The Chula Vista Elementary School District’s (CVESD) Superintendent Eduardo Reyes, Ed.D., was recently recognized for his commitment to creativity and arts education at the Turnaround Arts: California annual leadership awards ceremony on February 7, 2024.

CVESD has partnered with Turnaround Arts: California, a nationally recognized nonprofit, to provide high-quality arts instruction to its students. The organization supports schools to enhance their school-wide arts programs by offering a range of activities, including arts-integrated math and history curriculum, murals, poetry and drumming workshops, family art nights, and more. Turnaround Arts also provides funding and support for teacher coaching and professional development, art supplies, partnerships with local arts organizations, arts curriculum development, and strategic planning.

Decades of research show that students who receive arts-rich instruction see significant improvement in their academic performance, particularly in reading and math. Moreover, they are five times less likely to drop out of school and four times more likely to obtain a bachelor's degree.

“The arts have been a powerful tool to improve the well-being of our students, deepen their engagement in classroom learning, and empower teachers to meet student needs better,” says Superintendent Eduardo Reyes, Ed.D. “I am honored to receive this recognition, which shows my commitment to ensuring that all students in our district have access to arts education.”

The Creative Leadership Award acknowledges select superintendents from across California who have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to providing equitable arts access in their schools. The award is the first of its kind and aims to encourage more leaders to prioritize arts education in their districts.