School Spotlight: Vista Murrieta High School
At Vista Murrieta High School, ceramics isn’t just a class—it’s a creative refuge.
Under the leadership of Caralene (Cara) Hanania, the program has grown from the ground up into a vibrant, inclusive community. Cara teaches Ceramics 1–4, runs an active Clay Club, and offers free after-school workshops that keep the studio buzzing with student energy well beyond the final bell.
Thanks to her vision and dedication—and a generous donation of equipment she won through Skutt’s Kids Need Clay lesson plan contest—students now have access to the tools and space they need to explore, create, and express themselves through clay.
From the Teacher: Building Something Beautiful
With our proven system and expert support, we provide everything you need to keep your ceramic program running smoothly and effectively, from setup to ongoing maintenance.
When ceramics teacher Cara Hanania won Skutt’s national lesson plan contest, she chose to donate her prize—a brand-new kiln and pottery wheel—right back to her students. We visited her campus to learn more about how she built the program from scratch, and what ceramics means to the students in her classroom.
“I started here about two to three years ago, and I had to build the program from scratch. There weren’t many resources or connections. But I knew I wanted the best for my students.”
Cara has done more than rebuild a program—she’s built a community. Through local outreach and an unwavering commitment to her students, she’s transformed ceramics into a safe, expressive space for creative growth.
“I have kids who come in after school just to be here—15 or more every day. It’s their release. They feel safe here. That means everything to me.”
When asked what she’d like to see next for ceramics education, Cara emphasized the need for more support and resources for new teachers:
“Just keep providing resources. When I started, there was no guidebook, no community, and no support. I had to figure it out alone. New teachers need help—and I know you’re already starting to build that.”
Fired up for the future: Vista Murrieta’s new Skutt KMT 1022 arrives.
From the Students: Why Ceramics Matters
“Ceramics is where I can be myself.”
Ava Harrison, a junior at Vista Murrieta High School, is in her second year of ceramics—and she’s already planning to take it again as a senior.
“It’s the one class where I can get away from all the academics and pressure,” Ava says. “I get to come here and be creative—make whatever I want—and no one’s judging me.”
For Ava, ceramics is more than just an elective. It’s a place to reset, to create without expectations, and to safely express emotion.
“I come here every day and I get to express myself. No one project looks the same, and that’s what makes it so freeing.”
She’s learned, too, that failure is part of the process:
“You might be finishing something on the wheel and it just drops or breaks. But you just get back on and try again. That’s what I love—it teaches you not to take life too seriously.”
Ava, an 11th grader at Vista Murrieta, says ceramics is where she feels most free to express herself.
