Since I am treasurer of Arts Angels, I know a lot of the teachers who may be laid of if the school funding measure doesn’t pass. It is my intent to write a profile of one of these teachers each week, so the community knows what we are about to lose.
Irene Messoloras joined Malibu High as choir director last year when the choir program had been in trouble for years. She had only a handful of students, but patiently set out to rebuild her program. Gradually, word spread that the new choir teacher was really good, and kids started showing up for auditions for the several groups she was putting together.
She rehearsed these groups every day after school, and put in long hours teaching them the fundamentals of music, ordering new choir uniforms, and generally building excitement in the program. By the end of the year, the choir, which had been virtually nonexistent in September, won seven first-place trophies in competitions at four theme parks in the Los Angeles area. Their competition came from huge schools with long-established choir programs, but, thanks to Ms. Messoloras’ exceptional teaching, our new choirs were phenomenally successful.
This year, the choir program is huge. There are four choirs, with a high percentage of the student population involved. For an encore, Ms. Messoloras put together a trip to Europe over Spring Break-our high school choir will be singing in historic locations in London, Paris and Rome. Ms. Messoloras has been tirelessly organizing fundraisers to ensure that all choir members can go, regardless of ability to pay. She is also teaching a college-level course in Music Theory-a first for Malibu High.
Despite the many activities on her plate, Ms. Messoloras remains ever calm, professional and beautiful. She even has an exceptional singing voice, as anyone who attended “Masque” can verify. She hasn’t been here two years, yet she added a whole new level to the education of our children.
Last week, Ms. Messoloras was notified that she might be terminated because of the budget cuts dictated by the state. Can we, as a community, afford to lose her? After years of false starts in choir, we finally have a brilliant teacher again. Can we really just let her go?
A big part of what makes Malibu High a great place is its wonderful teachers. Let’s keep them. Better yet, let’s cherish them for their many gifts to our children. Please support the school; funding initiative on the June ballot.
Susan Kraus