Champion music educators lead their students in the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade

Posted on by

One of my favorite events of the year is the annual Tournament of Roses Parade. The event takes place every year on the morning of January 1. This exciting parade is televised live from the city of my birth: Pasadena, California. I love everything about the parade: the flower-festooned floats, the sprightly equestrian units, the celebrity appearances, and the spectacular marching bands. This year, the parade theme is “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language.” Every year when I watch this parade on television, the dedication of our nation’s talented music educators always amazes me. Here is Part 1 of a multi-day series that features these accomplished music educators.

The Bands Of Santiago Sharks “The BOSS”: Corona, CA

I have to start with the BOSS (Bands Of Santiago Sharks) from Corona, California, even though they appeared late in the parade. Why? Santiago High School is a part of the Corona Norco Unified School District (CNUSD), the District where I spent my entire 36-year career as an educator. For me, anything connected with CNUSD is a sentimental favorite.

The Santiago High School Band is popularly known as “The BOSS,” which stands for The Bands Of Santiago Sharks. This spectacular turquoise-and-black-clad Marching Band and Color Guard was led by Director of Bands Joe Dudek. This is the third appearance of the 234-member group in the Tournament of Roses Parade. Previously they marched in the 2013 and the 2018 Rose Parades.

Director of Bands Joe Dudek of Santiago High School in Corona, California, led “The BOSS” in the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade. Photo credit: Santiago High School

Joe earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1988 and his Master’s degree in Instrumental Music Conduction in 1996, both from California State University at Fullerton, which also happens to be my alma mater. Joe is a well-respected field show, parade, and concert band adjudicator for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA), and he often serves as a presenter or clinician at music conferences throughout California. Part of his responsibilities in this role includes assigning judges for over 100 festivals in Southern California and for training and mentoring newly appointed judges.

 

 

 

 

Castle High School Marching Knights: Newburgh, Indiana

Music educator Ethan Wilkinson, Director of Bands for Castle High School in Newburgh, Indiana, will lead his students in the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade. Photo credit: Ethan Wilkinson

The Castle High School Marching Knights from Newburgh, Indiana, performed in this year’s parade under the capable leadership of Band Director Ethan Wilkinson.

Ethan took over the Castle Band program in 2020. He is a 2019 graduate of Ball State University, where he participated in the marching band program. And he just happens to be a 2015 of the school where he works, Castle High School.

The 200-member Castle Marching Knights has been named the 2017 Bands of America Class 3A National Champion, and they have been twice been named a Bands of America Grand National Finalist. Their success has earned them a well-deserved reputation as one of the best marching bands in the country.

Albertville High School Aggie Band: Albertville, Alabama

Dr. Taylor Cash, Director of Bands at Albertville High School, led his “Aggie” Band down Colorado Blvd. during the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade. Photo credit: Dr. Tay,or Cash

Also appearing in this year’s parade was the Albertville High School Aggie Band from Albertville, Alabama, led by Director of Bands Dr. Taylor Cash. This is the third appearance for the 340-member Aggie Band, Color Guard, and Danceline. They group also appeared in the 2011 and the 2018 parades. This amazing group is comprised of 25% of their school’s population. Any student at the school is welcome in the band program, no matter their musical background or ability.

Music educator Taylor Cash earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, magna cum laude, from Jacksonville State University and his Master’s degree in Music Education from Boston University. He earned his PhD in Musical Arts specializing in Wind Conducting from the University of Alabama.

 

 

Return to chalkboardchampions.org tomorrow for the next installment of music educators who  led their students to the 2024 Tournament of Roses Parade!

 

 

Nevada teacher Liz Barnum garners prestigious 2023 Milken Educator Award

Posted on by

Elementary teacher Liz Barnum of Las Vegas, Nevada, has garnered a prestigious 2023 Milken Educator Award. Photo credit: Milken Educator Awards

I always enjoy sharing the story about a talented educator who has earned accolades for her work in the classroom. Today’s story is about elementary school teacher Liz Barnum of Las Vegas, Nevada. She has garnered a prestigious Milken Educator Award for 2023.

Liz currently teaches third graders at Katherine Dunn Elementary School in Sparks, Nevada. She. has taught there for the past seven years. In her classroom, Liz creates a positive and supportive classroom environment, and she recognizes the value of building strong relationships with her students and their families. Her curriculum includes student-led discussions, partner talks, and visual strategies to support her literacy goals for vocabulary and comprehension. In fact, almost all of Liz’s students are functioning at grade level by the end of the year, regardless of where they started.

In addition to her work with her youngsters, Liz collaborates with colleagues to improve school culture and student outcomes. She has served as a mentor teacher, a new teacher liaison, and as the Chair of the School Organizational Team.

Liz sometimes speaks about her humble beginnings. “Being the daughter of an immigrant family, receiving a free public education was a huge privilege,” she says. “In my family, doing well in school and continuing to higher education were hailed as a huge accomplishment. With opportunity at my doorstep, I wanted to become the first generation in my family to receive a college degree,” she continues. “It felt like a natural progression to pursue a career in education with a focus on English language learners,” she concluded.

The Milken Educator Awards are hailed by Teacher Magazine as the “Oscars of Teaching.” For more than 35 years, the program has recognized excellence in the world of education by honoring top educators around the country with a $25,000  cash prize. The honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 exemplary professional educators from all over the country. To learn more, click on Milken Educator Awards.

English educator Ivona Todorovic named North Dakota’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

Posted on by

English language educator Ivona Todorovic from Grand Forks, North Dakota, has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Grand Forks Herald

It is always my pleasure to recognize exceptional educators who have been honored for their work with students. One of these is Ivona Todorovic, a high school English teacher from Grand Forks, North Dakota. She has been named her state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Ivona teaches English language learners in grades 9—2 at Red River High School, Grand Forks.

In addition to her work with students, Ivona organizes district-wide professional development to provide support for general education teachers about effective ways to work with new Americans and immigrant students. She helped to create “Culture Night” on her high school campus. The event has become a community-wide celebration and opportunity for her students to share their cultures through dance, music, food, poetry, and crafts.

Ivona is a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, She grew up in Zenica, about 43 miles northeast of Sarajevo in southeastern Europe. When the former nation of Yugoslavia broke up into six independent republics in the early 1990s, war and ethnic conflict ensued. That’s when Ivona and her husband, Alex, emigrated to the United States as refugees. The Todorovics arrived in Grand Forks in June, 1995.

Here in the United States, Ivona worked as a Title I para-educator at an elementary school, where her determination to teach again became stronger than ever. She worked in this role for ten years. Next, Ivona enrolled at the University of North Dakota, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Soon after, through the resident teacher program, she earned a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Reading Education. She also earned a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Sarajevo.

After completing her education, Ivona accepted a position as an English Language teacher in the Grand Forks Public Schools, where she has taught for the past 17 years.