Teaching Artist ResidencIES

What is a Teaching Artist Residency?

CLARA’s Teaching Artist Residency program brings a professional teaching artist into your classroom for weekly lessons to deliver VAPA standards-aligned arts education in Music, Theatre, or Dance for grades TK-6.

10- or 15-week CLARA residencies qualify for AMS or Prop 28 funds using the 20% provision for arts education through Arts Partnership Programs or using additional Prop 28 funds if your District has submitted a waiver.

Where does CLARA currently provide Teaching Artist Residencies?

2025/2026: Serving 9,510 students in over 300 classrooms per week
* 151 classrooms in Natomas Unified School District (TK-6 + SDC)
* 95 classrooms in Sacramento City Unified School District (TK-6 + SDC)
* 71 classrooms in Elk Grove Unified School District (TK-6 + SCC)

What VAPA content is taught by grade level?

Each 45-minute lesson plan, drawn from the Performers Ready! curriculum for elementary school Music, Theatre, and Dance, is specifically designed to develop and support students’ social and emotional learning needs, prioritizing self-expression and self-regulation through the performing arts. Our teaching artists may augment lesson plans with their own areas of specialization that reflect diversity, connections to cultural heritage, and innovative directions in performing arts education that align with learning outcomes and standards.

MUSIC
- TK-2: Foundations in Music
- 3rd: Recorder and Music Notation
- 4th: Basics of Singing and Advanced Notation
- 5th: Drumming and Rhythmic Notation
- 6th: Ukulele
DANCE
- TK-2: Foundations in Dance
- 3rd: Dance + Culture: Social Dances
- 4th: Dance + Music: A Common Language
- 5th: Dance + Communication + Expression
- 6th: Evolution of Dance in America
THEATRE
- TK-2: Foundations in Theatre
- 3rd: Story + Character
- 4th: Creative Collaboration
- 5th: Monologues + Playwriting
- 6th: Spoken Word + Scenes

Who are the CLARA Teaching Artists?

CLARA Teaching Artists (TAs) are active performing arts professionals in our region who value how arts education for TK-6 students can change lives. Before each residency begins, our TAs have completed CLARA Teacher Training, a Live Scan report, a TB test, and Mandatory Reporter training, so that they are ready to lead 10-15-week classes using the Performers Ready! Curriculum in regional schools. Many of our TAs have shared their teaching talent through CLARA’s programs for years, but as our outreach grows, we look forward to inviting new performing artists to join the team. We work to consider artists’ professional performing commitments in scheduling when possible, so that they can continue to bring their expertise and creativity back to the classroom.