Tag Archives: Performing Arts Teachers

Jimmy Day named Colorado’s 2023 Teacher of the Year

Posted on by

Middle school music educator Jimmy Lee Day II has been named the 2023 Colorado State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: Rocky Mountain PBS

It is always my pleasure to celebrate exceptional educators who have earned accolades for their work in the classroom. One of these is Jimmy Lee Day II, a band director from Aurora, Colorado. He has been named his state’s 2023 Teacher of the Year. He is the first African American man to win the coveted recognition.

Jimmy teaches instrumental music to sixth graders, seventh graders, and eighth graders at East Middle School in Aurora. He has taught there since 2017. In a career that has spanned 14 years, he has expanded three struggling band programs in urban areas. He transformed each of them into award-winning programs, earning superior scores at district music festivals. In fact, as a result of his effective teaching, Jimmy was chosen to participate as a mentor in the Public Education & Business Coalition and the Aurora Public School Mentoring Community of Practice.

The honored educator says the core strategies to his success as a teacher are twofold: Connection and consistency. “From classroom management to how I rehearse my students to how I want my expectations—it’s consistent, it doesn’t change, it’s unbending. And then my connection—me making myself human just like you—and we make connections,” he asserts.

What inspired Jimmy to pursue a career as a music educator? “I am originally from Detroit,” he explains. “The band director at my middle school, Mrs. Knox, saw my potential to be a great instrumentalist. She helped me attend after-school practice twice a week. My parents did not have a car and the school was far from where I stayed. As a result, I wasn’t able to attend practice most of the time. She offered to take me home when I wasn’t able to get a ride,” he continues. “At the time, I figured she was just being nice, but reflecting on it as an older person, I see that she saw me as an investment in her program, and she made sure to invest in me as well,” he concludes.

Jimmy earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music at Tennessee State University in 2006. He earned his Master’s degree in Teaching at Trevecca Nazarene University in 2008.

FL drama teacher Jason Zembuch Young honored at the Tony Awards!

Posted on by

Florida drama teacher Jason Zembuch Young was honored yesterday at the 76th Annual Tony Awards when he garnered this year’s Excellence in Theatre Education Award. Photo credit: Broadway News

If you were watching the 76th Annual Tony Awards last night you may have noticed that a very special honor was given to drama teacher Jason Zembuch Young of South Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida. He garnered this year’s Excellence in Theatre Education Award (EITEA)!

For much of his 20-year career as an educator, Jason has been a champion for providing inclusive theater programs, particularly for the deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) community, which is quite large in his area. He certainly goes the extra mile to support both his DHH students and the audiences who come to watch them perform. Each year, Jason produces two full-length productions—one play and one musical—that are performed both vocally and in American Sign Language. To prepare for these productions, which often involve 150 or more students, Jason ensures that interpreters are available during and after school to teach his hearing and DHH actors and crew how to communicate and perform successfully. And he does this with a budget that is slim to none.

In addition, Jason provides enrichment opportunities during the summers. Using his high school students as counselors and mentors, he runs a six-week theater camp for elementary and middle school students. Furthermore, his high school students participate in International Thespian district and state competitions, and they have earned eight South Florida Cappie Theater Awards for Best Play or Musical during Jason’s tenure at South Plantation High School. And as if all that were not enough, the honored educator conducts fundraisers each year to provide four scholarships worth $1,000 to graduating seniors.

Not only does Jason support his students at school, but he and his partner, Michael, have generously provided a foster home to more than three dozen abused and underprivileged children. He has facilitated the adoption of many of those foster children, and he has even become an adoptive parent himself. And to enrich their lives, Jason offers free admission to foster families so they can attend his theater productions.

The Excellence in Theatre Education Award was established in 2014 by the Tony Awards and Carnegie Mellon University to give recognition to exemplary theater arts teachers and to nurture the arts in education. In addition to his stunning trophy, Jason will receive $10,000 for his South Plantation High School theater program, and he’ll receive tickets to attend this year’s Tony Awards and Gala. In addition, Jason’s students will attend a Master Class taught by a member of the Carnegie Mellon University faculty.

This year’s Tony Awards were held on Sun., June 11, 2023, at the United Palace Theater in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood.

NV music teacher Darren Motamedy earns Heart of Education Award

Posted on by

Music educator and Band Director Darren Motamedy has earned a Heart of Education Award from the Smith Center in Las Vegas. Photo credit: Walter Johnson Junior High

There are many excellent educators throughout our country who go above and beyond for their students. One of these is Darren Motamedy, a music teacher and Band Director from Clark County, Nevada. The hardworking music educator has just earned a Heart of Education Award from the Smith Center in Las Vegas.

It seems that Darren was simply born to teach. “Teaching is one of my favorite parts of my life. I love the energy of sharing knowledge about music with my students,” he says. “I have a unique approach to teaching music because I’m a professional musician and I know what are the important skills necessary to become a successful!” he reveals.

When Darren was hired to fill the position of band director at Walter Johnson Junior High School in Las Vegas, the program was struggling. Right away he dived into the difficult job of transforming it. He obtained grants to purchase $50,000 worth of new instruments and equipment, which provided opportunities for many at-risk students to join the band. Offering free lessons for students, he also raised over $100,000 so that every participant in the band program could participate in out-of-state field trips.

“I have achieved success at Johnson Junior High during my 13 years by taking it one step at a time,” asserts Darren. “It’s the little things that I do on a daily basis that become the model for success,” he continued.

The effort has not gone unnoticed. Darren is one of 20 teachers in Clark County, Nevada, who has earned a Smith Center Heart of Education Award this year. The recognition, presented in Las Vegas on April 21, 2023, comes with a commemorative medallion, a $5,000 cash award, and a $1,000 donation to the school program of the honoree’s choice. This is the eighth year the recognition has been presented to Clark County teachers who have gone above and beyond for their students.

 

Florida music educator William Coleman earns recognition

Posted on by

William Coleman, a choir teacher who hails from Palmetto, Florida, was recognized last month by his local television station, ABC7. Photo Credit: Manatee School for the Arts

I always enjoy sharing stories about one of our nation’s exceptional educators. Today, I will share the story of William Coleman, a choir teacher who hails from Palmetto, Florida. He was recognized last month by his local television station, ABC7.

William’s career as a music director spans a total of 26 years. Currently he teaches at Manatee School for the Arts in the Florida city of Palmetto. In addition to his choir courses, this amazing educator teaches music theater workshops and organizes productions. Some of his productions include Little Shop of Horrors, Mame, Jekyll and Hyde, Assassins, Nine, Baby, Annie Jr., Seussical Jr., My Way, The Andrews Brothers, and the premier productions of Boynton Beach Club and Practically Perfect.

Manatee is a public charter school located in Palmetto that offers performing arts programs to middle school and high school students. The school provides academic courses that infuse many opportunities for expression through the performing arts. In addition, students can participate in dual enrollment for college credit. Members of the faculty are professionals in their field, from local performers to internationally known professionals. To read more about this institution, click on this link to MSA.

As part of the school’s mission, William Coleman says he works hard to provide a welcoming atmosphere in his classroom. “I love connecting with my students, be a safe space for them, be comfortable, and be able to explore their love of music,” he declares. As a reward for his dedication to his students, William was profiled by his local television station, ABC7, and he received a $500 award.

William earned his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from Purdue University in 1990. He also completed undergraduate work in Piano Performance from the University of Tennessee. He earned his Master’s degree in Piano Performance from Middle Tennessee State University in 1997 and completed a second Master’s degree in Pedagogy and Performance at the University of Oklahoma in 2001.

Benjamin Santiago garners Guam’s 2021 Teacher of the Year honors

Posted on by

Dr. Benjamin Santiago has ben named the 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year for the American territory of Guam. Photo credit: PNC

I am always excited to share the story of an exceptional educator who has earned recognition for their work. One of these is Benjamin Santiago, a journalism and cultural dance teacher in the American territory of Guam. He has been named the island’s 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year.

Benjamin teaches journalism and cultural dance at Agueda I. Johnston Middle School in Guam. In addition to teaching cultural dance, he also serves as his school’s Native Dance Squad Director and works with the choir.  He is also currently working on his latest fitness program for students with autism. In addition to his work in the classroom, Benjamin serves as his school’s advisor for the National Junior Honor Society and the Mock Trial advisor. He also works as his school’s curriculum coordinator, a Teacher Administrator Effectiveness (TEF) mentor, and the coordinator of the accreditation self-study. He is part of committees that develop curriculum instruction, sheltered instruction observation protocol, and standards-based grading. And as if all this were not enough, he has represented his school at conferences for the International Society for Technology Education and the Summit of Innovative Teaching Strategies.

As the Director of the Native Dance Academy for the past 25 years, Benjamin has promoted the perpetuation of indigenous culture through the performing arts. As a native culture advocate, he has made appearances in the Mariana Islands and elsewhere throughout Asia, as well as in the United States and Russia. He captured international trophies in Hawai’i for the quality of his performance in both ancient and modern hula. In fact, he earned the title of Kumu Hula, from the world-renowned hula master George Lanakilakeikiahiali’i Na’ope in the art of hula.

And even all this is not everything Benjamin has accomplished. He is a small businessman, having opened his own fitness studio in 2021. There he promotes an active lifestyle as a certified teacher of Zumba, Body Combat, Body Pump, CXWorkx, Grit, and Mixxedfit. In fact, he is the program developer for the national fitness program known as Mixxedfit. For this effort, Benjamin won the 2013 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Male Fitness Instructor in 2013.

“What’s inspiring about Dr. B,” declares Jon Fernandez, the Guam Department of Education Superintendent, “is that his passion does not end in the classroom. He continues to perpetuate our cultural practices in community events and brings these lessons back into the classroom to help our kids develop into young citizens. When we talk about legacies, that is what we are talking about – lessons and skills that go above and beyond the classroom.”

Benjamin earned his Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education, Language Arts, his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership. His career as a professional educator has spanned 25 years.

To read more about Dr. Benjamin Santiago, click on this link to a story about him published by PNC.