Valencia Elementary School

Our art program combines a balance of teacher-directed and child-directed art projects. Our classroom is a safe, inviting space for all first, second, and third grade students. While in art class, students get a chance to use a variety of materials and supplies, they get to be imaginative, creative, learn critical thinking and problem solving skills, and collaborate through the art making process. We incorporate various themes, look at and discuss professional artists, and practice lots of different art techniques and concepts. Art class is a place for students to learn how to make mistakes and persist, to creatively explore, play with ideas, use their imagination, and have fun making art!  

 

Music is being taught to all grades at Valencia, TK-6th, once a week as part of the Save The Music grant. Dr. Corbin has been inspiring young musicians since 1997, focusing on bringing music education into the world of children through engaging games, play, singing, movement, and joy. With Orff Level certification and advanced jazz degrees, including a doctorate from the University of Illinois, he combines musical expertise with a child-centered teaching approach and fosters improvisation and composition within all of his classes. After 12 years of teaching middle school in Southern California, he and his wife, also an elementary music teacher, transitioned to elementary education in 2021, joining Pajaro Valley Unified and relocating to Aptos, CA, with their daughter (a student at Valencia). Alongside his work at Valencia Elementary, Dr. Corbin teaches jazz big band at Cabrillo College and performs locally, with past collaborations including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and The Temptations.

 

Science

Sarah Baumgart has been teaching Science all around Santa Cruz County since 1999 and has been teaching in PVUSD since 2006.  She has experience teaching all grade levels K-12 and has taught seminars at UCSC. When she is not teaching she likes to be outside with family and friends at the ocean and in our forests. She also loves to travel domestically and abroad.