SACRAMENTO – There’s a teacher in the Central Valley who has turned a graffiti problem into a mural museum. For that dramatic turnaround, Kirt Giovannoni was recognized by the California Lottery as a “Hero in Education” during “The Big Spin®” show airing statewide March 8, 2008.
The recognition of Giovannoni was punctuated by Judy Tenuta, an off-beat comedian who is no stranger to awards. Tenuta was the American Comedy Awards’ first “Best Female Comedian.” Tenuta presented the Lottery’s “Hero in Education” to Giovannoni.
Giovannoni, affectionately called “Mr. G” by his students, teaches art at Manteca High School. The campus has battled a graffiti problem for years. In an effort to improve the school’s appearance and give students a sense of pride and ownership, Mr. G created the Manteca Mural Museum. It’s the only student-generated museum at any public school in the country. He started the museum more than 10 years ago and it now houses more than 140 murals, depicting well-known work from classic and contemporary artists. For many of the students who have never visited an art gallery, the museum allows them to explore art and participate in it.
The students create the murals in Mr. G’s Advanced Art Program, which is one of the most popular classes at Manteca High School. The class not only refines their art skills, but emphasizes a good work ethic. Students must show up to class on time, work well with others, pull their own weight and meet deadlines. The results? Manteca High School’s graffiti problem no longer exists. Mr. G’s mural project has been so successful that the city of Manteca has followed Mr. G’s lead and established a mural project to help beautify the city.
Mr. G donates much of his outside time to researching artists, constructing equipment, laying out the murals and purchasing materials, in addition to giving tours of the museum. He has promised each and every student that as long as he is there, he will take care of their murals. For his devotion to great art and to the students of Manteca High School, Kirt Giovannoni is truly a hero in education.
The California State Lottery's “Hero in Education” award has been presented monthly on The Big Spin show since 1999. The Lottery presents these awards to recognize special individuals who volunteer time and resources to their schools and communities.
More than 95 cents of every Lottery dollar is returned to the community in the form of contributions to education, prizes and retail commissions. The California Lottery contributes at least 34 cents of every dollar that players spend on Lottery products to public education and returns more than 50 percent of sales to players in the form of prizes. Since its inception in 1985, the Lottery has contributed more than $20 billion to California schools out of total sales of nearly $55 billion. Retailers benefit too, earning $3.5 billion in compensation since 1985.