Board Login
P.S. Arts logo mobile menu
P.S. Arts CEO Kristen Paglia Celebrates 10 Years with P.S. ARTS

2018 marks the 10th anniversary with P.S. ARTS for our CEO, Dr. Kristen Paglia. Over the last decade, Dr. Paglia (Kristi) has made herself an indispensable member and leader of the team. From the classroom to the boardroom, her wisdom, intellectual curiosity, and humor influence every part of P.S. ARTS. We asked a few members of the P.S. ARTS community to share their stories of working with Kristi over the last 10 years. Please join us as Kristi celebrates 10 years!

I literally don’t know anyone else who could think at the conceptual level she does, run a complex organization perfectly, and also supervise the toddler tumbling at Express Yourself.

There are so many wonderful things I can say about Kristi that I’m not sure where to start. Mostly I am inspired by her unwavering commitment to equity, and her determination to provide arts programming at the highest level to all of the kids we serve, regardless of any logistical challenges or funding issues. I literally don’t know anyone else who could think at the conceptual level she does, run a complex organization perfectly, and also supervise the toddler tumbling at Express Yourself. One of my favorite Kristi moments was when we were meeting Jorge for a site visit. Kristi was late because—as it turned out—her Uber broke down and instead of getting upset, she ended up providing counseling to the distraught Uber driver before continuing on to meet us. I love that story because it really shows both how authentically compassionate she is, and her remarkable ability to take anything in stride.

-Laura Fox, P.S. ARTS Board of Trustees Chair

Kristi with three board members at the pARTy! in 2018

Kristi always makes me laugh and just as importantly always makes me think. She pushes me, and those around her, to be better people. And to not take ourselves so seriously.

I knew from the first meeting I had with Kristi at the Foundation that we were going to be friends. From her sense of humor to her wild intelligence, I just knew this was someone I needed to have in my life. Kristi always makes me laugh and just as importantly always makes me think. She pushes me, and those around her, to be better people. And to not take ourselves so seriously. What a gift to have her sharing her talents with P.S. ARTS and the broader arts and education communities throughout Los Angeles for the last ten years. Here’s to many more!

-Matty Wilder, Senior Program Officer for The Herb Alpert Foundation

Kristi with P.S. ARTS students at the White House

Once she commits to a goal, she works diligently with everyone involved, listening to issues and concerns and following through on all details to make the idea a reality.

Congratulations to Dr. Paglia on her 10th anniversary with P.S. ARTS! Kristi began her career at P.S. ARTS the same year that I began my position as the Superintendent of the Lawndale Elementary School District. Kristi’s passion for providing a quality arts education for all students coupled with her knowledge of arts education and the ease with which she works with others helped to create a very strong partnership between the two organizations.

One of Dr. Paglia’s strengths in forming strong partnerships is her ability to take on projects that others would think impossible and bring them to fruition. Once she commits to a goal, she works diligently with everyone involved, listening to issues and concerns and following through on all details to make the idea a reality.

One fond memory of working with Kristi was our opportunity to take two students from Lawndale and a P.S. ARTS teaching artist to the White House STEAM Fair organized by Michelle Obama. These students had never been on an airplane or had any experiences outside the area of the South Bay. We spent a day at the White House preparing materials for the art projects provided to students by P.S. ARTS and then attended the event hosted by the First Lady with a surprise visit from President Obama himself!

Now, since my retirement, I have the privilege of serving on the P.S. ARTS Program Committee. I continue to observe Dr. Paglia as she brings fresh, creative, research-based ideas forward to make the impossible possible for quality and effective arts education for all students.

-Ellen Dougherty, Former Superintended of the Lawndale Elementary School District

Kristi with her daughter and P.S. ARTS staff members at an event

Ten years later, I’m still learning from Kristi and continue to be inspired by her vision for the organization.

Ten years ago, when we were searching for a new Program Director, we had a minuscule staff. When Kristi’s resume crossed my desk, I was so excited to read about her experiences in education as a dance teaching artist in public schools and a dance therapy provider in prisons. Her doctorate in education and dissertation on arts and autism were icing on the cake. As great as her resume was, the interview was even better. Her intelligence and warmth clearly shone through and I knew that she’d be a great fit for P.S. ARTS.

What I didn’t realize from the interview was that Kristi’s childhood spent as an elite gymnast gave her an abundance of freakishly inhuman strength. Do not let her petite stature fool you! Her first week at work coincided with the week before programs started and we had six schools worth of supplies and instruments to move. When I told her that I was going to be spending the next day hauling heavy wooden instruments and giant crates filled with arts supplies, she didn’t hesitate to offer her help and jump in. She showed up at the crack of dawn and for the next 8-hours hauled more than her share of 40-pound boxes of paint and about a million xylophones. She never complained. But when we were done, she said, “Doesn’t the school district have a facilities department that could do this faster and more efficiently than we can?” A question that had never occurred to me.

I learned a lot from Kristi at that moment:
1. Leaders always pitch in when something needs to be done and they never say, “That’s not my job.”
2. Just because you’ve always done something one way doesn’t mean that you should continue to do so. Innovate and iterate.

Ten years later, I’m still learning from Kristi and continue to be inspired by her vision for the organization. (I’m also still in awe of her Hulk-like brawn. If you ever need an anvil thrown across a field for some reason…she’s your woman.)

-Elda Pineda, P.S. ARTS Deputy Director

Kristi and P.S. ARTS staff pose for a picture at Grand View Elementary School

Thank you, Kristi, and congratulations from your P.S. ARTS staff!

SHARE

Related

P.S. ARTS is excited to introduce our new Programs Assistant, Lucas Esperanza. Lucas joins the P.S. ARTS team...
P.S. ARTS is excited to introduce our new Advancement Director, Cassandra Krause, as we enter a new school...
On Friday, August 18, P.S. ARTS staff met for a retreat in Culver City. The day’s activities included...
Skip to content