Portsmouth arts programs cite student awards, district assessments and partnerships; theater offerings limited by certification

At the April 24, 2025 Portsmouth City School Board meeting, performing-arts coordinators Gary Moody and Joe Harmon and visual-arts coordinator Taylor Martin presented a report summarizing student performances, awards and partnerships across the district.

The presentation highlighted districtwide performing-arts activity, including professional clinics, regional assessments, community performances and student travel, and it noted limits to expanding some course offerings because of teacher certification requirements.

What the departments reported

Gary Moody, coordinator of elementary performing arts, and Joe Harmon, coordinator of secondary performing arts, described a year of expanded opportunities: instrumental and choral ensembles received workshops from the Virginia Symphony and local clinicians; middle school theater engaged with Virginia Arts for Learning; and high-school students earned festival grants and regional placements. The coordinators said several ensembles earned “superior” ratings in district assessments and that some groups participated in district assessment for the first time in more than 20 years.

Moody and Harmon also cited numbers for districtwide events: 126 students from all 19 schools participated in the All City Sing for Joy event, and 49 percent of this year’s sixth graders signed up for performing-arts electives in middle school, the coordinators said. Fourteen performing-arts teachers attended this year’s Virginia Music Educators Association conference and shared training with district colleagues.

Visual-arts highlights

Taylor Martin, coordinator for visual arts, said the division displayed more than 600 works last year and about 675 this school year (the final count was pending). Martin described partnerships with the Children’s Museum of Virginia (an animation film fest planned for May 23), the Hampton Roads Student Gallery at Tidewater Community College, the Norfolk International Airport and state-level exhibitions that included student work in the State Capitol. Martin also noted that a student, Rebecca Knabb, had been invited to a summer residential program at Radford University.

Course availability and constraints

Board members asked whether theater and other arts courses are offered during the school day at the secondary schools. Joe Harmon said theater and drama offerings vary by site. He said dance is offered through an audition-only academy at Trichton High School and that some theater instruction is delivered as after-school clubs rather than as credited daily coursework at Manor and I. C. Norcom high schools.

Harmon identified certification as a practical constraint: "The first problem is certification of the teacher. You can't have too many teachers teaching out of their content area," he said, adding that teacher-certification limits can affect accreditation and the ability to add new credited classes.

Voices from students and exchange participant

Martin Matjash, a foreign exchange student from Hungary and member of a district band program, described his experience auditioning for District 4 and All-State Band opportunities. Fourth-grader Mila McNeil, who participated in the All City Sing for Joy, told the board the conductors and teachers were "very kind" and credited a music teacher with constant support.

Why it matters

The presentation showed growing arts activity across Portsmouth Public Schools and underscored the role of partnerships in providing clinicians, travel and exhibition opportunities. The coordinators also flagged staffing and certification limits that affect whether some arts activities can be converted from after-school clubs into credited, in-day courses.

What’s next

Coordinators invited the public to attend performances and exhibitions and to follow department news on social media. Several ensembles and groups have upcoming events, including a planned student performance at Busch Gardens and the May 23 visual-arts animation film festival.