Author Archives: Terry Lee Marzell

About Terry Lee Marzell

Terry Lee Marzell holds a bachelor's degree in English from Cal State Fullerton and a master's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Cal State San Bernardino. She also holds a certificate for Interior Design Level 1 from Mt. San Antonio College. She has been an educator in the Corona Norco Unified School District for more than 30 years.

Sherrill and Plunkett lead Arcadia High School Marching Band in Rose Parade appearance

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The Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band and Color Guard will march in the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade, under the leadership of Directors Kevin Sherrill and Tom Plunkett. This is the 18th appearance in the group in the popular parade.

A number of superb high school marching bands will appear in the 133rd Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1, 2022. One of these is the Arcadia High School Apache Marching Band and Color Guard, under the direction of two Directors. They are Kevin Sherrill and Tom Plunkett.

The amazing group of student musicians has been performing for audiences all over the country for more than 50 years. This will be their 18th appearance in the Rose Parade. In addition, the band appeared in the 2015 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade, two Presidential Inaugural Parades, numerous NCAA football Bowl games, and a Super Bowl commercial.

The students were invited to march in the Rose Parade last year, but Covid-19 forced the cancellation of the event. This year, the band was invited back to perform, and last year’s seniors will be welcomed to join in the performance.

Kevin Sherrill has been a music educator at Arcadia for 21 years. He earned his degree at the University of Texas, Arlington. For his work in the classroom and on the field, Kevin was named a Rotary Teacher of the Year by the Arcadia Rotary Club.

Tom Plunkett has logged nearly 20 years as a music educator. Before his hire at Arcadia High School in 2020, he taught at Los Alamitos High School for eight years. There he led the Marching and Concert Band programs to numerous awards and consistently excellent performances. While teaching at Los Alamitos, he was named their District Outstanding Arts director in 2019.

 

Andy Sealy leads Hebron Marching Band in Rose Parade appearance

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Andy Sealy, Director of Bands at Hebron High School in Carrolltown, Texas, will lead his 350-member marching band in the 2022 Rose Parade. Photo credit: musicforallll.org

Students in the Hebron Marching Band in Carrolltown, Texas, are all excited for their upcoming appearance in the 133rd Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2022. The 350-member group has been well-prepared by Hebron Director of Bands Andy Sealy.

Through his leadership, Andy strives to achieve the highest standards of music education and music performance, facilitate the musical enrichment of the students, and promote the significant role music plays in the cultural, intellectual, and social development of young adults. “Being extraordinary is doing the little things in your job at an unbelievable level,” declares Andy.

Since it was established in 1999, the Hebron Band has become one of the most respected high school bands in the country. In  2021, the group garnered the Exemplary High School Band award by the Texas Bandmasters Association. The band also earned nine straight appearances in the UIL Texas State Marching Band Contest, where they earned four Silver Medalist finishes (2012, 2014, 2016, and 2020). In addition, the band was awarded the Sudler Shield in 2011, and in 2015 they were selected by the Texas Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association to receive the 2015 Outstanding Program Award.

Andy has been a music educator at Hebron for 19 years. He earned his degrees from Texas Tech University and inaugurated his teaching career as middle school band director and high school assistant director in Iraan, Texas. Later he was an Assistant Band Director and junior high Band Director in Monahans, Texas. Prior to coming to Hebron in the Lewisville Independent School District,  Andy served as Director of Bands at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Texas and at Randall High School in Amarillo, Texas.

In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Andy frequently serves as a clinician and adjudicator. He has professional affiliations with the American Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, and the International Clarinet Association. In addition, he is a past-President of the Texas Music Educators Association.  In 2016, Andy was awarded the University Scholastic League Sponsor of Excellence Award.

“I AM a teacher,” declares California educator Jose Lalas

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Educator Jose Lalas  from Corona, California, posted an inspirational holiday message to his fellow teachers. Red it here. Photo credit: Jose Lalas.

I recently came across this post on Facebook written by Jose Lalas, an educator in Corona, California. Since the author invited teachers to copy and paste, I have done so. I share it now with you:

I AM A TEACHER and very proud of it! (many of us become teacher educators). And some of us earned the rank of full-professor with tenure.
I went to college, got a four year degree. Then I got a Master’s degree. Some of us even got a PhD or an EdD.
I endured state testing.
I was finger printed and background checked.
I trained before, during, and after my training/ education.
I continue to train because I am a lifelong learner.
Since full time employment, I have sacrificed time, sleep, and Family.
I have sacrificed my own money year after year to provide for my students.
I am a teacher.
I have learned, lasted, endured change, endured further change, and endured orders to embrace the change.
While you were sleeping, I have corrected papers and tests, researched and created, and endured harassing phone calls and emails with grace and professionalism.
I teach the kids who live on your streets.
I teach the kids that have been bailed out of jail.
I teach the kids who have been kicked out of psychiatric centers because they were beyond help.
I teach the kids whose home situations you could never imagine even in your worst nightmares.
I teach ALL students no matter their socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, medical/ psychiatric condition, good or poor attitude, religion, family circumstances.
When accused by the federal and state government for being part of a failing system,
I endure name calling, shame, and criticism simply because I am a teacher.
I am professionally evaluated on test scores and not the amount of time and effort I put into my teaching.
And despite it all,
I AM a teacher
And devoted to this noble calling.
Thank You to All my fellow educators!