Southworth Elementary School teacher advocates for ‘specialist’ courses in YCS

Tiffany Lintz, in her seventh year of teaching at Southworth Elementary School, spoke in front of Yelm Community Schools (YCS) Board of Directors and Chris Woods, superintendent, on Thursday, Jan. 8, to advocate for the importance of “specialist” courses within Yelm Community Schools and at the elementary level.

According to Lintz, these instructional courses include music, art, physical education (PE) and technology. She believes those specific “specialist” courses are essential bridges to belonging and success for young students.

“We often focus on literacy and mathematics as the primary measures of achievement. While those are vital, they rely heavily on a student’s mastery of the English language,” Lintz said. “For many children here in our district, that creates an immediate barrier.”

According to Lintz, her husband’s story is a testament to her statement. She said he was adopted into the United States from the Philippines at the age of six. Arriving in his new country — and new family — he entered America and elementary school without speaking a single word of the English language.

“To make matters more complex, he also navigated school with learning disabilities. In a traditional classroom, he was lost,” Lintz said. “But in a music room, he could follow rhythm. In art, he could express his perspective through color. In PE, he demonstrated teamwork. In technology, he found tools that leveled the playing field. These subjects were universal. They did not require a perfect grasp of English grammar, only creativity, movement and logic — traits that every child possesses regardless of their background.”

Lintz believes that integrated arts and physical movement aren’t just about enrichment, but they support brain development and equity.

“Arts and music supports healthy brain development,” Lintz said. “For students with learning disabilities, this strengthens pattern recognition and problem solving, while art provides a non-verbal outlet for emotional expression and processing. Physical education is often the only time during the school day when students can regulate their sensory systems.”

She added that “specialist” courses have been proven to increase focus and readiness in academic classrooms.

Additionally, Lintz claimed that digital literacy is a civil right in the 21st century. She added that technology provides adaptive tools for students who learn differently, which allows them to learn in ways that “pencil and paper could not teach them.”

“If you truly want to be a district where every child truly belongs, we must value the subjects that catch the students who feel invisible in the standard textbook,” Lintz said. “Music, art, PE and technology are often where students, like my husband, first realize they’re capable, intelligent and valued members of their school community. Lets ensure we are not only teaching students how to pass tests, but empowering them to find their voice in a world that might not always speak their language.”