Kyrene students will benefit from more than a dozen grants awarded to their arts teachers, according to a news release from the Kyrene School District. 

More Kyrene educators were awarded Arts in Education grants from the City of Tempe this year than in the last two years combined. Approximately 15 teachers will now be able to procure everything from Mariachi guitars and elementary ukuleles to professional accompanists for concerts and supplies for student theater productions or art projects. 

Each year, Tempe awards grants up to $750. Kyrene educators who qualified for the grants include fine arts, performing arts and music teachers. The funds, totaling over $10,000 will go towards projects at six Kyrene schools for the 2022-23 school year.

Kyrene de los Niños 

Art teacher Sara Drury will use the funds to purchase art supplies for developing young artists.

Music teacher Mike Blair will use the grant to purchase ukuleles for students in grades 3-5.

Kyrene del Norte 

Music teacher Scott Harnisch will use the grant to support Norte’s annual drama production.

Kyrene de la Mariposa

Music teachers Angela Marshall and Ruben Johnson collaborated on their submission and will use the funds to purchase cajons, traditional Peruvian percussion instruments.

Art teachers Sonja Murphrey and Susanna Yazzie collaborated on their submission and will use the grant to purchase supplies for Mariposa art classes and clubs.

Kyrene de las Manitas

Music teacher Lisa Sellers will use the grant to purchase percussion instruments, including Bongo drums, ukuleles, claves and plastic rhythm sticks for Manitas music classes.

C.I. Waggoner 

Art teacher Brooke Warwick will use the funds to purchase art supplies for Waggoner’s art classes.

Kyrene Middle School 

Theater teacher Erin Passmonick will use the grant to purchase wearable microphones in a variety of skin tones to provide equitable access to the program for all students. 

Chorus teacher Hannah Kimball will pay for professional accompanist services for student concerts.

Orchestra and Mariachi teacher Julio Contreras is adding new string guitars to his popular Mariachi program. 

Art teacher Kenosha Drucker will acquire new drawing tools to allow students to create in new media.

Band teacher Selena Ryan will use the funds to purchase new supplies for middle school band students.

Art teacher Chiu-Chu Ting will pay for a guest ceramic artist to work with students to help develop their craft.

Many of these teachers are repeat recipients of the Arts in Education grants, with Contreras earning the award for the fifth year in a row. These grants promote continued learning and creative expression by enhancing the offerings Kyrene schools provide.