Tag Archives: Teacher Musicians

Angel Santiago named NJ’s 2021 Teacher of the Year

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Elementary school teacher and musician Angel Santiago of Blackwood, New Jersey, has been named his states 2021 Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: the Philadelphia Inquirer.

I enjoy sharing stories about exceptional educators who have earned recognition for their work in the classroom. One of these is Angel Santiago, an elementary school teacher from New Jersey who has been named his state’s 2021 State Teacher of the Year.

Angel teaches fifth grade Language Arts at Loring Flemming Elementary School in Blackwood, New Jersey. In addition, he leads an after school club called Young People of Character (YPOC), a group of fourth and fifth grade students from diverse social backgrounds. As members of the club, the students perform a variety of community service projects. Through YPOC, Angel works toward raising leaders who are strong, empathetic, and who reflect the community which, one day, they will lead.

“I teach because I get to participate in cultivating the most precious resource this world has to offer: our future, our children,” Angel declares. “Teaching is my passion,” he continues. “It is the reason why I get up every day with a positive outlook on life and the reason why I can fall asleep each night feeling fulfilled with my worldly duties,” he concludes.

Angel not only teaches, but he is also a musician. Before launching his career as an educator, he toured the country with an alternative rock band, Days Like These. The band recorded two albums together. Today, he sings and plays the guitar, and is often hired to perform at local weddings. Angel says he often infuses his lesson plans with music.

After his graduation from Vineland High School in Vineland, New Jersey, in 2002, Angel earned his Bachelor’s degree in Humanities and his Master’s degree in Education, both from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. While in college, he became a member of both Phi Theta Kappa and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Societies.
The honored educator has taught his entire professional career in Camden County. In 2012 he began teaching in the Lindenwold Public Schools, and in 2013 he moved to Gloucester Township Public Schools, where he teaches today.
To read more about this amazing educator, see this article about him published in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Indiana’s Becky Muncy teaches character education through music

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Elementary school music educator Becky Muncy of Bedford, Indiana, teaches her students character education through music. Photo credit: Becky Muncy

Many talented educators teach important concepts and life skills to their students through music. One of these is Becky Muncy, an elementary school music teacher from the North Lawrence Community School District in Bedford, Indiana. She has earned a stellar reputation through teaching character education through music.

Becky teaches character education through her CD entitled Blueprints for Life,  produced by Matt Wilder in Nashville, Tennessee. The creative effort garnered Becky a Children’s Music Web Award in 2005. In addition to her creative efforts, Becky has served as a coordinator for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) for the past seven years.

In her classroom, Becky uses puppet characters, songs, and other materials that work with children preschool through 5th grade. “The music and materials are kid tested and kid approved!” declares Becky. The honored educator says it has taken her over 40 years to develop the instructional materials for her curriculum.

The honored educator encourages her fellow educators to develop creative outlets for their students as well. “Look at what opportunities do exist in your school and community. Build on those things. You will be amazed at what doors open if you just look around,” Becky says. “Is it hard work – yes! Is it worth it – yes!” she declares. “You will find if you are doing what you love-teaching children, putting 100% into it, that will make it all worthwhile,” she concludes.

To learn more about this talented educator, see her website at www.beckymuncie.com.

Miami teacher Lizbet Martinez: She came to the US on a raft

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Florida music educator Lizbet Martinez fled the repressive Castro regime and came to the United States on a raft when she was just a child. Photo credit: The Buffalo News.

Many dedicated educators can share a personal history of overcoming great adversity. One is Lizbet Martinez, an elementary school teacher who, when she was just a child, fled the repressive Castro regime to come to the United States on a raft.

Lizbet was only 12 years old when she braved the dangers of the sea to immigrate to this country from her home island of Cuba on nothing more than a raft. She was one of more than 30,000 Cubans who made this treacherous journey during what is known as the “balsero crisis” of 1994. Lizbet and her family were plucked from the waters by the US Coast Guard on Aug. 21, 1994. At the time, the child was clutching a violin case, which the Americans discussed confiscating because they believed the case might contain a weapon. To prove them wrong, Lizbet opened the case, pulled out her violin, and began to play The Star Spangled Banner. Before the family fled the Castro regime in Cuba, she was studying violin at Alejandro Garcia Caturla Conservatory in Havana.  After their rescue, the Martinez family and other refugees spent five months at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base before being relocated to Miami.

When she grew up, Lizbet enrolled at Florida International University in Miami. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2003. Cuban-American singer Willy Chirino offered her with a $3,000 scholarship to help pay for her college expenses. At her college graduation, she was asked to performed the national anthem to open the commencement ceremonies. Later, Lizbet performed with music stars Gloria Estefan and Jon Secada. She also performed for President Bill Clinton and George H. Bush.

The aspiring teacher completed her student teaching assignment at Emerson Elementary School located in Westchester, Florida, and at Coral Reef High School in Miami. At the grade school, she taught basic music skills. At the high school, a magnet school for teenagers interested in music, she conducted the string orchestra.

Lizbet became a teacher at Emerson Elementary school. She also taught at M.A. Milam K-8 Center, where she was a music instructor until budget cuts cancelled the school;s music program. She then taught English.

To read more about this remarkable educator, see this story published by The Buffalo News.

CA music educator Glen Nakahara succumbs to Covid-19

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Sadly, we report that Covid-19 has claimed the life of Glen Nakahara, a beloved and talented music teacher from Garden Grove, California. He succumbed to the disease on July 26, 2020.

Sadly, we report the passing of yet another beloved and talented educator to Covid-19. Glen Nakahara, an elementary school music teacher from Garden Grove, Orange County, California, succumbed to the disease on July 26, 2020. He was 61 years old.

Glen was born on Sept. 15, 1958. He graduated from Santiago High School in Garden Grove,  California. Following his high school graduation, Glen enrolled at California State University, Long Beach, where he earned his degree in 1981. While there, he played the trumpet in the university’s marching band.

Glen’s career as a music educator spanned 30 years. He inaugurated his career at Lindbergh Middle School in Long Beach, where he taught for 10 years. He spent the last 20 years of his career at Jackie Robinson Academy in Long Beach. The beloved educator touched the lives of thousands of students, remembered Robinson Academy Principal Salvadore Madrigal. “He loved this school, and we all are heartbroken with his loss. He has left so many memories and a wonderful legacy behind,” Madrigal asserted.

In addition to his classroom activities, the talented musician performed as the lead trumpet player in the marching band that performed in the Disneyland Parade. He also performed in the closing ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics.

To read more about Glen Nakahara, click on this link to the Orange County Register.

Music educator Ken Tuttle once performed with notable celebrities

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Ken Tuttle

California music educator Ken Tuttle once performed with notable celebrities. (Photo credit: San Bernardino Sun)

Many excellent music educators have also earned fame as performers. One of these was Ken Tuttle, a choir teacher from California, who also performed with notable celebrities.

Ken was born on July 28, 1952, in Painesville, Ohio. As a youngster, he attended Western High School in Las Vegas. After his high school graduation, Ken earned his undergraduate degree from Chapman University in Orange, California He earned his Master’s degree in Music with an emphasis in Choral Conducting Performance from the the University of Nevada, Reno.

Ken’s career as a teacher of the performing arts spanned 37 years. He worked at schools in Reno, Las Vegas, Anaheim, and finally settled at Redlands High School in San Bernardino County, California. There he served as the Chair of the Vocal Music Department for 24 years, until his retirement in 2015. In addition to teaching choir, Ken taught piano and music theory classes, and he was involved in many theater productions. Many of his students were Special Education students. Ken escorted his students to prestigious competitions and festivals, where the groups often earned first-place trophies and gold medals

For his work in the classroom, Ken garnered the Outstanding Choral Music Educator of the Year by the California Music Educators Association in 2012. In 2016, he was named a Hero of the Arts by the Redlands Community Music Association. Ken frequently served as an adjudicator or guest clinician for festivals, honor choirs, and all-state choirs throughout the Western United States. He also served a stint as the President of the Southern California Vocal Association.

Not only was Ken an outstanding classroom educator, but he was also a sought-after musician. He served as a soloist with the William Hall Chorale, touring all over Europe. He also sang in a choir that performed back-up vocals for Barry Manilow and Paul Anka.

Ken Tuttle passed away on December 8, 2020, in Highland, California. To read more about him, see this article published in the San Bernardino Sun.