It’s our privilege to bring you this year’s 50+ Music Teachers Who Make a Difference. Want to recommend a great teacher for next year? The nomination form is available now at SBOplus.net under Awards.
Alabama
Jason Jackson
Daphne East Elementary School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
When I see students applying information and skills that were part of a lesson or activity to solve a new musical problem without my help. It might be a group figuring out how to stay together, a student teaching a neighbor an instrument part, or someone asking, “What if we did it like this?” I’m especially proud when students create their own sense of community by collaborating, encouraging one another, and taking shared ownership of the music-making.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope my students’ love for music-making continues to grow and develop long after they leave my classroom. More than anything, I want them to see music as something they own, can return to, reshape, and make meaningful in their own lives. If they carry the confidence to create, take risks, and trust their ideas, then I know I’ve made a difference.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Stay curious. You’re never done learning. I encourage students to be brave enough to try something new, even when it feels uncomfortable. That awkward, uncertain space is where real growth happens. If they leave my classroom willing to take risks, ask questions, and try anyway, then they’re taking something far more valuable than any single musical skill.
Alaska
Toby Lambert
Colony Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I don’t have a proudest moment. There are simply too many of them to even try to answer this. I would say, I think the idea of challenging my students to work on a piece of music beyond their ability, yet giving them the tools to be able to perform it and then they do it was a regular item on my list over the many years of teaching. It did not matter if it was band, orchestra, choir, handbells, steel drums, jazz band, jazz choir, theater or any of the countless other groups that worked with me in my schools. It was always the same starting point of “what the heck is he thinking about having us do this” to “I think I am getting the hang of this” to “we actually did it”. That was a motivating factor that would make me excited to try something even more nuttier with the students (I am well known for not doing typical things in my classroom or with my groups-I tend to do things over the top and pushing the envelope of what students are capable of doing).
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I don’t always look at myself making a difference in a student’s life. I present what I am able to do for them and they have to make it work for themselves. Many of my students have thanked me over the years and I appreciate that a lot. But in reality, they need to thank themselves for putting up with my style of teaching and deciding it is worth the effort to work with me. I only provided them with my knowledge, time, energy and enthusiasm for what I love to do (music, theater, film, the arts in general). They are the ones who took something from that for themselves and used it to make themselves better. I just provided a sample of what they could do.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
To to learn to become what they want to become by hard work, facing facts and learning life has ups and downs. No one is going to do this for them. I don’t believe in, as I like to say “fuzzy lovey.” I won’t hug them, I won’t pat them on the back (I don’t really like touching anyone anyways), or tell them the world is always good all the time I will tell them and praise them when they do a good job, but I will also be honest to them and tell them they did not do a good job just as much and what they need to do to improve in my mind. I believe in giving them a taste of reality as they are about to enter it (the good, the bad and the ugly). Keep in mind for almost my entire last 34 years of teaching I have been working with Middle school students. They are in that transition phase of wanting help yet trying to spread their own wings and fly. So, in my mind, it is time to “kick the bird out of the nest” and let them face the real world a little with guides and patience. I want to let them know I (like many others), will help them and guide them with my time and energy but only if they are willing to take the first steps on their own and learn to earn respect for themselves and from others by doing what is needed for themselves and for others. Life is about finding and balancing personal needs with a group of people. Music is a group activity and each person’s personal needs are there but the group needs are the ultimate goal so the piece can be performed.
Arizona
Jenn Bock
Highland High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
It’s not just one moment, it’s all the little moments with students that I’ve had throughout the years. It’s the student who wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone who grows into a confident leader. It’s the kid who couldn’t play above the staff and later is accepted into the regional band. The trumpet player who doesn’t make the marching band at first but later becomes a fantastic section leader. The freshman who can’t find their left foot or the tempo, that finally gets it by championships. It’s the moments when you make eye contact with a student during a performance and you know they’re having a magical experience. It’s the former student who reaches out to thank you and shares what a difference band has made in their life. The growth of my students and seeing them meet and exceed their potential is absolutely what makes me the most proud.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
My ultimate goal as an educator is to ensure every student I encounter has a positive experience that helps them recognize their own potential. Whether it is my own students, students I have the privilege of connecting with in an honor ensemble, or just students I interact with outside of my classes; I want them to feel seen and valued. I never take for granted the impact music and mentorship can have on a person, and I hope through my students, I can help make my little corner of the world a better place.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
My hope is to teach my students they are capable of anything if they put forth the work ethic it takes to get there. That they can do hard things, to live their lives with integrity and the way they do anything is the way they do everything. Finally, I hope they learn that if we put down our devices and connect with others, we can work together to create something beautiful and meaningful in the world.
Arkansas
CamRyn Stillman
Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Anytime I’m able to witness my students making music independently, whether that’s at church, in an extracurricular ensemble, or performing with their own band. Seeing them bring together everything they’ve learned and apply it independently is incredibly rewarding. Those moments remind me why I do this work and feed my soul.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope to guide students from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds to achieve beyond what they believe is possible for themselves. I want every student to understand music is for everyone. That means intentionally creating spaces where students, especially those who may not traditionally see themselves represented, feel valued, seen, and empowered. My goal is for every student to leave my classroom knowing their experiences and perspectives matter, both in music and in the world.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
I want my students to understand the true power of education. When you are knowledgeable and well-versed in something, it opens doors that might otherwise feel out of reach. Education is something no one can take from you, and that’s a kind of power that lasts a lifetime.
California
Gracie Carrillo
Ceres High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I am proudest when I see my students leading and teaching each other as they carry the torch forward. My most profound moments are witnessing the transformations of all my students walking into the music room, feeling unsure and nervous, then months later standing on stage with confidence, ownership, and pride. Watching my students who once felt invisible become leaders in the ensemble, mentoring others and raising the standard one note at a time, fills me with pride and honor to be their teacher. The moments when the group performs with purpose and connection are the days I know something much deeper clicked among my students. That growth, musical and personal, is what I am most proud of as a music teacher.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I strive to show students the confidence to know their voice, culture, and creativity matter beyond the classroom. I want my students to emerge from my program with more than musical skills. I want them to transform with a sense of identity and direction that initiates their “aha” moment to continue their legacy. Music becomes the vehicle, but the outcome is confidence, discipline, collaboration, and resilience. I aim to create an environment where students feel seen, valued, and capable of achieving more than they thought possible. Whether they pursue music or not, I want them to carry forward the mindset that their voice matters through adversity, challenge, and every obstacle with the tools to succeed in the path they choose.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
In my teaching, the biggest lesson I advocate is that excellence thrives daily when we lift each other without the sense of expecting rewards after every collaborative effort, and that transformative growth is indeed one of the top awards they will attain throughout life. Music is our shared language of connection that creates an instant electrifying unification among their community. Talent might give you a starting point, but it’s the hunger behind consistency, accountability, and effort that define your trajectory. I emphasize preparedness, showing up, embracing challenges, and learning from mistakes rather than avoiding them. I also advocate the importance of developing a healthy, professional, and active listening mindset that shapes long-term success. Growth doesn’t come from comfort, but it comes from intentional work and perseverance. If students can internalize that mindset, they don’t just become better musicians, they become stronger, more disciplined individuals ready to take on whatever comes next.
Colorado
Trey Tafoya
Legacy High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
It was after taking my orchestra to the ASTA National Orchestra Festival for the first time. Before we went, I told my students we do these festivals to learn how to be better musicians. That mindset changed everything for us. Upon our return, we were inspired to rethink how we rehearsed, how we worked together, and how we connected as an ensemble. I slowly began shifting more responsibility onto the students, with a focus on communication, leadership, and shared responsibility. This led us to begin performing our music conductorless. At our State Large Group Festival that year, we performed Chris Pilsner’s Snow Falling in Autumn without a conductor. I had the privilege of sitting in the audience where I watched them lead the music together. It was not only a superior performance musically, but it was deeply moving to see them take on that level of responsibility and expressivity completely on their own. I was not only proud of my students at that moment, but that experience also changed how I view my role as a teacher and their role as student musicians.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
My hope is that all students who I have the privilege of working with leave with the understanding that they are important, they are valuable, and they have something to offer. Participation in music gives us a unique opportunity to build something truly special together, and through the process of rehearsal and individual practice, students learn how to listen, how to collaborate, and how to take responsibility for their role in something larger than themselves. I want my students to know they each have something of value to give to the world and what they do matters and makes a difference. When they leave my program, my hope is students know they have the power and the skills necessary to be thoughtful leaders and collaborative community members.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
The person you become in the process is more important than the end result. Too often, we focus on awards, trophies, and recognition, but the most meaningful outcome of working toward a shared goal is who we become along the way. We have to be careful not to lose ourselves in pursuit of a goal, but remember our purpose and how what we do influences others. The lesson my students need to take with them is they must be kind, collaborative, understanding, empathetic, and inclusive in all things they do. If students leave my program understanding how to positively contribute to a community, then they will be able to build something meaningful and lasting for the benefit of everyone.
Connecticut
Rachel Hanchuruck
Francis Walsh Intermediate School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
A moment that stands out to me didn’t happen during a lesson, but after I transitioned to a new position in a different school. When I returned to visit the third and fourth grade chorus, they were genuinely excited to see me—running up to me, talking all at once, and eager to reconnect. That experience meant everything to me. It showed me that beyond teaching music, I had built relationships that made students feel safe, valued, and joyful. That’s the kind of impact I strive for every day.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope to make a difference by helping my students become confident, resilient, and kind individuals. Music is the vehicle, but the real goal is giving them the tools to believe in themselves, face challenges, and treat others with empathy.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
The most important lesson I teach is that mistakes are part of the process. I want my students to take risks, try boldly, and understand that growth comes from effort—not perfection. When I see one of my hesitant students start to invest in the task at hand, take a chance, and keep going even after a mistake, I know they’re beginning to understand that progress is built through courage and persistence.
Delaware
Caitlyn Derrick
Sanford School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
When my students have developed the agency to make musical choices in the repertoire we are working on. It is so inspiring to see students take ownership over the music they love and watch them offer ideas, suggestions, and solutions to each other constructively and respectfully. I love seeing students’ faces light up when they realize they are the ones who made the creative decisions… not me, the teacher. I love serving as a guide with my students because it allows us to make music together.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope I have given my students multiple avenues for music to be a part of their lives both inside and outside of school. Maybe they enjoy performing on their instrument playing in honors ensembles, community bands, and possibly going for a career in music. Perhaps their place is playing cello in the orchestra and then playing bass with their friends in a rock band. Or, maybe they like their music technology class and enjoy creating music electronically, but also enjoy going to concerts and making playlists to listen to. Wherever students fall on the musical spectrum, I want them to feel like music is a part of their lives in whatever way they choose.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
I want my students to be responsible, respectful, and overall good people when they leave my school. These themes are inherent throughout my music curriculum. Students learn to be responsible through setting up their materials and cleaning up our classroom/rehearsal space. They learn respect through studying, creating, and listening to music of various cultures and traditions, as well as discussing the importance of why we are learning it. Students work on empathy and perseverance by listening to differing ideas and working through challenges together. Overall, I want my students to be positive contributors, kind friends to others, and good people.
District of Columbia
Dr. Robert Roche
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Recently one of my former students was accepted into a doctoral program at Teachers College, Columbia University, which also is my alma mater for my doctorate. When I was teaching middle school band, back in 2004, this student was in my beginner percussion class. Fast forward ten years, he was studying education in college and preparing to teach Spanish to high school students. Fast forward another ten years, he became one of the youngest Assistant Principals in Northern Virginia and is in his second semester of his doctoral program. Definitely, a proud teacher moment here.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
“Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies.”
-Andy to Red, from “The Shawshank Redemption”
By being present and ultimately setting a positive example for them, especially my male students. Too often, I have seen a lack of parental support in the lives of my students, alongside with no positive male role model in their lives. I do not aim to be their parent, but I do aim to be a firm and consistent voice while listening and offering sound advice. I hope to offer a place where students are excited to come to school every day and to make music every day. Also, I hope to teach students that education is truly the great equalizer.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
That it is okay to be kind. Be kind – this is my wife’s first and only rule. This is also my first and only rule because sometimes my wife says I need to be more kind. Either way, I feel at the very core of my being that this world would be a better place if people were kinder and just learned to pick up a musical instrument to practice and play. One of my favorite quotes really says it all. “The people who are trying to make this world worse, aren’t taking a day off. How can I? … Light up the darkness.” -Bob Marley. I think the most important lesson any teacher can teach their student is to light up the darkness.
Florida
Wes Lowe
The King’s Academy
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Watching students rise to meet opportunities they once thought were out of reach. Seeing them step onto world-class stages, collaborate with legendary artists, and carry themselves with confidence and professionalism is incredibly meaningful. Those moments represent the culmination of countless hours of preparation, trust, and belief in something bigger than themselves. But even more, it is the transformation behind the scenes that means the most. It is the student who begins unsure of their abilities and grows into someone who leads with confidence. It is the moment a student finds their voice, discovers their purpose, or realizes their potential. Those are the moments that stay with me long after the final note is played, because they reflect growth that reaches far beyond music and into the core of who they are as individuals.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope to create “unmatched experiences” that shape who my students become, not just what they achieve. Through music, I want them to develop discipline, resilience, and a level of commitment that sets a standard for themselves and strengthens the entire team. By placing them in real-world, high-level performance settings and surrounding them with excellence, they learn to rise to the occasion, adapt, and lead with confidence. Music becomes the vehicle through which they learn how to handle pressure, support one another, and pursue a standard of excellence that transcends any stage. My goal is for them to leave the program not only as stronger musicians, but as confident leaders who are equipped to make an impact in our community in whatever path they choose.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Excellence is a mindset. Talent can open doors, but character, consistency, hard work, and a commitment to growth are what sustain success. I also emphasize that you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with. Being part of a strong, driven, and supportive community elevates everyone. I want my students to understand that how they approach the small moments, rehearsals, preparation, and teamwork ultimately defines who they become. If they carry that mindset into their daily lives, then we’ve achieved something that will outlast any performance.
Georgia
Corie Benton
Pope High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I have been fortunate to experience many amazing moments as a teacher, but the ones that stand out most are seeing my students perform after high school. It is especially meaningful to watch them continue making music a part of their adult lives.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I have been fortunate to experience many amazing and rewarding moments throughout my teaching career, each one reinforcing why I chose this profession. However, the moments that stand out most are those when I see my students continue their musical journeys beyond high school. There is something incredibly meaningful about watching them perform as adults, knowing music has remained an important part of their lives. It is essentially fulfilling to see the lessons and passion cultivated in the classroom have stayed with them over time. These experiences remind me the impact of teaching extends beyond graduation and into the lives my students continue to build.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
One of the most important lessons I strive to teach my students is the value of compassion, understanding, and kindness towards others. I believe these qualities are just as essential as any academic or musical skill, and I make a conscious effort to model them in my daily interactions. Each day, I greet my students warmly, creating a welcoming environment where they feel seen and appreciated. I also work to remain emotionally present, offering support, encouragement, and a listening ear when needed. By consistently demonstrating these behaviors, I hope to show my students they are valued and to inspire them to treat others with the same level of care and respect.
Hawaii
Duane Padilla
Punahou Music School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
One semester the music school director called me into her office to ask if I would be willing to take on a special student. Impossible does not begin to describe the situation. Paralyzed from the waist down, she also had very little control of her ams. Lived her life from her motorized wheelchair. Her head usually leaned uncontrollably to her left. Legally blind. A cascade of other health problems. But she was incredibly bright and had a fire in her eyes. Her best friend was my violin student and played in the school orchestra, and she asked her mother if she could take violin lessons also and join her friend in orchestra class. Unwilling to break her heart, the music school director asked if I would at least try to teach her. After a year of raw self determination, she played Minuet by J.S. Bach for her mother at her final lesson that year. She played an Irish fiddle tune with her best friend at the school talent show. She is a constant reminder of the Suzuki Violin Method’s core principal, “where love is deep, much can be accomplished.”
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
As a music teacher, my number #1 job is to listen to my students. Listen not only to the notes they are playing, but also the story behind those notes. In our lessons I hope to create an environment where students feel safe to explore not only music but explore who they are. As a mentor who is a professional listener, my goal is to use music as a tool to help each student become the best version of themselves.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Life in music is full of ups and downs. Things don’t always go smoothly…even for those “perfect people” we often envy. Success simply means have having the courage to try…and try again if needed. This often feels uncomfortable and that’s ok.
Idaho
Josh Barro
Mountain View High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I don’t think I could point to a single proudest moment as a music teacher. Instead, it’s the journey that stands out from the very first interaction with a student to their graduation. Watching their growth as musicians and individuals is incredibly meaningful. What makes me most proud is the trust that each student places in the process—their willingness to persevere and strive for improvement.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By creating a safe, supportive, and structured environment where they feel encouraged to grow and thrive as musicians and individuals. A place where they can develop confidence, discipline, and discover their own voice both in music and beyond.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
The most important lesson I try to teach my students goes beyond any curriculum or technical skill. Above all, I want them to leave my program as upstanding individuals who understand the value of hard work, integrity, and accountability. Through music, I hope they learn perseverance, responsibility, and the importance of contributing positively to the world around them.
Illinois
Stacey Peterik
Urbana High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Watching students grow from their very first experiences in 5th grade band all the way through their high school music careers. Because I get to work with students across multiple ensembles and grade levels, I’m lucky enough to see that full journey – from the early squeaks and squawks to standing up and performing solos in jazz band, knowing their spots while playing confidently in marching band, or discovering the kind of music they truly connect with, whether in band or in another music medium. One of my favorite parts is watching them grow not just as musicians, but as people, as they develop confidence and really come into who they are.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope to create a space where students feel safe, supported, and comfortable being themselves while they grow as musicians and individuals. Since I often work with students for up to eight years, it’s really important to me that they know I’m someone they can count on. I want them to feel like they always have a place in our program and a person they can turn to if they need support. More than anything, I hope they leave with a lifelong appreciation for music – even if they don’t continue playing their instrument after they leave high school (or honestly, if they leave at any point in their musical career).
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Kindness and communication! I want students to understand that kindness goes a long way in building a positive, supportive ensemble where everyone feels valued. Our ensembles really are like a family, and we rely on each other to be successful. Communication is just as important – whether it’s letting us know about an absence or speaking up when something isn’t right, it helps the group function smoothly. When students communicate clearly and treat each other with respect, it makes a huge difference both musically and in the overall culture of the program. These are traits I believe will help them be successful in the future.
Indiana
Chris Taylor
Pendleton Heights High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
After many years in the classroom, I believe it’s hearing students and former students say what being in band has done for their lives. I run into former students all the time and it’s amazing what they remember and how they feel about their time in band. It is always a proud moment when they come back, some year after year, because of what our program has meant to them. Seeing them have their own families and jobs brings me a lot of joy. Now, I am also teaching the children of former students and it’s amazing to have that legacy.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I want them to know I believe in them. Every student matters. Some students have plenty of support at home, in school, and in their lives. For others, being a part of the band program is what keeps them going. I want to create opportunities for them to be a part of something special. I truly believe music is important and want to give them those skills, but it is about so much more. I want them to have a place where they belong and a community of their own.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
I want every student to learn to be a good person. More than performances, awards, or anything else, I want them to work together and learn how to respect one another. Every year, we talk about what it means to be a family. It is the little things from picking up trash to caring for each other. We create a vision statement each year, and they have picked up that the kind of person they choose to be is more important than anything else. If they can walk out of my program with those ideals, I know they can be successful in life.
Iowa
Erin Mahr
Assumption High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
There isn’t one particular moment that sticks out, as I am fortunate to have had many, but I am the proudest of my students when they complete a performance, knowing they have done their very best and played their hearts out. I love the process of learning a great piece of music — from sightreading to the final performance. My students and I can hear the progress along the way, and hearing that final product knowing where it started is what fills my cup.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I want band to be a safe space for all of my students where they feel they can be themselves. Expression is a vulnerable emotion, and it’s unique that we work together in band to create such an emotional output for our audience to feel what we feel when we’re making the music. I know not all of my students will go on to major in music or continue on in music after high school. My hope is that someday when their student has the opportunity to sign up for band that they think back on their band experience fondly — the music making, the collaboration, what they learned, the fun they had — and encourage their student to join band and support them whole-heartedly.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Showing up is the most important part. This past year at our local Veteran’s Day Parade, temperatures were pretty chilly and other schools who had been scheduled to march in the parade canceled. I gave my students the option to not march, and they chose to show up instead. The result was seeing how impactful it was to our community and to our veterans, who have done so much for us, and it is important to give back to them.
Kansas
Pamela Lawson
Eisenhower High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Realizing my classrooms are always transformed into safe and welcoming environments for my students to the extent that non-orchestra students often accompany them to the orchestra room to hang out. My classroom is a beacon of light that fosters learning opportunities, camaraderie, and fun for all. In addition, some students who arrive at school with various challenges often state that my class is the highlight of their day. My advanced students continue to pay things forward by making themselves available to assist my younger students whenever possible.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By inspiring them to work hard and to never accept failure as a roadblock to preventing them from reaching their goals. Everyone experiences failure (some more than others), but I hope to help my students recognize and process its purpose. Failure is necessary in life, and for all of the disappointment we feel, it must be used as a tool to build resilience and to expand one’s personal growth. Above all, I aim to help them discover their own potential and feel empowered beyond the classroom.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Learn from every experience whether good or bad, and apply that lesson to what they already have in their toolkit to become confident and successful. Finally, there is one thing they must have and never lose sight of, and that is belief in self.
Kentucky
Willow Cooper
Beaumont Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
My proudest moment as a band director isn’t tied to a single performance, but to the growth I see in my students. Watching a student gain confidence, find their place in the ensemble, and realize their potential is what means the most to me. Also, seeing my students come together during State Assessment performances and truly support one another to achieve perfect scores! Their focus, their teamwork, and the confidence they show has grown into something bigger than themselves!
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By creating an environment where they feel valued, challenged, and inspired. Through music, I aim to build their confidence, teach discipline and teamwork, and help them discover their potential. More importantly, I want to be a consistent source of support and encouragement so every student leaves my bandroom not only as a better musician, but as a more confident and capable person!
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
It is that growth comes from effort, not perfection. In band, they learn to push through challenges, take feedback, and improve over time—and that mindset will serve them in every area of their lives. I want my students to understand what they do matters to the people around them. In an ensemble, every part is important. They learn responsibility, accountability, and how to work together toward a common goal. More than anything, I want my students to believe in themselves. Through music, they gain confidence, find their voice, and realize they’re capable of more than they thought!
Louisiana
Jessica Fain-Blanchard
Bluff Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
That’s difficult to define, as I have experienced so many meaningful moments throughout my career. Ultimately, what brings me the greatest sense of pride is seeing my students continue to engage with music beyond high school. Whether they choose to keep playing their instruments, support the arts within their communities, or even pursue careers as music educators themselves, their continued connection to music is incredibly rewarding. More than any single achievement, it is their success in both their personal and professional lives that stands out as my proudest accomplishment. If I had to identify one specific moment, it would be witnessing my older students mentor and guide their younger peers. There is something truly special about watching them share their passion for music and take ownership of their learning. I firmly believe one of the most powerful forms of teaching happens when students learn from one another, and seeing that come to life in my classroom is both meaningful and inspiring.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By showing them they should never be afraid to be who they are and they can feel confident in their own skin. My goal is to create a classroom environment where students feel safe to do just that, to be themselves. I also strive to teach my students the importance of being a family. While we may experience moments of frustration with one another, we continue to support and care for each other. I believe fostering a safe space where students can express themselves freely and feel a sense of belonging is one of the most impactful things we can provide during adolescence. Above all, I hope I lead by example demonstrating kindness, empathy, and respect, so my students feel valued and confident in who they are during a time in their lives when they may feel most vulnerable.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
It is okay to make mistakes, because that is how we learn. This is something I reinforce daily. As musicians, we naturally aim for perfection, but it is important to recognize even our best performances may include imperfections. Those moments do not diminish the music; rather, they often add to its authenticity and impact. Music remains meaningful and powerful for both the performer and the listener, even with mistakes. What matters most is how we respond to those challenges and grow from them. Learning to persevere, reflect, and improve not only makes us better musicians, but better individuals. I hope this is a lesson my students carry with them long after they leave my classroom.
Maine
Julia Edwards
Poland Regional High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I find myself proudest of the moments when students are leading each other, serving each other as community members, and embracing differences while celebrating common ground. Perhaps the most impactful moment, however, was when a student who was experiencing progressive hearing loss decided to embrace her musicianship in a new way, and developed her own sign-singing to “If I Can Dream,” alongside a peer vocal soloist. It was a passionate display of her determination to keep music in her life, and the best part of the evening was when the entire audience’s joyful clapping fell silent into Deaf applause. I had to turn the student around so she could see her peers and community recognizing her efforts in her new language — a show of the power of the arts and community solidarity I will never forget.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
My hope is that, above all else, they see kindness and curiosity modeled, and strive to keep both in their lives. I truly believe the arts drive our sense of humanity and community, and access to the arts can help our students find their place in society. When my students exit my classroom for the last time, I want them to leave with a desire to be connected to their world and an understanding of how music and the arts make that possible. I love when former students reach out and tell me the ways music has continued to make them feel united with others!
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
One of the most important lessons we can offer our students as music teachers is to foster cultural curiosity. Students develop a sense of empathy, enthusiasm, and curiosity when examining elements of their own culture and interacting with those of others throughout the world. When students explore culture — and all of its elements — through music, they leave with tools to engage as better world citizens and neighbors. I hope my students’ time with me empowers them to be enthusiastic learners, informed leaders, and joyful members of our global community, always knowing they have access to music in all the ways they’ll need it.
Maryland
Ocie Banks
Thomas G. Pullen K-8 Creative & Performing Arts School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
When my students no longer need me at the center of their learning. When they can independently rehearse, perform, and even teach each other using accurate musical vocabulary, I see true musicianship in action. In those moments, they are not just following directions—they are thinking, creating, and owning the music-making process.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By ensuring they feel a true sense of belonging
in my classroom. I intentionally build an ensemble culture where every student is valued,
respected, and celebrated. Beyond that, I strive to nurture their inner musicianship so it can
grow and flourish both inside and outside of the classroom.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
That’s simple: JUST SHOW UP. When you show up, you can break barriers, go beyond the norm, and achieve excellence. Talent will only take you so far, but commitment and presence allow your gifts to grow and flourish.
Massachusetts
Stephanie Riley
Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
It was this past fall when all of my choral students (grades 8-12) teamed up with members from our community to have a retreat style rehearsal and in the evening present an Intergenerational Concert for the community. My students made such amazing connections with our community members over our shared love for singing to the extent we decided to collaborate on another Intergenerational Concert this spring. Mentorships have started to form and my students now have a glimpse into how choral music can always remain in their lives.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope my chorus and general music students see music can always be a part of their lives in any capacity they choose. Whether it’s being a person who enjoys listening to music for their own pleasure, to creating their own music, or to continuing to sing in their adult lives, I’ll know I’ve succeeded as music teacher.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
That they always have a place in music. To work hard for what they love and believe in. That they are loved. That they have made my life and the others around them infinitely better, just by being there.
Michigan
Amanda Lenze
Dublin Elementary School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Throughout my career—as a middle school and high school choir director and now as an elementary music teacher—I’ve experienced countless proud moments. Some of the most meaningful come from my choir director days, when former students reach out years later to share how music shaped their lives and how being part of my class or ensemble helped them overcome challenges, reminding me that what we do in the music room extends far beyond rehearsals. As an elementary educator, the moments that move me now are different but just as powerful: the look on students’ faces when I start our end‑of‑class song and they exclaim, “What? We’re done already!” or the child who excitedly tells me in the hallway that they can’t wait for music class. Witnessing their pure joy and love of music fills my heart and reminds me every day why I chose this career and why I continue to love it.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
One of my deepest hopes as a music educator is to help students learn, at an early and formative age, that kindness and collaboration are essential life skills. Whether I’m working with my littlest musicians or my “big kids,” I teach them the word ensemble—our music word for team—and remind them that every person matters and what we’re trying to create only comes to life when we work together. We practice this constantly: during games, we talk about what teamwork looks and sounds like, including accepting that we won’t always win; when playing instruments, we listen closely to one another to notice the magical moments that happen when students truly hear each other; and before movement activities, we say our partner pledge and later thank our partners for working with us. These small routines reinforce the larger message that kindness and respect are choices we practice, not just ideas we discuss. I remind myself often that the more I slow down and intentionally model these skills, the more naturally they will become part of my students’ lives, because everyone deserves kindness and respect—and I want those values to take root right in my music room.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
I hope to teach my students to keep music in their lives. After years of working with middle school and high school choirs, I want my elementary students to understand that music doesn’t have to only mean being part of an ensemble or performing on a stage—those experiences are wonderful, but they aren’t the only ways to live a musical life. I talk with them about how music is woven into every part of our world and culture: going to concerts to support the arts, singing a lullaby to a baby, learning a new instrument as they grow, joining a church choir or praise band, listening to a wide variety of artists on streaming platforms, or simply having the confidence to dance at a wedding. I hope that no matter how music has touched their life, it can continue to do so in many different ways throughout their life.
Minnesota
Gillian Desmarais Keller
Webster K-12 School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I have the privilege of working exclusively with autistic and high-needs students, many of whom are navigating significant physical and cognitive disabilities, trauma, and housing instability. With music technology as the catalyst for their artistic expression, I’ve been in a unique position to support students’ non-traditional pathways to music. It began when one of my kindergarten students asked to rap on a high school student’s music project. The video was showcased during our community concert, and has since motivated our students to cross-collaborate and write songs like “We Can Make A Difference” or “Stand in Peace, Me and You.” I couldn’t be more proud of how far they’ve come, and the bright future ahead of them.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
My passion for teaching music has served me as much as composing and performing my own music has. I want students to know they’re not bound to one form of music making, but that music can be fulfilling in many ways and exercised through multiple mediums. My goal is that through role-play, students discover new interests, skills, and experiences that help positively shape their lives and the lives of others.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Music has the power to bring so much joy and fulfillment into life. I hope my students experience that firsthand in my classroom and walk away with a desire to continue building their life around music in their own unique way.
Mississippi
Tammy Carney
Long Beach Senior High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
After thirty-two years of teaching music, I have experienced numerous proud moments with my students. Many of these memories center on outstanding performances or meaningful trips. Although it is difficult to single out one definitive moment, one instructional experience remains particularly memorable.
Each year, my choir’s sight-reading skills are evaluated at the state choral festival. In this instance, the students wanted to advance to a more challenging sight-reading level. A few weeks before the evaluation, I questioned whether they could successfully perform at that highest level. Nevertheless, the students were resolute: they preferred to risk a lower score while attempting the more difficult level than to accept an easier path for a higher rating. I was immensely proud when they performed the advanced sight-reading and earned a superior rating.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
Like other arts disciplines, choir meets many of the developmental and educational needs of young students. Building a choral program committed to high standards provides students with a tangible sense of accomplishment and pride. It is my responsibility to deliver exemplary musical experiences through well-structured rehearsals, thoughtfully planned performances, and a variety of special events across the school year.
When students collaborate to produce high-quality music, they develop habits of discipline, focus, and teamwork that transfer to their academic work. Punctuality, preparedness, and cooperative effort toward shared goals cultivate confidence and a strong work ethic, preparing students to succeed and lead in any field.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
I often tell my students, “It’s your little red wagon,” meaning they are responsible for taking care of themselves. This reminder encourages them for example to come prepared for rehearsal or to pack their uniform for trips. Participation in choir—or any ensemble—requires understanding that each member’s presence and contribution are vital to the group’s success. When students take responsibility for themselves, they become more reliable and others learn to depend on them.
Missouri
Mark Connor
Principia School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
The accomplishment I am most proud of is creating the Everything Band Podcast. The show’s 212 episodes represent my love letter to this profession, and I am deeply grateful that the experience ultimately brought me back to the K-12 music classroom after years of teaching at the collegiate level.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I am fortunate to teach in a school where we serve as our own feeder program, meaning we are responsible for introducing students to band as beginners and guiding them through the high school level. When you have the privilege of leading students for that many years, the impact you can have on their lives is profound. I always strive to lead with love, kindness, and empathy — qualities I hold deeply and hope my students will carry with them long after they leave my classroom.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Success in music, and in life, is rarely linear. It demands perseverance, hard work, and a willingness to show up and put in the practice even when progress feels slow. But equally important is the confidence to believe in yourself through that process. I feel so fortunate that band offers a uniquely powerful environment for cultivating both: every rehearsal is an opportunity to push through difficulty, and every performance is an opportunity to rise to the moment, trust in your preparation, and prove to yourself what you are capable of achieving.
Montana
Michel Sticka
Chief Joseph Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I thought about this question for a long time. After 24 years of teaching, I find it nearly impossible to nail down one single moment! Some of my proudest moments were large, such as fabulous festival performances, or having my bands selected to perform at the Northwest Music Conference, or when my music program in tiny Bridger, MT was chosen to receive a Grammy Signature School Enterprise Award. Yet many of my proudest moments are smaller, such as having a trumpet player who could not play more than a 4-note range for over a year suddenly access their full range potential! Regardless, all of my proudest moments are times when my students persevered and never gave up, working towards a goal together!
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope that in my band program, my students have found a second home. I want them to know they are valued as individuals, and yet in the band they contribute to something so much larger than just themselves. I hope through music they have been able to find a connection to what makes us truly human, and they can tap into that ability any time they choose. I want them to remember their time in our band program fondly, and I hope that through my program they have learned skills they can take with them for the rest of their lives. Skills such as how to lead, how to follow, how to pursue something with diligence until you get it right, how to never give up, and how we achieve best when we work together.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
I think music is such a unique subject in that the most important lessons I teach my students use music as their vehicle, but it is not the music itself that is the most important! Through their participation in my band program, I want my students to learn they can do hard things, and “good enough” is never the stopping point. Through music I try to teach perseverance, team work, and a true appreciation for all people in the group. That music is a “study of contrasts” and just like music, life gets rather dull without those contrasts.
Nebraska
Chiyo Trauernicht
Omaha Central High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
When my students choose music education as their majors. In those moments, I feel everything I am doing, all the life I am giving to teaching is continuing onto the next generation.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I am often reminded that teachers save lives everyday. Students are vulnerable and we never know what kind of life struggles they are going through each day. I hope the time they spend in my classroom is good enough to keep them going, and someday or even today, they will go out to the world and make a difference themselves.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Be kind to each other, work hard at everything you do, and to be thankful for what you have and the people you have in your lives. I desperately hope the students will grow up to make the world a peaceful place for everyone to enjoy all the beautiful things, like music.
Nevada
Dr. Tracy Leslie
Del Webb Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
It’s the moment my students take ownership of their learning and musicianship. There is a point every year when I can see a transition from waiting to be taught to actively seeking answers and asking impact questions. This shift in perspective is that “light bulb moment” when they begin to really love making music and performing together.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By helping my students get to the point where they don’t need me as much. My ultimate goal is to build their problem solving skills, confidence, and independent thinking as well as their musicianship. I believe when students realize their own power, they become better leaders and students as well as better ensemble members. I love employing sight reading to build their confidence because it is an immediate reflection of what they know and how much they have learned. It definitely empowers them!
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
It is that they are capable of big success in everything they do. Learning an instrument is not always fireworks and flowers and there are times when they will get stuck and bored. Teaching them to develop the discipline and skills to break through those boredom barriers or frustration plateaus. Pushing through when it gets hard; what an important skill for us all!
New Hampshire
Edward Doyle
Manchester School District
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
It’s the quiet breakthroughs. I feel the most pride when I witness my students reaching milestones collectively and when the success of the ensemble becomes more important than the success of the individual. There is a specific kind of magic that happens when a student’s pride in their peer’s accomplishment is just as great, if not greater, than their pride in their own. To me, that selflessness is the definition of true joy. It tells me that I’m not just teaching them how to play an instrument, I’m teaching them how to be involved in a community.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
My goal is for my students to view music as a vital spiritual outlet and a safe harbor they can return to throughout their entire lives. Beyond the curriculum, I want every student who enters my classroom to know, without a doubt, that I am in their corner. I want them to feel seen, supported, and genuinely cared for. I am committed to expanding the opportunities of our program so we can offer more opportunities to more students through diverse outlets. Whether they pursue music professionally or simply use it as a way to process their emotions, I hope to leave them with the confidence that they have a voice that deserves to be heard.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
The most important lesson I share is the world is vast, beautiful, and diverse and music is the ultimate key to unlocking it. I want my students to understand music is the most profound way to celebrate culture. By learning the songs and rhythms of others, we learn to appreciate the ‘big world’ out there. I hope they walk away from class realizing music is a universal language that builds bridges, fosters empathy, and allows us to celebrate the human experience.
New Jersey
Zachary Gates
East Brunswick High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Just this year, I had a student receive one of only two spots offered in the entire state to be a sound engineer for the NJMEA Honors Modern Band. She has grown each year so much in her ability to play instruments, run lighting, and mix FOH, and her performance at the conference and performance was truly like a “summiting the mountain” moment. She got to rehearse and mix for the best rock students in the state for a room full of hundreds of people, and I couldn’t have been prouder.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope students walk away from my classes more willing to take chances, more willing to have their voices heard, and more willing to actively seek joy.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students
Kindness to others and kindness to yourself are the most important things in life, and those two things together must be the center of everything you do. When you mess up along your path to success, that does not mean you are unworthy or exempt from the flow of kindness, both coming to you and coming from you.
New Mexico
Virginia Weaver
Hermosa Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
My proudest moments as a music teacher have been seeing so many of my elementary students continue with music through middle school and high school and excel at their musical and creative pursuits. The current high school students had the added obstacles that happened in music education because of the pandemic, but you wouldn’t know it when you watch them on the marching band field, sing in the local musicals, or perform at all state choir. Many of my former students are not just involved in one performing art, but multiple of them, and are leaders in their school and community as well. Their passion and dedication have left me teared up at one (or more) of their performances.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope my students leave my classroom being more confident and willing to take on pursuits outside of their comfort zone. I hope they believe in their own creativity and ability to enrich our world with their musical and non-musical skills. I hope they feel cared for, accepted, and respected and in turn, care for, accept, and respect others.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Music education is a powerful vehicle for fostering grit and determination. If I can teach my students that mistakes are not failures, but stepping stones to growth and excellence, and to value continued progress over perfection, I know I will have given them a powerful tool for a lifetime. It is a lesson I learned through my music education and am honored to pass on my students.
New York
Stacy Stollberger
Connetquot High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I have had the pleasure of teaching band at every grade level in my district. While the material and concepts covered in the different grade levels change, seeing a student encounter a challenge, rise to that challenge, and then overcome it is one of my favorite parts of being a teacher. Seeing that sense of accomplishment and pride in a student, for work they did on their own, is one of my proudest moments.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
As music teachers, we do so much more than teach material on a syllabus. In marching band, students develop trust in one another and learn to follow the guidance of their student leaders. They build leadership skills, collaborate effectively with each other, and gain an appreciation for representing, contributing to, and serving their community. In Jazz Band, they learn to create, embellish, and respond to the music around them instead of depending solely on what is on the page. In concert band, they learn even though their work is leading to a singular performance, mistakes happen. There is always something to learn and a way to grow and improve. Having pride for the work you do is important, but it is equally important to be open to criticism and new approaches. My hope is I can help prepare students for life by instilling and sharing lessons and values they can carry with them and apply to their daily lives.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Always lead with kindness; you never know the struggles people are facing, and your compassion might be the silver lining to their day. Beyond academic achievements, my sincere hope for everyone is that they recognize their ability to overcome challenges and to “do hard things.” Don’t let fear of the unknown cause you to miss a valuable opportunity. Instead, create a plan, dedicate yourself to the work, and approach the task methodically, one step at a time.
North Carolina
Steven Kelly
Gray’s Creek Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
As a middle school teacher, one of my proudest moments is seeing students progress from their 6th-grade year, when they’re just beginning, to their 8th-grade year, when they leave. In the last days of their 8th-grade year, I like to hand out music from their first concert in 6th grade and see their expressions of happiness and fond memories of where they started.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
Music can be a powerful outlet. I hope I can help them build confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging that stays with them long after they leave my classroom.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
More than anything, I try to teach perseverance. Music doesn’t come easily at first, and learning to stick with something, work through mistakes, and grow over time is a skill they can carry into every part of life. I also want them to understand they don’t have to give up music to pursue other interests—they can do both. Music can always be a part of who they are, no matter where their path takes them.
North Dakota
Rich Gonzales
Sheyenne High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
It’s each year as I watch my senior students play at our last concert and walk across the stage at graduation. Each cohort of students brings new musical memories, challenges, and celebrations. Watching them grow into compassionate, resilient, and responsible young adults who have an appreciation for the arts is such a rewarding experience. I am confident I have learned just as much if not more from my students as I hope to have taught them. With each year that passes, not only do I get to meet my new students, but I get to continue to watch my former students thrive in our community.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By offering rewarding musical experiences, a welcoming classroom, timeless memories, and life skills that they will take far beyond my classroom. I show up to school every day excited to teach and to believe in my students to push themselves to become the best version of themselves they can be.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
I hope to teach them the importance of the arts as well as commitment, teamwork, perseverance, and compassion. Above all, I instill the belief in them that genuine work ethic will beat talent every time.
Ohio
Eric Trio
Clairsville Elementary School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Being able to have both of my daughters on stage at the same time for a musical I directed. Experiencing the joy in this moment is something I will never forget.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
In a world that can seem dark and troubling at times, my hope is to be a light to all of my students. Instilling a love for making music (in its many forms) is something I continuously strive towards day in and day out.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
The most important lesson I can instill in my students is to always strive to make the best version of yourself each day. Even though we are teaching to make better student musicians, it is also an important responsibility to help make better people.
Oklahoma
Alex Rivera
Hilldale Elementary School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I’m so lucky to have many proud moments as a music educator. Most recently, my 4th and 5th Grade Choir was performing a concert. We were singing Robert T. Gibson’s arrangement of “Lovely Day” when the sound suddenly stopped working. I frantically looked for my laptop to try and get the sound reconnected. My students kept singing and finished the song a cappella. I barely could conduct because of the tears that were pouring.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I hope my students carry the love of music with them the rest of their lives. Regardless of their future career or life goals, I hope they attend concerts, musicals, karaoke nights, or whatever musical events bring them joy. To those who choose to become parents, I want them to sing to their babies, to encourage them to listen to and experience music. I hope music is always a bright spot in their lives.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Respect is LEARNED not earned! Everyone deserves respect regardless of any preconceived notions. And because everyone deserves respect, that means each of my students also deserves respect, is worthy of love, and has inherent value. The most important lesson I can teach them has nothing to do with music. It is they are precious just the way they are.
Oregon
Cynthia Navarro
Clear Creek Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Oh wow. I definitely can’t pinpoint a single moment. I do, however, have a favorite event that brings some of my proudest moments. Every year, we do a tour where we perform for our three elementary feeders and a retirement community. I get to see their responsibility, resiliency and their relationship building in action! They are responsible for setting up and tearing down every venue. I encourage them to ask each other before they ask me. The best part is seeing them interact with younger students and older adults. At the end of the day, yes, I want to instill a love of music, but more importantly, I want to see my students thrive as good humans.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
Ooof. That’s big. Firstly, I recognize as a middle school teacher, I don’t always get to see the fruits of my labor. Over the course of their three years with me, my goal is to give them access to different regulation tools and strategies that will serve them further down the road. I hope I can give them a space to be authentic and to explore their identities. The best I can do is be true to who I am and show them what authenticity looks like. I am an autistic, Spanish speaking Mexican woman. All of that comes to work with me. So, I guess I hope to make a difference by being the stepping stone to them discovering and owning their identities.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Students come first, music comes second. I want them to learn they are ALWAYS deserving of care and love, no matter what. Everything else comes second. I want my students to know they can take up space with their thoughts and their ideas and their personalities. They always come first for me and I want them to care for others the same way. We cannot expect students to flourish in music if they do not feel valued.
Pennsylvania
Kyla Davis
Ben Franklin Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Witnessing the growth and transformation music can encourage in my students. I was so proud of one student in particular who was initially very shy and reserved but later successfully performed a solo in front of a full audience!
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By helping them realize that their potential is not fixed and their possibilities are endless. I hope to inspire my students to set goals so high it scares them and then they have the confidence to do it anyway!
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
I hope to impart to my students the ideals of integrity and strength. I want them to know life will not always be easy but you can do hard things. You can do hard things well and with good character. You do not have to be a bad person just because bad things happen to you. And life isn’t about what happens to you, it’s about how you handle it.
Rhode Island
Megan Catelli
Archie R. Cole Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Over the last 21 years of public school teaching, my proudest moments have always been seeing students feel proud of themselves. It happens in small but meaningful ways-when a difficult musical phrase finally clicks, or when their face lights up after a performance. Most of these moments happen quietly in the classroom, without any fanfare, but the impact in that moment is truly special.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
Over the course of our three years together, I hope to give my students more than musical skills; I want them to leave my classroom with confidence and a strong sense of belonging. I hope they see music as a lifelong source of joy, something that is deeply social and connects them to others in meaningful ways. I strive to create a space that is safe yet challenging, where students can experience music and connect with it on a deeper level than they thought possible.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
That growth comes from consistent effort and willingness to engage with discomfort and challenges. Mistakes are valuable opportunities for growth in and out of the classroom. Perseverance will build resilience and will be proof that we can do hard things! The magic truly happens during the process!
South Carolina
April Troglauer
Aynor Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
My philosophy of teaching revolves around the idea that I am not teaching music, I am teaching life skills through the lens of music education. I often tell my students, “This isn’t a music skill, this is a life skill.” My proudest moments as a music teacher are when I see students in and around the community and they stop to tell me what they are doing with their lives and how my class shaped how they experience the world. No matter the age, my former students still want to make me proud! Many share how their own children are getting involved in music because of what a difference my classes made in their own lives. Parents often tell me their daughters are growing into strong, independent young women because of my example. Middle school is such a formative time for young people, and I am honored to be a small part of what makes these students successful, contributing members of our community. I couldn’t be prouder!
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By instilling in them the importance of hard work, collaboration, and resilience. No matter the job they choose in the future, these skills are vital to their success. I often equate our Orchestra to a team: we succeed together and we fail together, and each of us is a vital part of the team. When we work together, supporting and striving for everyone to succeed, we can really make something special happen. I want students to walk out of the classroom as better musicians and better people, understanding their own worth and seeing the goodness and potential of everyone around them.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Kindness is key! Sometimes that is kindness to yourself, recognizing struggles and persevering through them. Other times it is kindness towards others so we can all be successful together. Music is the language of the heart, and showing kindness is putting the music we all hold within us into action to make our world a better place!
Tessa Belgum
South Dakota
Yankton Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
I’m from a semi small area and I see many of my past students/ student teachers at contests, church, summer band, the grocery store, etc. I always feel really proud of them when they become these super amazing adults doing great things, having beautiful children, and investing themselves in their community. My hope is they felt that culture in my classroom and continued that in their own lives. It’s neat to continue to see them beyond my classroom knowing they are positively impacting those around them.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
My hope is not always to make my class musical, but to make it a lifelong lesson. Music creates an avenue for us to teach structure, discipline, growth, and most of all passion. I hope my students take these traits on in their own lives knowing they learned this in the band classroom.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?:
I want my students to be challenged. And in return, I ask them to challenge me. Life isn’t always easy and we need to rely on each other and keep each other accountable and learn from one another. I want them to leave me knowing I challenged them to be the best they could be and loved them in the process.
Lafe Cook
Dobyns-Bennett High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Those have come both on and off the stage. Performing at the Midwest Clinic was certainly a career highlight—standing on that stage with our students, representing our program at the highest level, was incredibly meaningful. But just as impactful is seeing former students continue their musical journeys beyond high school, especially those who go on to play in college ensembles. A meaningful “non-music” proud moment was helping raise enough money to ensure every student in our program, regardless of their economic circumstances, can travel with us to experiences like the Rose Parade or the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Creating those opportunities for all students is something I value just as deeply as any performance, because it reflects what our program is truly about—access, belonging, and shared experiences that last a lifetime.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
By showing them the value of hard work and commitment, while also helping them understand that making music is something bigger than themselves. Music has the power to serve others—it can inspire, comfort, and bring people together—and I want my students to see their efforts as a selfless gift to the world. If they leave my program with a strong work ethic and a sense of purpose in what they do, then I’ve done my job.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Being part of an organization like a band program is not just about what you get, but also about what you give. There is a responsibility that comes with belonging—to your peers, to the tradition of the program, and to the standard of excellence that has been established over time. I challenge my students to live up to that history and those expectations, while also recognizing the habits they build here translate far beyond music. Through band, they develop critical soft skills like accountability, teamwork, communication, and time management—skills that prepare them for success in college, the workforce, and any path they choose.
Texas
Taylor Williamson
Wiley Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
My band, the Wiley MS Wind Ensemble, was named the 2023 TMEA CC Honor Band, a distinguished honor earned by only one band in the state of Texas each year. They were invited to perform at the 2023 TMEA convention in front of almost 2,000 audience members and music educators. While the title of this honor is incredibly special, it was the experience of sharing the stage with my students and seeing them shine that is most memorable to me. It made me proud as a director to see my students’ success in this performance, and it was because of them that it was truly the proudest moment of my career.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I work every day to not only teach my students to be incredible musicians, but also to be amazing humans. I want every student to leave my program knowing that they have the skills to be successful in whatever they’re passionate about, and that I am proud of them regardless of their accomplishments.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
My band program has a set of character traits we call the “Wiley Band Way”. We teach these to our students on the first day of school each year and reiterate the importance of them every single day. While music excellence is at the forefront of our program, how we shape our students as humans is our biggest priority. Through the “Wiley Band Way”, we want our students to walk out of our band hall knowing how to care for others, hold themselves to the highest standards, and maintain a positive attitude even through challenging situations and adversity.
Vermont
Glen Wallace
Fairfax High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Last school year, I organized my school’s first overnight music trip: three days and two nights in NYC. I was extremely nervous about the logistics of the experience, and even more concerned the students might not enjoy the activities; hearing the extremely excited chatter as we got on the bus after seeing Hadestown, I was extraordinarily proud of the way my students–several of whom had not so much as left the state of Vermont before this trip–had dug in and been thoroughly impressed by a musical.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
If I can help connect students to a broader range of experiences–if I can make them laugh, cry, think, feel, and/or care about something, I will consider my job effectively done. Our society and culture tend not to value the breadth and depth of the human experience; in my classroom, we celebrate all aspects of it together.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
That when we work together, everything gets better. Our victories are sweetened and our losses softened because we experienced them together. There is nothing better in life than knowing you were an integral part of an experience bigger than yourself, and participating in ensemble-based music-making is one of the most powerful tools to learn that.
Virginia
Taryn Wood
Woodbridge Senior High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Through my 17 years, I have had many moments that have surprised me and brought so much joy with my students. The moments that stand out to me are the ones where my students are able to take what I have taught them and apply it not only to their own performance, but in helping younger student musicians. Where students push through their individual frustrations or challenges and not only succeed, but exceed their own expectations. I had a senior student who, as a freshman, was not very motivated, but as he progressed through high school, he not only sought out more opportunities to improve, but also learned another orchestra instrument and joined the marching band. As a senior he became co-concertmaster of an honors orchestra and was constantly working with the younger students in the other orchestras, helping and coaching them. I love seeing students surprise themselves with how much they can achieve and then express and share that love and passion with everyone around them.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
My hope for students is to develop a genuine love for the arts and a lasting appreciation for music. Regardless of the path they choose after graduation, I hope they look back on their experiences in my classroom with pride and joy. I strive to create an environment where students feel supported and confident, whether they are actively creating or still discovering their place. I want my classroom to be more than just a space to make music, but a home away from home. A place where students feel like they belong and can grow and experience everything around them. Some students need music as a place of comfort and relaxation. Sometimes they need the challenge our classroom brings. No matter what a student needs, musically or personally, my goal is for every student to know they have a safe, welcoming space where they belong.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Music and orchestra are only part of what we do and what I teach. The lessons learned in orchestra extend far beyond the technical and musical skills needed to perform. Students learn how to collaborate, problem‑solve, and work with those around them. They learn the difference between simply hearing and truly listening, and they develop critical lifelong skills necessary for success far beyond my classroom. I want my students to develop a lasting appreciation for music they can share with others, but beyond that, I want them to leave my classroom as confident, thoughtful individuals who understand the value of teamwork, perseverance, and empathy. My goal is for every student to feel seen and supported, not just as musicians, but as people.
Washington
Ethan Chessin
Camas High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
For the last few years, I’ve been picking a world musical tradition and going deep with my choir classes, exploring alongside local culture bearers. Last year, we dove deep into South Asian music – mostly Carnatic, but also Hindustani, Tibetan, and Afghan. We have a small South Asian dance club at our school that usually only performs once a year at the school talent show, so I invited them to collaborate on some Bollywood choreography for our choral music. We brought in local musicians to play traditional instruments – mridangam, ghatam, nattuvangam, veena, and Carnatic violin. Working with these incredible instrumentalists, I realized these traditions have pedagogies just as interesting and useful as our solfege and rhythm-counting systems. I love this music, but I’m not an expert, so I found local dance studios and cultural groups to help teach us about konnakol – rhythmic syllables – and sargam – pitch syllables, as well as traditional songs and dances that beginning students of Carnatic instruments, singing, or Bharatanatyam dance might learn. My students learned from masters, strengthened their pitch awareness and sightreading skills, and performed a concert without the need for choral octavos. The most delightful full-circle moment occurred after this project ended, when a Bharatanatyam dancer auditioned for our talent show. My leadership students, the audition panel, watched with rapt attention during a seven-minute dance routine including rhythms they had learned, pitch syllables they had learned, and dance elements they had learned. They were glowing afterwards with the realization they had learned enough to become conversant in this tradition that had once been entirely foreign.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I try to show my students they have voices the world is eager to hear, and the world is a better place when we listen to each other. There are a couple ways we do this:
– I plan a huge concert every other year in which we work with a local indie rock composer/performer to write a concert-length work for our combined choirs, the artist, and their rock band, plus brass, strings, or percussion.
– I encourage students to compose for our ensemble, and bring in alumni as composers to show current students how they are making pathways as musicians outside of high school.
– I bring in guests to talk about their own personal experience with hot-button topics: immigrant communities, Black churches, Israel, and more. Students realize they get more out of talking to people about their lives than hearing political talking points.
– I find opportunities to meet my students’ personal goals in music: sponsoring a songwriting club, finding performance opportunities for student bands, connecting students with producers and mentors, and more.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
Just like Kermit in the original Muppet Movie, we all have moments when we doubt the dream. When we work together, it’s easier to remember that making the world a better place by making it a more beautiful place is a dream worth pursuing.
West Virginia
Neil King
Suncrest Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Seeing my students succeed beyond the classroom. I’ve had former students go on to become National Merit Scholars, NASA engineers, doctors, lawyers, mechanics, and skilled tradespeople. Watching them grow into successful, fulfilled individuals is the most rewarding part of my career.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I strive to help students understand music teaches intrinsic values such as teamwork, discipline, multitasking, and both cognitive and creative thinking. It provides a meaningful outlet for self-expression while helping them develop skills they can apply to all areas of life.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
That the success of the group is greater than the individual—but each individual contributes more to the whole than they often realize.
Wisconsin
Bill Dennee
Denmark Middle School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
That would be presenting our Veterans Day Program. Our students and staff come together to honor Veterans from Denmark and Northeast Wisconsin through music, student speakers, and artwork. It is powerful to see the pride our students take in showing gratitude and respect. This program has become a meaningful tradition in our community.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
I strive to create a welcoming, safe environment where students build confidence and feel valued. Building relationships is at the center of everything I do. In the band room, students can take risks, learn from mistakes, and grow. I also hope to help them develop an appreciation for all kinds of music.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
I emphasize being on time, being prepared, asking questions, and having fun along the way. And I remind them that PLEASE, I’M SORRY, and THANK YOU will take them far in life. These are habits that will serve them far beyond the band room.
Wyoming
Connor Dennis
Worland High School
What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
Watching my students grow through challenges, face setbacks, and overcome hurdles in order to become the outstanding people I know they can be. In music classes, we challenge students’ technical abilities, broaden their perspective, and provide them with opportunities to express their emotions through performance. As a 6-12 music instructor, I have the unique opportunity to watch students grow throughout their secondary career and transform themselves as human beings. Some students can really struggle during this time, and to watch those students beat the odds of their circumstances is truly rewarding.
How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
My number one goal for my students is that they continue to have a lifelong appreciation and enjoyment of music after they leave my class. For some of my students, they may stop performing, but they have the tools to really appreciate music that they interact with on a daily basis. This might mean that they go on to sing for community organizations or their church. For others, they may go into college music ensembles and continue performing in college. Still others may pursue music professionally and build a lifelong career. Whatever their choice may be, it is my hope that they continue to appreciate music their entire life.
What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?
To be their authentic self as much as possible, and to use that to grow into a better person. My own students know I am unabashedly myself as much as possible. I know my own merits and flaws, and I will acknowledge these when they come up. They see me constantly working to shore up my weak points, but I do not let them stop me from doing my best. My hope is that students feel welcome and comfortable enough in my class to be themselves, accept their own strengths and weaknesses, and to keep moving forward.
