Tag Archives: Music Teachers

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!

Choir teacher Kaitlin Holt: The Chalkboard Hero of Saugus High School

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Choir teacher Kaitlin Holt: The Chalkboard Hero of Saugus High School.

The backbone of any school is the teachers, who sometimes act in incredibly heroic ways. This was proven true when a troubled student opened fire on his classmates at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, on Fri., Nov. 15. One of the Chalkboard Heroes of that day was choir teacher Kaitlin Holt.

Kaitlin was teaching a class when five students suddenly bolted inside her classroom, claiming there was an active shooter outside. One of the students had been shot in two places. The quick-thinking educator grabbed a gunshot wound kit and immediately began to address the injured student’s wounds. Then she directed the students to block the doors to her classroom with rolling mirrors and a grand piano. She told them to turn off their phones, turn off the lights, and take shelter in her office.

Outside the choir room, the 16-year-old shooter killed two of his classmates, wounded three others, and then turned the gun on himself. He later died from his self-inflicted wounds.

Kaitlin says the staff received training for an active shooter situation last January. She insists she’s not a hero, she just reacted. But being required to instantly shift from being a teacher to being a paramedic was tough. “That should not be part of the teacher’s job,” she asserted. “I should not feel like I needed to be trained like a paramedic to save someone’s life and deal with the consequences of that.”

In spite of the trauma of that day, the heroic teacher is ready to return to her classroom. She says she wants her classroom to be a safe space for students, and she wants to be there for them. “I’m ready to do whatever my students need me to do,” she declared. “I want to help them rebuild.”

To read more about Kaitlin, click on this link to KTLA Channel 5.

Former teacher, Iowa State Senator, and Ambassador Mary E. Kramer

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Former teacher, Iowa State Senator, and Ambassador Mary E. Kramer.

There are many accomplished educators who have also enjoyed successful careers in politics. One of these is Mary E. Kramer, a teacher and administrator who served as an Iowa State Senator and an ambassador.

Mary was born on June 14, 1935, in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa, and was raised in Iowa City. As a young girl, she attended Iowa City High School. Upon her high school graduation, she enrolled at the University of Iowa where she majored in Piano Performance. There she earned both a Bachelor’s degree, and also a Master’s degree in Education.

Once she completed her education, Mary worked as a music teacher and school administrator in her home town. Her career as an educator spanned nearly 20 years. Mary left the teaching profession in 1975 to accept a position as Corporate Personnel Director for Younkers, Inc. She also worked for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, where she served first as Vice President of Human Resources and then as Vice President of Community Investments.

In 1990, Mary was elected to the Iowa State Senate on the Republican ticket. She represented the cities of Clive, Des Moines, and West Des Moines. While serving in the Senate, the former teacher championed issues related to education, health care, and economic development. In 2002, Mary was appointed by President George W. Bush to be the Chairperson of the White house Commission for Presidential Scholars. In 2003, the President selected her the US Ambassador to the Seven Island Nations of the Eastern Caribbean. She remained in that post until she retired from politics in 2006.

In addition to her other accomplishments, Mary has also authored two books. Her first book, More than a Walk on the Beach: Confessions of an Unlikely Diplomat, was published in 2010. Her second book, An Unlikely Ambassador and Her Diplomatic Daughter: Stories & Recipes for the Life You Want. The volume, published in 2015, was co-authored with her daughter Krista Kramer-Hartman.

This chalkboard champion was inducted into the Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2015 was named a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Iowa. To read more about her, view this link at the Archives of Women’s Political Communication.

Music educator Dre Graham: Just named Florida’s 2020 Teacher of the Year

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Congratulations to music educator Dr. Dakeyan Chan “Dre” Graham of Tampa, Florida, who has just been named his state’s 2020 Teacher of the Year. Dre was selected from more than 176,900 Florida excellent public school teachers.

The honored educator currently serves as the Director of Instrumental Studies at his alma mater, C. Leon King High School. He has been an educator there for 10 years. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Dre works in his community to promote and infuse music education into Title I schools. Title I schools serve a large number of low-income students. He also belongs to numerous professional organizations.

During his years with Hillsborough County Public Schools, Dre’s students have performed at a high level of determination and focus. Some have even been selected to perform in the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Florida Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran appreciates Dre’s expertise. “The fact that Dr. Graham has repeatedly earned superior ratings from the Florida School Music Association is a testament to his talent and ability to instill in his students a passion for the magnificent art of musical performance,” the commissioner asserts. “He possesses many qualities that make him an excellent role model, and it is a pleasure to recognize him.”

Dre earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from the University of Florida. He also earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. As if all that wasn’t enough, he has a PhD in Music Education from the University of South Florida.

Music educator Dr. Dakeyan Chan “Dre” Graham of Tampa, Florida, has just been named his state’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

In his role as the 2020 Florida Teacher of the Year, Dre will also serve for one year as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. In this capacity he will work to increase public awareness of Florida’s exceptional teachers and the teaching profession. He will have the opportunity to promote and celebrate the countless contributions of Florida’s teachers. He will also provide professional learning opportunities for fellow educators and recruit future teachers into the education profession. In addition, Dre will receive an $8,000 two-Year scholarship from the Florida Prepaid College Board which he will be able to give to any student of his choice.

To read more about this chalkboard champion, click on this link to a story about him published in the Tampa Bay Times.

Dennis DeYoung of Styx: He was once a music teacher

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Styx band member Dennis DeYoung was once an elementary school music teacher.

Many people know Dennis DeYoung, the celebrity vocalist and keyboardist who is one of the founding members of the rock band Styx. But did you know that he once taught music to elementary school students in Chicago suburbs?

Dennis was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 18, 1947, and raised in the Roseland neighborhood. When he was 16 years old, Dennis teamed up with his 15-year-old neighbors, Chuck and John Panozzo, to form a three-piece combo. Later, James Young and John Curulewski joined the group, and they changed their name to Tradewinds. The band renamed itself TW4 in 1968, and finally settled on the name Styx in 1970.

Before Styx hit it big, Dennis taught school at Springfield Elementary School  in Midlothian, a suburb of Chicago. “I came out of college with a degree in education, and I was a music teacher,” he remembered. “I would go into my 40 minutes in front of a class, then the next audience would come in. I saw teaching as one of the noblest professions, and it’s really undervalued. I don’t know about other cultures, but certainly in our culture,” he continued.

To read more, view this online article and interview published by Songwriter Universe.