FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CONTACT: ANAKAREN CÁRDENAS UREÑO
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & ENGAGEMENT
(949) 497-7700 EXT. 5232 | AURENO@LBUSD.ORG

January 6, 2026

Laguna Beach USD educator Cama Stevens named 2026 Orange County Music and Arts Award recipient

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – Cama Stevens, an elementary visual and performing arts teacher on special assignment in Laguna Beach Unified School District, has been honored with the 2026 Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) Award by the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators (OCMAA). LBUSD was also represented among the 2026 nominees, with Shelley O’Brien, an art teacher at Laguna Beach High School, and Sarah Wolsey, an elementary visual and performing arts teacher on special assignment, recognized for their work.

Founded by the Orange County Department of Education, OCMAA is a coalition of school district representatives and community arts leaders who work together to ensure all students have access to high-quality arts education. The awards honor outstanding arts educators, administrators, and advocates from throughout the county.

“Our staff and students have been blessed by having Ms. Stevens serve as our art TOSA,” said El Morro Elementary Principal Julie Hatchel, Ed.D. “Her passion and talents for the arts have greatly expanded educational opportunities, partnerships, and meaningful connections for our El Morro students and community,” she concluded. 

In her role as a teacher on special assignment for LBUSD, Stevens supports visual and performing arts programs for students in grades TK–5. She works with teachers to integrate the arts into classroom instruction across subjects, develop curriculum, and provide instructional support so that students have consistent opportunities to engage in arts learning as part of their daily educational experience.

The Orange County Music and Arts Administrators is a professional organization comprised of arts leaders, educators, and administrators from school districts, higher education institutions, and arts organizations throughout Orange County. OCMAA works to support, advocate for, and celebrate high-quality music and arts education programs and the professionals who lead them.

LBUSD’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) programs provide students at every grade level with access to sequential arts instruction that encourages creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Beginning with an integrated elementary program and continuing through middle and high school pathways, LBUSD offers comprehensive opportunities in visual arts, music, theatre and performance, dance, and media arts. Students engage in standards-aligned coursework, performances, exhibitions, and Career Technical Education pathways, with opportunities for school and community presentations and partnerships with local arts organizations. The VAPA program is designed to provide authentic learning experiences that support student skill development and creative expression across disciplines.

The 2026 Orange County Music and Arts Awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, at the Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, where honorees from across Orange County will be recognized by the Orange County Music and Arts Administrators.

For more information about Laguna Beach Unified School District, visit www.lbusd.org.

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