VAPA
Equity, Access and Excellence in Arts Education
Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) refers to the disciplines of visual arts, dance, drama/theatre, music, and literary arts. The SFUSD's VAPA office is located with SOTA at the McAteer campus, and administers arts programs within the District. It is a part of the SFUSD’s Academic and Professional Development (APD) office.
VAPA’s Mission
Equity, access, and excellence in arts education for every student in every school is VAPA's vision and goal. Bringing arts into the classroom and students to the arts in our powerfully creative and artistically diverse community, VAPA seeks to build and enhance 21st Century skills by encouraging students, teachers, and parents to view themselves as lifelong learners who are inspired by the arts and to act as creative participants in our school communities.
Viewing the arts both as stand-alone subjects taught by credentialed
specialists, and as powerful partners to academic subjects through
interdisciplinary and arts-infused classes, VAPA works to teach the whole
child and prepare all of our students for fulfilling lives and future jobs.
Thinking in new and creative ways, strengthening our
students' unique creative voices, and allowing them to take risks,
improvise, and work both individually and in ensembles, arts
education is used to harness the power of the imagination to prepare our
students to participate in meaningful ways in their own future
communities, jobs, and families.
VAPA provides dynamic professional development for teachers and administrators designed to enhance their classroom practice, and to inspire them as creative leaders in the educational process.