Our Team
Experienced Professionals with a Passion for Youth Development
1. Sarah Chen, Director of Visual Arts & Mentor
Sarah Chen brings over fifteen years of experience as a professional abstract painter and art educator, holding a Master of Fine Arts degree from the San Francisco Art Institute, which informs her deep understanding of modern and contemporary artistic practices. Before joining CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS, she managed a highly successful private studio and gallery, and she continues to exhibit her work in major California galleries, keeping her perspective fresh and relevant for her students. Her teaching approach is characterized by a unique combination of technical rigor—insisting on mastery of foundational skills in drawing and color theory—and a profoundly open, exploratory spirit, encouraging young artists to break conventional rules only after they understand them. Sarah’s students consistently praise her ability to connect difficult concepts to real-world artistic application, helping them build professional-grade portfolios while fostering a lifelong passion for continuous self-improvement and artistic inquiry. She firmly believes the role of a mentor is to help students find their voice, not merely to train them to imitate others.
2. Marcus Jones, Head of Performing Arts & Drama Instructor
Marcus Jones is a highly versatile professional actor and director with extensive experience on regional stages and in independent film production, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, and Television. He focuses his instruction on techniques that build genuine confidence and emotional availability in his students, utilizing methods that draw from improvisation, method acting, and voice and movement training to create well-rounded performers. Marcus is particularly adept at working with shy or hesitant students, employing patience and humor to unlock their expressive potential and help them command a stage, translating into improved public speaking and social confidence in their everyday lives. His bio is distinguished by his collaborative spirit, as he frequently directs student showcases and works closely with the visual arts team to design sets and promotional materials, ensuring a multidisciplinary experience for all involved, making the performing arts program at CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS a truly dynamic environment.
3. Dr. Elena Rodriguez, Lead Digital Media & Design Instructor
Dr. Elena Rodriguez holds a Ph.D. in Digital Art History and Media Studies, bringing an advanced academic understanding of technology’s role in the creative sphere, combined with practical expertise in graphic design, 2D animation, and advanced video editing software. Her professional background includes consulting work for tech startups on user experience (UX) design, providing her students with an invaluable, career-oriented perspective on how digital art is used in the modern workforce. Dr. Rodriguez is known for designing cutting-edge curriculum that seamlessly blends artistic principles with technological competency, teaching students not just how to use software, but how to harness its power to communicate complex ideas effectively and ethically. She is deeply committed to demystifying the digital world, ensuring that even the youngest students feel comfortable navigating complex creative suites, preparing them for portfolio submissions in competitive fields, and inspiring them to see technology as another canvas for boundless creativity.
4. David Kim, Studio Manager & Ceramics Instructor
David Kim is the organizational backbone of the studios and a masterful ceramics artist, who completed a rigorous apprenticeship with a master potter before bringing his traditional and contemporary skills to our organization. His role is dual: he ensures the smooth, safe, and efficient operation of all our physical studio spaces, from kiln maintenance to material inventory, and he teaches our highly popular ceramics and sculpture programs. David’s approach emphasizes discipline and respect for the materials, teaching students the therapeutic value of working with clay and the patience required for three-dimensional art, instilling in them a strong work ethic and attention to detail. His extensive bio reflects his patient, hands-on teaching style, where he moves tirelessly between students, offering precise, targeted technical corrections while consistently encouraging them to infuse their work with personal narrative and meaning, resulting in a ceramics program that is both meditative and highly productive.
Community & Engagement
Family Involvement and Supportive Partnership
The success of every young artist at CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS is inextricably linked to the supportive involvement of their family, which we actively foster through transparent communication and inclusive opportunities for participation within our vibrant creative community. We view our relationship with parents not just as transactional, but as a genuine partnership, relying on regular communication through personalized updates, quarterly parent-teacher meetings, and open studio hours where families are invited to observe the artistic process firsthand and engage with our professional mentors. We host several Family Workshop Days throughout the year, encouraging parents and children to collaborate on creative projects together, providing a unique bonding experience and giving parents insight into the curriculum and artistic techniques their children are mastering. Furthermore, our Parent Advisory Council plays a vital role in shaping program direction and ensuring our organization remains deeply reflective of and responsive to the needs of the diverse families we proudly serve in the Ceres and Central Valley area, making every family a valued part of the organization’s strategic vision.
Join Us
Career Opportunities and Team Culture
CALIFORNIA YOUTH & ARTS offers much more than just a job; we provide highly fulfilling career opportunities for dedicated teaching artists, passionate administrative staff, and strategic program coordinators who share our deep commitment to youth development and the transformative power of the arts. We are actively seeking experienced professionals who not only possess advanced technical skills and credentials in their respective artistic disciplines, but who also demonstrate a genuine capacity for patient, empathetic mentorship and a contagious passion for teaching and inspiring young minds from diverse backgrounds. Our team culture is profoundly collaborative, mission-driven, and supportive, fostering an environment where continuous professional development is highly valued and every team member’s unique contribution is recognized, creating a workplace that is as creatively stimulating as our classrooms. Joining our team means becoming an integral part of a growing cultural institution that is actively shaping the future of the Central Valley through education, making every workday a direct contribution to the growth of the next generation of creative leaders and innovators.