School Programs at a Glance
Skirball education programs connect students and teachers with Jewish culture, immigration stories, civic engagement, creativity, environmental stewardship, and one another.
- ~25,000 students and educators reached in-person and virtually
- 186 school programs offered
- 133 school partners in 16 school districts
- 79% of participating students came from public schools
- 73% of participating students came from Title I schools*
- 98% of Title I school groups received admission scholarships
- 164 teachers trained through professional development workshops
- 16 interns gained hands-on experience through Skirball education programs
*Title I schools receive additional public funding to support students from low-income households.
Learning from Our Students
Letter from Rachel Stark, Vice President of Education and Family Programs
Dear Friends,
At the Skirball, learning begins with welcome. Across our galleries, gardens, classrooms, and gathering spaces, young people, educators, families, and community members are invited to ask questions, encounter Jewish culture and history, and find connections to their lives.
This year, I have been especially moved by what our students have taught us. Rabbi Chanina teaches in the Talmud, “I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and most from my students.” Again and again, students remind us that young people need places where they can belong, wonder, create, question, and lead. They need spaces where their ideas are taken seriously, and learning is not only something they receive, but something they help shape.
Your generosity makes these experiences possible. It helps students engage with Jewish stories, immigration histories, civic responsibility, creativity, and environmental stewardship. It supports teachers bringing cultural understanding into their classrooms, teen leaders helping us imagine the future of museums, and families and community members discovering spaces for learning across ages and experiences.
Together, we are helping young people see themselves in the stories they encounter, strengthen their ability to express their ideas, and carry their learning forward through conversation, writing, artmaking, and reflection long after they leave our campus.
With deepest gratitude,
Rachel Stark
Vice President of Education and Family Programs
Skirball Cultural Center
Read this year's Education Impact Report
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Getty Global Art and Sustainability Fellow: Growing Wonder in Noah’s Ark Garden
As the Skirball continues to expand the ways students learn through direct experience, Noah’s Ark Garden has become a vital outdoor extension of Noah’s Ark at the Skirball. Read more...
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Teen Advisory Committee: Helping Shape the Skirball’s Next Chapter
The Skirball’s Teen Advisory Committee (TAC) offers Los Angeles high school students a rare opportunity to put their learning, ideas, and lived experiences to work beyond the classroom. Read more...
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STAC Teacher Profile: Helping Students See Themselves
For more than a decade, Dolly Sanders has been part of the Skirball’s education story: first as an LAUSD teacher bringing students to campus, and then as one of the original members of the Skirball Teacher Advisory Council (STAC). Read more...
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School Tours in Action: Learning That Travels Back to the Classroom
For teacher and Skirball Teacher Advisory Council member Claudia Felix and her students from Montebello Unified School District, a visit to Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity did not end when they left the galleries. Read more…
In Their Own Words
As students and teachers engaged with Skirball educators in our galleries, gardens, classrooms, and gathering spaces, they shared what they learned, noticed, and carried back with them.
“The students had a fabulous time. We especially want to thank our guides, Emme and Tighe, who created an interesting and enjoyable history on Jewish immigrants and the connections we have to our own culture.”
— 4th Grade Teacher, Suva Elementary, Montebello Unified School District
“My students were able to make a connection with cultural values, maximizing your passions, and taking ownership of your actions. They learned that we all have a responsibility to our community.”
— 8th Grade Teacher, Bell Gardens Intermediate, Montebello Unified School District
“One student who is Muslim made connections between Judaism and Islam. They talked about Ramadan and Eid and the similar concepts between Tzedakah and Zakat.”
— Educator Reflection, Values and Legacy Tour
Donor Support
The Roslyn and Abner Goldstine School Programs at the Skirball Cultural Center are made possible by generous support from:
The Herb Alpert Foundation
Morris Braun Foundation
The Capital Group Companies
California Natural Resources Agency
Evelyn and Norman Feintech Family Foundation
The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
The Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation
Claire Goldsmith
The Mark Hughes Foundation
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
Resnick Foundation
The Rose Hills Foundation
David and Sara G. Rubin Charitable Trust
Richard V. Sandler
Steinmetz Foundation
Dwight Stuart Youth Fund
S. Mark Taper Foundation
Flora L. Thornton Foundation
View the 2024–2025 Roslyn and Abner Goldstine School Programs Report here.
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