Ron Machado
SFUSD Arts Director Ron Machado joined the America SCORES Bay Area board in the Spring of 2023. We talked to him about the value of arts in education, the power of poetry, and a teacher who made a difference.
How did you become the Director of the Arts Department for all of SFUSD? Are you an artist?
No, I bring more administrative experience. I’ve been with SFUSD for more than 20 years. I started out as a 4th-grade teacher at Visitacion Valley Elementary and then became an instructional reform facilitator at Malcolm X Academy, where I coached other teachers. Along the way, I earned a master’s degree from the Principal Leadership Institute at UC Berkeley, which paved the way toward principal roles at both Miraloma Elementary, where my kids went, and the Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy. After that, I was ready for something new and jumped at the chance to bring my experience with processes and procedures to head up the Arts Department.
From your perch, where do you see the value of art instruction for students?
It’s really about self-expression. It’s the idea that you can give students the opportunity to dig within themselves to show who they are, in a variety of ways. You’re building self-confidence and self-esteem, and the gains in creativity are profound. Critical thinking skills come along with that and through that. Multiple studies have focused on the benefits of music instruction, for example, for kids, and have revealed a whole host of benefits: improvements in memory, brain plasticity, language acquisition, executive function, and even behavioral regulation.
Engaging in the arts can improve a student’s executive functioning skills in a way that allows them to be more of their own presence in a community. It helps them understand who they are, what they are, and what they’re doing in the presence of others. It’s incredibly helpful in a school setting.
Let’s talk specifically about poetry and spoken word. Where’s the magic for kids?
There’s that piece in poetry that’s a true form of self-expression. At the same time, there’s the capacity to hide certain things within the words you’re using. You don’t have to be fully vulnerable if you don’t want to. Your words can be suggestive but not fully transparent. Or you can be fully vulnerable to say what you want to say. It’s all expected and allowed.
I’ve watched the finals of youth poetry slams, and it’s just amazing. You see young people getting up there and pouring out their life experiences and traumas and sorrow and greatest joys in front of crowds of people. The self-confidence and bravery that takes is incredible! And then there’s this strong communal element as well. There’s a support network in place that ensures kids have each other’s back. You can’t even teach that. It’s just absorbed in the experience.
Do you remember any specific arts experience or art teacher who helped shape you as a kid?
I took two years of photography classes in high school from Mr. Crowe. He was a really solid teacher. Anyone that had him for a teacher kind of morphed into him. He gave us freedom but also made us responsible. We made pinhole cameras, which was really exciting. But you know, I just came across a bunch of old negatives and photos, and man! I should have listened to Mr. Crowe. I would always rush through the chemical process when I was developing the paper. And sure enough, just as he said, “In 30 years, this is going to turn yellow if you don’t pay attention.” All these great photos that I had that were part of my portfolio are all yellow and crusty.
What’s something surprising about you, something most people wouldn’t suspect?
I’m a skateboarder. I’m older now, so I skate a couple of times a week. I’m building a cement skating bowl in my backyard.
To read more scintillating SCORES Five Questions With interviews, go here!