Elementary school singers, a high school student sharing a campus project, and a longtime education advocate were among the faces of Burbank’s 2026 Celebration of Schools, an evening recognizing the people and programs helping local students succeed.
Hosted by the Burbank Arts & Education Foundation (BAEF) on Wednesday, September 30, at the University of Redlands, Los Angeles, formerly Woodbury University, the celebration brought together educators, community leaders and school supporters.
The program opened with a welcome from Heather Flood, dean of the university’s College of Architecture, Design and Media. BAEF Chair Michelle Duarte provided introductions, followed by Executive Director Jen Lorigo’s presentation, “The Power of Community.”
A combined elementary school choir, made up of about 30 students across the 11 schools performed under the direction of Liz Shipp, with choreography by student Izzy Shipp. The performance was a reflection of the mission of BAEF: Supporting arts, STEM, wellness, and innovative programs for every student in Burbank Unified School District.
Our family is so grateful for the opportunity for our daughter to perform and share this experience with so many children from our school district through BAEF. It’s so important for children to come together, connect, and share in their creative interests,” said Burbank mother, Kimberly Schulz, who came to watch her daughter perform at the celebration.
“Having a creative outlet allows children to express themselves, build confidence, discover their passions, and experience the joy of creating together. It also gives them an opportunity to meet children they may one day sing with in middle school and begin building those connections now.”
Burbank High School senior Vladimir Oganes presented on the Burbank High School Student Navigation Project, a student-led initiative that created campus signage to help improve navigation and emergency safety, making the campus safer, more welcoming, and easier to navigate for students, staff, and visitors. BAEF helped support the majority of the funding for the project which was completed at the beginning of this year.
Luther Burbank Middle School Social Science teacher Heidi VanKooten, BUSD’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, offered a classroom perspective, sharing how over the past 15 years, she has connected with students through innovative, project‑based instruction that gets kids excited to learn and empowers students to think critically for themselves.
The program also featured a short film, Persistence of Vision, by Serena Creative, an annual tradition at the celebrations that provides a heart-warming look into a project at one of the schools that BAEF has helped fund.
“Our daughter just started college this fall, and attended BUSD schools all K-12. We saw firsthand the impact that these programs can have on our kids’ development and their love of learning,” said Jen Serena of Serena Creative. “So we’re honored to help share BAEF’s mission and highlight the hard-working teachers and staff at BUSD. They give so much to our schools; we’re happy to give back in this way.”
Beyond the main program, the event included light bites catered by BUSD culinary programs including Burroughs High School and Luther Middle School, and performances by the Burbank High school string quartet and the John Muir Middle School Instrumental Music Program.
One of the evening’s central honors went to Dr. Roberta Reynolds, named BAEF’s 2026 Champion of Education. The award recognizes an individual or organization actively supporting education in the Burbank community.
For Reynolds, that connection spans nearly a lifetime. A Burbank student, parent, volunteer and advocate, she served in school site PTAs before becoming president of the Burbank Council PTA. She later served on the BUSD Board of Education from 2007 to 2020, championing arts education, career technical education and the belief that every student deserves to feel seen and valued.
Her professional background includes a 45-year career as a pharmacist, most recently as director of outpatient pharmacy services at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. Her community service also includes being a founding member of Burbank PFLAG and founding Friends of Monterey to support the students and staff of Monterey High School.
The celebration also recognized 17 School Site Champions, selected for their dedication to BUSD students and the roles they play at their respective campuses.
The 2026 School Site Champion honorees were:
- Amy Erickson — George Washington Elementary School
- Arpine Shazarian — Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School
- Barbara Felipe — John Muir Middle School
- Briahna Walker — Bret Harte Elementary School
- Crystal Miron — Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School
- Danielle Kuester — William McKinley Elementary School
- David España — John Burroughs High School
- Debbie Winstein — Joaquin Miller Elementary School
- Hilde Garcia — Walt Disney Elementary School
- Larisa Cuevas-Cain — Providencia Elementary School
- Lisa Dyson — Dolores Huerta Middle School
- Madeline Alpert — Burbank High School
- Marsalis Grissom — Monterey High School
- Michael Concidine — Luther Burbank Middle School
- Nida Ballesteros — Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School
- Ryan Hewson — Thomas Edison Elementary School
- Stephanie Stockton — Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
The foundation’s work continues throughout the school year, working to help address budget pressures facing Burbank schools. Through two grant cycles each year, BAEF provides funding to Burbank’s TK–12 public school teachers, staff and administrators and has awarded more than $1.6 million in grants to BUSD schools, including $124,000 in grants for the 2025–26 school year.
For more information about BAEF’s grant programs, volunteer opportunities and ways to support Burbank students, visit burbankartsanded.org.
