Hannah Gadd-Ardrey: Mississippi’s 2019 Teacher of the Year. Hannah teaches music education in Oxford, Mississippi.
I love to share stories about amazing educators that have been recognized for their professional talents and hard work. One of these is Hannah Gadd-Ardrey, a middle high and high school music teacher who has been named the 2019 Teacher of the Year for the state of Mississippi.
Hannah teaches music history and choir in grades six through twelve at Lafayette Middle School and Lafayette High School. Her school is part of a rural public school district located in Oxford, Mississippi. Her students come from diverse backgrounds and varied learning abilities.
As an educator, Hannah says she is passionate about using music to create interdisciplinary connections and to develop real-world skills. Throughout her career, Hannah has overseen the growth of the choral program from 60 to 130 students. She believes that all students should have access to a quality fine arts education. She asserts that classes like choir, band, visual art, and theater empower students, providing them with outlets to lead and cultivate a climate for growth and acceptance among their peers and the community.
The honored educator is particularly interested in using music to enrich the lives of special education students. In 2018, she collaborated with elementary teachers of students with special needs in her district to create the More than Music program. The program is a student-led music class for elementary students with special needs. “My students are building a legacy,” she declares. “They are learning life skills in choir that can help students become successful citizens. Music allows students to cultivate a climate for change and make the world a better place,” she continued.
In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Hannah serves as a mentor for teachers in her school district. She also serves on the Mississippi Teacher Council. Before being named the 2019 Mississippi Teacher of the Year, the Chalkboard Champion presented research at the Summer Conference of the Mississippi American Choral Directors Association.
Heather earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music in 2013 and her Master’s of Music in Choral Conducting in 2015, both from the University of Mississippi. She has been a teacher since 2013. To read more about this amazing educator, see this story printed in Ole Miss, University of Mississippi News.
