As teachers, we all know that some of our students deal with situations at home that are very difficult. Some of them are downright tragic. But here’s a teacher that overcame his own childhood tragedy to become an awesome teacher. Meet Dr. Brian McDaniel, a middle school music educator who has just been named the 2018 California Teacher of the Year.

Despite his turbulent childhood home life, or maybe because of it, Brian developed a strong love for both music and school. As a survivor, he made it his goal to become an inspiration to others, and, against the odds, made that goal a reality. Brian earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from California State University, Long Beach, in 2005. He earned his Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University, San Bernardino. He completed the requirements for his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Redlands in 2011.

Currently, Brian is a teacher and Director of Bands for the Painted Hills Middle School Bands and Choirs in the Palm Springs Unified School District in Palm Springs, California. He has a passion for teaching music that is evident through the transformation of his sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in his Desert Hot Springs community, where one third of the students choose to be a part of their school’s music program, known as “The Regiment.”