Dr. Karen Childress-Evans, Director of the Visual and Performing Arts program at San Diego Unified, have been honored by the Southern Border Section of the California Music Educators Association.

Ballard received the 2013 Elementary Administrator of the Year Award for her "outstanding support of music education in San Diego County." According to the Association, she works collaboratively at her school to provide each student with a diverse education in a safe, supportive environment that promotes self-discipline, motivation and excellence in learning through the arts.

Ballard was also lauded for creating a team of teachers and staff at Cadman that is "dedicated to creating a challenging and supportive environment which promotes academic excellence and social competence for students to become confident, successful, and contributing members of our global society."

"Music and the arts have contributed greatly to student success at her school where student standardized test scores jumped over 80 points in one year due in a great part to integrating music into the curriculum," said Dr. Childress-Evans, who supervises visual and performing arts programs across the district. "Congratulations to Elizabeth Ballard for excellence in promoting music education to elementary students in San Diego County."

Dr. Childress-Evans received the prestigious 2013 Fortissimo Award from the Association, "for her outstanding leadership in music education in San Diego County," according to the association.

The Fortissimo Award is given to music advocates whose work to promote quality music education for all students has resulted in national, regional and local recognition. Dr. Childress-Evans represented San Diego Unified by accepting the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) 2013 Best Communities for Music Education in America Award. She is an advisor on the Board of CMEA-SBS, a professional musician and educator, and has worked to increase the number of students enrolled in music programs across the district over her 9-year tenure.

Throughout her multi-faceted career, Dr. Childress-Evans continues to be a strong advocate for quality arts instruction in our schools and continues to dedicate herself in collaboration with other arts advocates and educators to further arts education for all students.