KING CITY — Jamie Jones, a King City High School drama teacher and board president of Sol Treasures, has been recognized by the Arts Council for Monterey County for her contributions to arts education and community theater in South Monterey County.
Jones was selected as the District 3 honoree as part of the organization’s 2026 Champions of the Arts awards, which celebrate artists, educators and community leaders while raising support for arts programs serving communities throughout Monterey County.
According to Arts4MC, Jones is a “powerhouse of arts advocacy whose leadership as the Sol Treasures theater chair has been vital to the growth of regional productions.” The organization also credited Jones with expanding participation in drama at King City High School.
“In just one year at King City High School, she quadrupled drama participation and strategically utilized Prop 28 funds to launch the district’s first full musical theater program in decades,” Arts4MC stated.
Jones reflected on the recent success of the high school’s production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” as one of the most meaningful moments in her work.
“That’s a show that most of my cast was not very familiar with, and most of my audience was not very familiar with, but the cast worked so hard, the kids were amazing, they had 100% commitment to their parts,” Jones said. “Hearing the laughter in the audience was just so amazing, and then seeing the energy that the kids got from the audience to keep performing and putting all of that out there was just truly magnificent.”
Jones also spoke about the sense of belonging and connection theater creates for students and community members.
“Theater really brings people together in such meaningful ways,” Jones said. “You join a cast and you form these connections that are unmatched pretty much anywhere else.”
She added that she hopes to continue expanding opportunities for people of all ages to become involved in theater.
“I want to bring the theater experience to more people, get the word out to our communities, and invite participation, young and old, to be able to be a part of this experience that is so impactful and so meaningful for so many, so that they get a little bit of the magic,” Jones said.
Jones and the other honorees were recognized during the Arts4MC celebration April 17 at the Monterey Marriott.
Other 2026 honorees included La Guelaguetza (District 1), HollyAnn Isaac (District 2), Hanif Panni (District 4) and the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts (District 5). Roberta “Bertie” Bialeck Elliott received the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Following the Hawaiian-themed event, Arts4MC thanked supporters and attendees in a social media post celebrating the honorees.
“Your work continues to inspire creativity, strengthen community and uplift the arts across Monterey County,” the organization wrote. “From meaningful moments to shared stories, today’s event reflected the true power of the arts in bringing people together.”
