New School San Francisco
Omar Rodriguez Diaz is an accomplished Exploratory Arts Teacher at The New School of San Francisco since July 2015, and a singer with the Cuban Charanga Ensemble at the San Francisco Community Music Center since January 2018. With extensive experience in dance, Omar has participated in various performances, including modern/contemporary dance at the Berkeley Ballet Theater and Flamenco dance at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Previous roles include serving as an Art/Dance Specialist at UCLA Lab School, where bilingual teaching was a focus, and choreographing and performing in multiple productions such as the dance piece inspired by Cuban singer La Lupe at Los Angeles Valley College. Omar's educational background includes a Master's degree in Experimental Animation from California Institute of the Arts and various workshops in arts education and dance.
New School San Francisco
New School San Francisco is a tuition-free public school designed in partnership with local educators, parents and community leaders. Inquiry, equity, and personalized learning are at the heart of how our students learn, grow, and thrive. We are a K–8 school currently serving Kindergarten through 7th grade. Our mission is to demonstrate a holistic 21st-century education that instills a love of learning now and prepares students and families for success in the future. We believe in “Inquiry for All”—all children should go to school where they can drive their learning, ask big questions, and take risks. Our inquiry and student-centered approach embraces each student’s curiosity and encourages learners to construct their own meaning and knowledge through hands-on experiences. Our school is diverse by design with families from all over San Francisco, and we are intentionally practicing equity in all we do. Finally, we take a personalized approach to ensure all students thrive in school and beyond. New School San Francisco believes this approach will foster a deep love of learning while preparing students with the problem-solving and social-emotional skills needed to confidently meet the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.