Illinois music educator Dr. Bert Johnson leads students in Macy’s Parade

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Director of Bands Dr. Bert Johnson led his students from Lincoln Way High School (Frankfort, Illinois) in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. Photo credit: Lincoln Way East Music Department.

Watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade has become an important tradition in many American homes during the Thanksgiving holiday. After having been cancelled due to the pandemic last year, this year’s festivities featured amazing performances from several outstanding marching bands from around the country. One of them was the Lincoln Way High School Band from Frankfort, Illinois, under the direction of Band director Dr. Bert Johnson.

Bert’s award-winning band is comprised of students from across the Lincoln Way High School District 210. The group garnered the Illinois Marching Band Championships Class 6A Champion and Grand Champion. They also earned a Bands of America (BOA)  Regional and Super Regional Finalist and a participant in the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Bert earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1999. He earned his Master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Michigan in 2007. In 2015, he completed his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy at Loyola University, Chicago. In addition, he also holds both a principal’s and superintendent’s licenses for the state of Illinois.

Bert Johnson is a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAFME), the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA), the Jazz Educators Network (JEN), and the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). He has served as Jazz Division Chair for the ILMEA District 1 schools and is member of the Advisory Council for the Music Educators Development Division (MEDD) for ILMEA. In addition, this accomplished educator is a regular presenter for ILMEA. He most recently presented at the NAFME national conference regarding “evaluation and accountability in the music classroom.” He has been selected as a Golden Apple Nominee twice, and in 2007 he received the Illinois Jaycees award for the the “Top Ten Outstanding Young People of Illinois.”