Tacoma School of the Arts Partners Foundation

Welcome to the Tacoma School of the Arts Partners Foundation Website

The Tacoma School of the Arts Partners is an independent, non-profit leadership alliance that connects South Sound Educators and administrators with local decision-makers dedicated to the advocacy, promotion and guidance of South Sound interdisciplinary education programs.

Our goal is to change the way that arts education is delivered in public schools by hiring working artists as adjunct instructors to teach classes, mentor students, and work alongside certified teachers to incorporate traditional subjects into the study and practice of their art.

The Partners Foundation was started in 2001 by Jon Ketler, and is now in its 7th year supporting the adjunct artists program at the Tacoma School of the Arts. The impact of the Partners Foundation by providing arts education as a way to increase student learning has been extraordinary. Since its inception, the School of the Arts has seen a 98% graduation rate, the highest average state test scores in math, science, reading and writing in the South Sound, and zero violence.

Administrative Staff

Jon Ketler - Director
Melissa Moffett - Community Development
Zach Varnell - Special Projects and Public Relations
Paulette Reynolds - Financial Manager
Liz Hirschl - Admissions Coordinator
Rebecca Smith - Admissions Assisstant
Matthew Hickney - Video and Media Marketing
Alexa Folsom-Hill - 9th Grade Transition and Peer Tutoring Coordinator
Brittany Bekker - Educational Support
Monika Scheffe - Parent Liaison
Teddy Erwin - Office Support