By Alde Nguyen
Staff Writer
While many performers are honored for their impeccable performances at the Oscars, Hermosa Beach Unified School District Superintendent Patricia Escalante was honored for her service for providing and maintaining proper education for the children of Hermosa Beach.
Escalante was honored the ‘Teachers Make A Difference’ award at a luncheon that took place at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on January 23. Escalante was honored the award by the Creative Coalition, an advocacy group focused on education and the arts, for her contributions and service to public education in the Hermosa Beach City School District.
The official HBUSD profile for Superintendent Patricia Escalante
“I feel privileged to be recognized by a group that who has devoted itself to ensuring that children and public education have access to the arts,” Escalante said.
As the Superintendent of the HBUSD, Escalante says she ensures children in Hermosa Beach receive the highest quality of education. Prior to being the superintendent of HBUSD, she was an administrator for the Beverly Hills Unified School District for eight years. Escalante graduated from the University of Southern California with an undergraduate degree in education.
“I was inspired to pursue a career in education because I learned at an early age that spending time with kids brought me a lot of enjoyment.” Escalante said, “I also liked the connection I made with the kids in terms of teaching them but also them teaching me different ways to view the world and experience life.”
Creative Coalition gave Escalante the award because of the benefits she has provided in public education in the HBUSD. Escalante says she specifically received the award for her dedication and actions to ensure that children in the Hermosa Beach Unified School District have access to enough teachers in order for them to receive proper education.
“Mrs. Escalante deserves this award because she is an innovative leader as well as a compassionate and caring educator,” Mira Costa Principal Ben Dale said. “I have always found her on a professional level to be very engaging, open minded, have savvy for what is right for kids and I have always appreciated and respected her council.”
Escalante was nominated for the award by Hermosa Beach resident and board member of the Creative Coalition, Aric Ackerman. The Creative Coalition is an organization consisting of actors and others associated with the entertainment industry whose purpose is to address social issues as well as assure tuition of the arts is provided by public education.
“I think that any time an organization that is formed by individuals who have a shared interest that benefits kids is a fantastic thing that they are doing for local communities, their state as well as nationally.” Escalante said.
The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Park City, Utah where independent filmmakers showcase their movies and projects. The 2017 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 19th through the 29th and displayed independent films such as ‘Strong Island’, ‘Motherland’ and ‘The Yellow Birds’.
The official website for the annual Sundance Film Festival
“My experience at the luncheon at the Sundance Film Festival was very inspiring because I met many people who shared their experiences with me about what they remember when they were kids in public education and how important teachers were in shaping their lives and as individuals.” Escalante said.
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