Santana Gets Schooled In LA

An elementary school is to rename itself after the guitarist

Published 22nd Sep 2011

According to the San Fernando Valley Sun, the Los Angeles Board of Education voted to name Valley Region Elementary School #12 in honor of multiple Grammy Award-winning guitarist Carlos Santana.

The school, located in North Hills, will officially be called the Carlos Santana Arts Academy.

"I am passionate about the arts because I know that it was arts education that kept me in school and got me to college," said Board Member Nury Martinez, who represents the area that includes the school. "I believe it's every child's right to have access to a quality education, and a quality education includes sustained learning in the arts. I know that the students at the Carlos Santana Arts Academy will also benefit from such access and opportunity."

Santana did not attend the meeting; however, in a statement, he thanked the board for naming the school after him.

"Each child's soul is the seed that contains light and love. By investing patience, compassion, kindness and gentle wisdom, each child will bear the fruit of divinity. With gratitude, I am deeply honored that you chose to name your new school Carlos Santana Arts Academy," the statement said.

(San Fernando Valley Sun)