CEO/Principal at McGill School of Success (MSS) a TK-5, non-profit 501(c)3 public charter school. With 170 students, our motto is “A small school with a big heart” and our icon is “Planting the seeds of knowledge”. Both are symbolic in that we offer ‘class size reduction’ with 20-24 students in each class allowing us to give individualized lesson plans focused on each student’s needs. This year, we have procured a teacher assistant in each classroom (lowering the student to adult ration by 50% or 1 adult for every 12 students), have established a one-to-one/ educational technology program with a chrome book for each student, have created smart classrooms in every room, and have established English Language Development (ELD) courses in tandem with English Language Arts (ELA). In the areas of physical education (PE) we have Youth To The Core (YTTC) an exercise science curriculum that benefits the overall development of every child run by professional Pilates consultants that educate, enrich and enhance the lives of our youth through exercise science and nutritional education. We also aspire to having a specialized Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) program offering music, dance, theater and the fine arts. Every child will learn to play the violin! We are also in the process of creating a computer lab with MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) capabilities.

MSS has a high percentage of English Learners and Title 1 students but we have a three-fold plan to address the needs of our students: educational equity through technology; language and literacy through VAPA; and second language acquisition through specialized programs.

My presentation will be at the expository level addressing all three plans on how to address the needs of our students through the Visual And Performing Arts (VAPA) utilizing Educational Technology and Specialized Program in Second Language Acquisition.

I have a Ph.D. from both SDSU and CGU in Educational Policy and Multicultural Studies, have taught the following courses: at SDSU DLE601-Language Policies & Practices; DLE931-Skills Teaching Reading Bilingual Elementary Students; Music345- World Music in Contemporary Life; and CCS310- Mexican & Chicano Music; at National University- All of the BCLAD Methods Courses; and at InterAmerican College- All of the VAPA courses. I've been an administrator at all levels (K-12 private/public/charter), a Race/Human Relations Facilitator for SDUSD, and a classroom teacher at SM/MUSD, LAUSD and SDUSD. I am also a professional musician/ composer, dancer/ choreographer, and a theater/ playwright. I have recently released two Latin-Jazz CD's (Lanuza-Siva located at i-Tunes, CD Baby & Amazon). I am married to Cynthia Morales (BFA-Juilliard/ MA-UCLA, LACHSA Dance Specialist with LACOE) and have a couple of triple-threat daughters!