AP History teacher Kevin Wagner honored by VFW

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Shown above is Advanced Placement History teacher Kevin Wagner of Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Kevin garnered a Teacher of the Year award given by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He earned the honor for his unwavering dedication towards honoring America’s veterans.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, also known as the VFW, named three stellar educators as their Teachers of the Year for 2018-2019. One of these is Kevin Wagner, an Advanced Placement History teacher at Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Kevin earned the distinction because of his unwavering dedication towards honoring the memory of American veterans.

With colleagues, Kevin developed a research project for his students called “Silent Heroes.” To complete this project, the students must research the life and service of a local World War II veteran who perished in the Normandy Invasion. The invasion occurred on the northern coast of France on June 6, 1944. The battle turned the tide of the war in Europe. Once the students complete their research, they create a web page that preserves the veteran’s legacy.

Last year, Kevin expanded his project to identify local Viet Nam War veterans. As a result, his students constructed a Viet Nam Wall of Honor where they display names of more than 213 veterans. The veterans Kevin’s students honor were former students of their school.

Each year, the VFW names one elementary, one intermediate, and one high school teacher for their National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. Bobbie Schamens, a fourth grade teacher at Meadowview Intermediate School in Sparta, Wisconsin, was named the elementary school winner. Anne Martin was named the middle school honoree. Anne is a seventh grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Williams Middle School in Tracy, California.

To view some of the projects created by Kevin’s students and other students, click on this link: National History Day Silent Heroes.

Talented band directors lead student musicians in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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Several outstanding music educators appeared with their students today in the 2019 annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s the 93rd parade since Macy’s department store inaugurated the tradition. These educators represent some of the best America has to offer in music education.

The Blue Springs High School Band marched under the direction of Tim Allshouse. In 2009, this superb educator was name his district’s Teacher of the Year. The 210-member band hails from Blue Springs just outside Kansas City. Missouri. This Golden Regiment Band has previously marched in the Rose Parade and the Presidential Inaugural Parade for President Barack Obama. I loved this band’s crisp white and bright pink uniforms, especially their chic slanted hats!

Directors Jeremiah Fowler and David Jaggie conduct the Madison Central High School Band from Richmond, Kentucky. The band is comprised of 215 musicians, 60 color guard members, and five drum majors. This group has been named their state champions a whopping five times! “We have very mature and great musicians in the band programs and the reason why the high school has become so successful is due to the fantastic middle and elementary music and band teachers,” remarked David Jaggie. This band’s unique animal costumes were really delightful! Members dressed in zebra stripes, peacock feathers, and tiger stripes, among other animals, were a genuine treat for the eye. I loved their snappy music choices, too.

Under the direction of Renee Shane-Boyd, the Catalina Foothills High School Band traveled from Tucson, Arizona, to appear in the parade. As a teacher in Catalina Foothills School District for 35 years, she has taught elementary, middle, and high school. As the Director of Bands at Catalina Foothills High School, her program is known for its diversity and excellence in concert, jazz, and marching band. The group has consistently been the largest marching band in the state of Arizona for over 18 years. This is the second time the Falcon Band has marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. A total of 265 students comprise this band. This group appeared to have the most unusual marching maneuvers. I really loved watching them!

Also marching was the Martin Luther King, Jr., High School Band from Lithoma, Georgia. This 114-member group was established in 2001. The group is the first American marching band to perform in Johannesburg, South Africa. The students were overseen by School Principal Ennis C. Harvey. I loved the comment that educators at this school attempt to instill the ideology modeled by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in all of their students.

The Panther Band representing Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pennsylvania, made its third appearance in this year’s Macy’s Parade. Directed by Kevin Pollock, the 183 members of this band are no strangers to performing. The group has also appeared in the Presidential Inaugural Parade and twice in the Rose Parade. Kevin has worked at the school since 1987. The respected music educator said that the band’s success is a credit to the members. “They’re willing to work hard and put in the time to get the job done,” he said. I really enjoyed the beautiful turquoise, white, and black uniforms with the piano keyboard motif sported by this group. And I liked their use of the grand piano prop to accompany their theme of “Roll Over, Beethoven.”

The Ronald Reagan High School Band from San Antonio, Texas also appeared. This 360-member band marched under the direction of Dan Morrison. Previously, the band appeared in the Rose Parade. In addition, the group has won the University Interscholastic League Marching Contest numerous times and is a two-time winner of the Bands of America Conroe Regional competition. For his outstanding work in the classroom, Dan has garnered the Daniel J. Perrino School of Music Award for Excellence in Music Education. Loved the back and neon green uniforms on this group.

And finally, the Macy’s Great American Marching Band made its fourteenth appearance in this year’s parade. This group of 240 members is comprised of stellar high school musicians from all over the country. These students performed under the direction of Richard Good and Dennis Rhoads. What a terrific idea to bring together student musicians from all over the United States to create this new band.

Loved this year’s parade! If you would like to read more about the parade, see this link from CBS News.  I look forward to sharing the event with you again next year! Happy Thanksgiving holiday to you and yours!