Culver City Observer -

Westside Neighborhood School announces that one of its art teachers, Wendy Morrison, has won the Music Center BRAVO award.

The award honors Ms. Morrison’s exemplary work in Visual Arts Education. She received the award at a ceremony at Walt Disney Concert Hall on March 1.

Brad Zacuto, Head of School, described the importance of this award that recognizes Ms. Morrison as an exceptional visual arts teacher in Los Angeles among her peers in both public and private schools.

“It is quite a process from nomination to selection as a regional winner, and then to be chosen from that distinguished pool of teachers as the one 2012 Bravo Award Winner forK-12 visual arts, one among five total Bravo Award winners.”

Morrison explained, “ The process begins with a nomination. Not every nominee gets to participate. I had to write an essay and was chosen as a candidate based on that essay. I still don’t know who nominated me.

“As a candidate, I produced a portfolio of my teaching, including my philosophy about arts in education and lesson plans. Someone from the Music Center came to observe me teaching on two occasions, and I was able to observe a previous BRAVO winner at her school.

“ Participating in this program made me really think more deeply about the standards I set for my students and myself. This experience helped me grow as a teacher.“

Established in 1982, the Music Center BRAVO Awards are an integral part of the Music Center’s work in the community to advocate for and deliver quality arts education for all students. .

Ms. Morrison was also honored at an assembly for students, parents and faculty at WNS on March 7.