Music educator Jim Johnson (left) of Eastvale, California, has just earned the 2021 Veteran Teacher Award from the Southern California School Bands and Orchestra Association.. Photo credit: Jim Johnson.

I always enjoy sharing the stories of superlative educators who have earned accolades for their work with young people. One of these is Jim Johnson, a music educator from Eastvale, California. Jim has just been named the recipient of the 2021 Veteran Teacher Award by the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association (SCSBOA).

The Veteran Teacher Award is awarded  to teachers who have made an extraordinary contribution to local music education, and who have taught 20 years or more. In a career that has spanned more than three decades, Jim has taught band and orchestra at all levels, including elementary school, junior high school, high school, and college. Currently, he serves as the Director of Bands and Color Guard for Eleanor Roosevelt High School (ERHS), a public high school located in the Corona Norco Unified School District. There he instructs over 250 student musicians in marching band and orchestra ensembles.

Before working at ERHS, Jim directed music programs at Travis Ranch Middle School in Yorba Linda, CA;  Palm Springs High School in Palm Springs, CA; Rancho Cucamonga High School in Racncho Cucamonga, CA; and Esperanza High School in Anaheim, CA. “Every position Jim Johnson has taken on has resulted in success for students and schools,” reads the SCSBOA announcement of his award.

In addition to his responsibilities in the classroom, Jim has also served as an SCSBOA Field and Parade adjudicator and as a member of the music list committee. He has hosted field show tournaments and solo and ensemble festivals. He has also supported the honor groups as a manager of the All-Southern Jazz Honor Band.

Congratulations, Jim! To read more about this superlative music educator, see this link to CNUSD.

California’s Iris Stevenson , The choir director  whose story served loosely as the basis for the movie Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.

I am always intrigued by stories about educators who have caught the attention of Hollywood. One of these is Iris Stevenson, a Los Angeles music teacher whose story is, loosely, the basis for the hit movie Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. The movie starred Whoopi Goldberg

Iris was raised in public housing in Buffalo, New York. Her father earned his living as a blue-collar worker and part-time musician. Her mother worked as a domestic. At an early age, Iris demonstrated an extraordinary talent for music. As a young girl, she attended Villa Maria Institute, a program for talented young musicians. When she was 15, Iris earned a four-year scholarship to attend the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. Once she graduated from Oberlin, Iris began teaching courses at Canisius College. She also earned her Master’s degree in Fine Arts  from the State University of New York, Buffalo.

In 1985 Iris relocated to southern California, where she accepted a position as a music teacher at Crenshaw High School in the Los Angeles Unified School District. There she serves as the Chair of the Music Department. She also teaches piano, choir, music theory, and practical application of music at Crenshaw High School. Crenshaw has a student population that is a predominantly African American.

Under the expert leadership of Iris, Crenshaw’s choir students have performed on several national television specials. In 1992 and 1993, she escorted her students to Nice, France, to perform in the Worldwide Music Festival. Her choir also garnered first place in the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival four years in a row. In 2011, the group traveled to China to compete in the World Choir Games, where they earned a Gold Medal. In 2014, this amazing educator took her choir to the White House to perform with Jennifer Hudson for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. 

To read more about this amazing educator, see this story printed in the Los Angeles Times.

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.

Beloved instrumental and vocal instructor Diony Diaz of New York succumbed to coronavirus on April 2, 2020.

We are sad to report that the coronavirus has claimed the life of yet another beloved educator. Music educator Diony Diaz from New York City succumbed to the disease on April 2, 2020. He was only 33 years old.

Diony taught instrumental and vocal music at Intermediate School 61 in Queens. His career there spanned eight years. Even though his career was short, he made a big impact on his students. “He was a great man, a great teacher and, more important, a great friend,” recalled one of his students. “This really hurts,” another student said. “He was more than a teacher. He was someone that was very relatable and who taught us some life lessons.”

Colleague Lucy Scully, who teaches Drama at the same school where Diony taught, remembers the fallen educator fondly. “When Diony first started teaching,” she said, “he jumped right in and started an after-school strings program that included guitar and violin,” she said. “He was a mentor to his students and always made time to support them emotionally, socially and academically. His door was always open, even after school,” she continued.

In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Diony played piano in his church for 14 years. He also played in a band while a student. He was a resident of Staten Island.

To read more about Diony, follow this link to the memorial page devoted to him created by the NYSUT (New York State Union of Teachers).