Mark Arapostathis has lived in La Mesa his entire life. He attended Lemon Avenue Elementary School, La Mesa Middle School, and graduated from Helix High School. Since 1992 he has taught in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District at Murdock Elementary, Lemon Avenue Elementary and Rolando Elementary. He is currently the Director of Theatre Arts at La Mesa Arts Academy. “Dr. A” as he is known, was honored as one of San Diego County’s Teachers of the Year.
Since 1976 Dr. A has been involved with Peter Pan Jr. Theater, an after school theater program offered to the students in the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. He began as a student in the program and is now the director. In addition, he is the director of C. Hook Theater, an after school theater program for high school students.
Dr. Arapostathis served for 8 years as a City Councilman. Before joining the City Council, Dr. A served on the La Mesa Community Services Commission. He was the president of the La Mesa Arts Alliance as well as a founding member of the “Sundays at Six” concert series, held each summer at Harry Griffen Park amphitheater.
Dr. A has championed many programs in La Mesa including Safe Routes to School, a program that encourages students to walk and ride bicycles to school and provides funding for improvements to city streets. In addition, Dr. A strongly supports the Neighborhood Watch/Emergency Preparedness programs. Designed to promote safer streets and communities, as well as to help residents be prepared during an emergency.
Dr. A earned both his B.A. and M.A. in education from San Diego State University. He also earned a doctorate in education from the University of San Diego and San Diego State University.