Danna Coonen aka Coonen-Lee aka Ms. Lee

 The Animation Program is a California Partnership Academy focusing on career technical education.  Students learn the principles of animation in their intro class, CTE Animation 1. They then move on to a portfolio of work in Advanced Traditional Animation, CTE Animation 2 or Computer Animation and lastly Animation and Media Design. They have the possibility of a three-sequence experience while in high school. Animation has the same pre and post-production preparation as video production. Hence, they will be learning not only the basics of animation and computer animation they will learn all aspects of film.  This includes concept building, story process, camera angles, creating a professional treatment, moving on to storyboarding, which will conclude with their own animation, ending with editing that into a 30 second spot or more.

I have taught CTE Traditional Animation and Computer Animation since 1998. I was one of the original teachers trained out of the ACME Network back in 1996 - 1997. ACME Network is an organization run by various animation studios including DreamWorks, Disney and Warner Brothers. In the beginning teachers were trained by professionals in the industry including animators, producers, writers’ directors, etc. on how they wanted all facets of animation taught in the secondary and post-secondary classroom from pre-production to post.

I brought my experience as a professional, actor, singer and once upon a time dancer to the equation having started acting professionally at the young age of 13. I proceeded to work in the entertainment industry consistently while I became a profession graphic designer and commercial illustrator in 1980 having been trained at East Los Angeles Occupational Center, an LAUSD training center, I worked with advertising agencies in Pasadena and Los Angeles and finally with my own free-lance company.  Through all of this I worked as a muralist in Los Angeles, creating life like murals throughout many homes and business including AIDS project Los Angeles while they were located on Vine Street. I worked as an artist creating caricatures used in advertising and personal commissions including the cast of The Phantom of the Opera while it was in Los Angeles. In addition, I continued working painting mural and multimedia commercial illustrations along with graphic design through the first ten years of teaching with my own company.

I have an immense passion for what I teach and wrote the course outlines for animation with the help of the ACME Network that was used nationwide for years and was updated to become A-G compliant. I was one of the original work-based learning teachers having teachers come nationwide to my classroom to observe and learn my technique of teaching. This not only included the animation curriculum, but also included work based ethically enhanced behavior.

The first week of my teaching career I was a substitute at University High School. By the end of the week, I fell in love and finally knew what I really wanted to be. The chance to be a positive influence in my students lives, be the teacher I always wished I had had, and hopefully help my students have a happy, fulfilling future which has meant and means everything to me. I love working with all my students, but especially the ones that make it clear they don't think anyone cares for them. All my students are loved and know without a doubt they are a member of my family for the rest of their lives. 

I thank LAUSD for giving me the upmost joy in life and trusting me with their mission. I am truly paid to do a job I absolutely love each and every day and look forward to working with your child. Best to you and your family, Danna Lee