2 Teachers Nominated as Bravo Awards Finalists

Two West County teachers have been nominated as finalists for the 18th annual Bravo Awards given for excellence in music, theater or visual arts education by the Music Center of Los Angeles County.

Lou Lingo, a music teacher at Isbell Middle School in Santa Paula, and Delores Walker, a music teacher at Blackstock Junior High School in Oxnard, are among 52 teachers or schools throughout Southern California nominated for the award.

“Delores Walker takes more than 200 students, many of whom have no experience with music at all, and turns them into really fine musicians,” said Robin Freeman, principal of the 1,300-student Blackstock school.

Lingo has taught music in the Santa Paula Elementary School District since 1973 and now teaches the course to fourth- through eighth-grade students in the district.

The pair were nominated by their principals, faculty committees, superintendents or parent committees. A committee of educators, artists and arts presenters selected the finalists, and a panel of judges will visit sites from December through February to select three winners, including one school and two teachers.

The nominees and finalists will be honored and the winners announced at a gala dinner Feb. 28 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Movie director Garry Marshall will serve as master of ceremonies. The finalists’ work will be featured in video profiles at the reception. The winning school will receive a $5,000 cash award and each winning teacher will receive a $2,000 cash award, along with a Bravo Award sculpture.