Your Nominations
Erin Gabriel
Erin Gabriel is the heart and soul of the arts department at The Overlake School. Erin has created an environment in her classroom and the theatre that is safe, inclusive, and welcoming to all. She tells every student; “You are enough.” I can’t express how much those words mean to a high school student. Thank you Erin, for filling the world with music and love every single day!
Jessie Bullock
Mr. B, who teaches at Carlsbad High School, is more than a high school choir teacher. He is a youth advocate and mentor to hundreds of individuals. He allows a safe environment for ALL individuals to learn music and explore their voices by working together. I have never seen an educator pour more passion into their work. Now, given COVID, he has gone even further beyond what is expected of him as a public school educator. Not only is he teaching music online, but the kids are enjoying it. The lessons Mr. B teaches go far beyond the classroom. They are lessons all students will carry for years to come. Anyone who crosses paths with Mr. B, musically or otherwise, is an incredibly lucky individual.
Amir Bahador SG
He is an inspiring, enthusiastic voice and singing teacher whose patient, caring and encouraging attitude creates the most enjoyable learning experience. As a blind student however, my personal experience is even more unique. He is one of several incredible sighted teachers I have had the joy of encountering. I appreciate all his outstanding efforts to make each and every detail accessible, and offer me such great opportunities.
Matthew Fisk
Mr. Fisk is the choir director of Midlothian High School, and he is the one of the kindest men to ever live. He has a heart the size of the world, and he has room in it for all of his students. On top of being kind and truly caring, he is hilarious, and manages to keep spirits light even when we’re working hard. He conducts his choirs amazingly and fairly, turning groups of disparate students into families. That’s why I think Matt Fisk is the best teacher for this position.
David Lum
Mr. Lum was one of many incredible music teachers at Agincourt Collegiate Institute. His classes were always fun and I always looked forward to them. I had always enjoyed music and playing the saxophone, but being around a teacher who was passionate about what he was teaching made me love it even more. His passion and his love for music made rehearsals the best part of my week. He always wanted the best for his students and he created such a welcoming and inclusive environment. I remember the last performance we had, playing O Magnum. It was truly one of the most beautiful moments of my life, getting to create music together and share that experience with everybody else and knowing that he was proud of what we had accomplished. I feel so lucky to have had Mr. Lum as a teacher, but I am a little disappointed that I didn’t even get to spend a full year with him due to the pandemic. Thank you for everything, Mr. Lum!
Danielle McRoy
This teacher changed my life and most students who walk through the doors to her chorus room. She is an inspiration – battled breast cancer and has been in remission!!! She gave us everything she had day in and day out. My day 1 experience in her cross campus choir (both HS in our district) was an awakening that I can only imagine is similar to Eric’s moment in choir singing the requiem. She always had her desk stocked with emergency supplies for her kids as if she were all of our collective mother, ready to spring into action. She’s the first to go to out of anyone if you had a problem with anything, even family trouble or outside of school problems. She is extremely generous in that if she knew a student wasn’t eating or couldn’t afford something to eat one day, she would give them lunch money or her apple or literally anything to remedy the situation. Most importantly she made that choir room the safest environment that anyone and everyone felt welcomed in. She is the reason I sing!
David Neves
Dr. David Neves is the current director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensembles and an instructor of both the University of Rhode Island’s music education program as well as Rhode Island College’s music program. He has a clear passion for what he does, and it shows through his conducting and his teaching. He has inspired me to continue music through the pandemic and I am thankful to have him as a director.
Adam Brown
Mr Brown joined our music department around 2 years ago, and since then has helped to inspire the younger years especially and help their love for music grow! Since lockdown began, he’s continued to create innovative ways to make online learning of music fun, and has helped me especially to continue to get better at a part of my A-Level music course that I find difficult. He has also sent out weekly ‘Cover Song’ challenges to anyone, whether they study music or not, to keep the co-curricular side of the music department as brilliant as if we were at school. The ‘Cover Song’ challenges have been a big success! Overall, he’s worked towards keeping everyone involved in music at our school happy, and excited to keep playing our instruments, and learning about music – we couldn’t have done it without him! Thank you :)
Sarah Iadarola
Sarah is the choir instructor at North Haven High School in CT. She has changed my life by introducing me to choir music and sharing her passion for it with me. She would stay after hours to help me with difficult sections, introduce me to new pieces to listen to in my free time, and anything else she could do to help me improve as a musician. Above all else, she just wanted us students to appreciate the music we were creating and enjoy doing it. Her passion and enthusiasm for music is contagious and her pride in her students knows no limit. She made her classroom feel like home, like a place where everyone was accepted and music brought us all together as a family. I am truly blessed to have had her as a teacher for 4 years and would not be the person I am today without her.
Catherine Wilson Smith
Catherine joined choir at Rhode Island College She has a voice of an Angel. Catherine moved to California to pursue a career as a music teacher for children. She believes all children should be exposed to music. Catherine bought musical instruments for her students. She taught them to sing thtough her voice, videos and history of music. Catherine fills her students with the same passion she had as a child and loves doing it. All children need a teacher just like her🎵❤
Matthew Hayner
He is probably one of the most passionate people I’ve met. He always encourages his students to do their best and I think that especially with this pandemic that’s really important.
Mr. Hayner has been a constant source of inspiration for me through my high school career. He has a genuine concern for each one of his students. I’m certain that if you ask any one of his students, current and former, they would say the same. At the core of it all, though, is music. His love for music is unlike most any other I’ve seen. This is plain to see in his hard work, dedication, and resilience. Thanks, Mr. Hayner.
Dr. Gayle Walker
I nominate Dr. Gayle Walker because she has been an amazing professor before and during the pandemic. She always makes sure he students have somewhere to go to when they need to talk, she is understanding about all situations, and she is beyond passionate for what she teaches. Dr. Walker is an outstanding musician and teacher.
Michael Waterhouse
Michael Waterhouse is my music director and during the pandemic, him and the music department were able to put on a virtual summer concert, incorporating virtual performances from students – This was then later live streamed on Facebook for the community to watch, this was done so we would not miss the opportunity to perform in our annual summer concert. Mr W also made sure that we would be able to have our annual carol service, because of Mr W, not only were we able to have a virtual carol service but we were able to record it in the church. We were able to go to the church and all of the different year group choir bubbles were spaced out across the church, socially distanced. We were able to record all of our carols which were then editing and live streamed on Facebook. He has able to edit all of the videos for both the carol service and the summer concert. Mr Waterhouse did everything in his power to ensure that we wouldn’t have to miss any performances. – Thank you.
Abigail Rodgers
As a new baby teacher, Abigail brings her skills as a former professional dancer and ballot teacher into fer 1st grade classroom. Despite immense challenges–teaching online to 6 year olds in the room & on the screen–she presses in to inspire and equip “her babies.” Learning to navigate parents, admin, and trch support has been particularly daunting. As her mom, (teacher since 1980) I cheer her on and shout Brava!
Elissa Jones
Mrs. Jones of Century High School is hands down the greatest teacher I’ve ever had. She gets up every morning to direct several choirs and a musical theatre class throughout the day. She has helped me grow as a performer and a musician in these past four years I’ve been in high school more than I’ve possibly grown in my entire life. She’s so kind and truly cares about her students. She works so hard to make sure that we know our music and understand the meaning and pushes us to be the best musicians we can! I know hybrid schedule has been hard for her to manage, but she is doing amazing and deserves recognition! She’s the greatest :)
Chris Hodder
Mr Hodder, as well as being an inconceivably talented musician, is an amazing peri teacher here at AKS Lytham, UK. His energy and zeal to his students and to the continuation of our “normal” music programme at school and home is always met with conspicuous success. He has put together all the cover song challenges, the teatime recitals, the summer concert, carol service and so much more – none of which would have been possible without his technical skills and his immense dedication, and we are all incredibly grateful to have him as one of our teachers. Thank you Mr Hodder!
Lory Feuerborn
Lory was hired in November to teach preschool children at a local Christian school. The class she was assigned to, was a disaster! There was more free for all and little learning happening. Long story short, Lory spent Christmas break making the class and room her own. Multiple bags of trash and hours of love later,Lory goes in each day determined to give these little ones the structure and skills they need to move on to kindergarten. There are days when the children think the old ways are the only way, but she presses on with love and determination. Lory was sent into what most would think was an impossible situation and is giving it her all, even when she feels her all is not enough. The love expressed by the faculty, parents and children speaks volumes for the job she is doing.
Jennifer Pearce
This year I have been able to work as a Teachers Assistant to Mrs. Pearce. She is a beautiful woman inside and out, and I couldn’t imagine teaching with anyone else. She gives me so many opportunities to lead and learn how to teach which I appreciate so much. Plus, she has stayed so incredibly positive through everything. Thank you for making this year amazing, and kickstarting my teaching career.
Angela Flook
I was really unsure of myself in middle school. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or how to talk to people. One of the few things I knew I could do was sing, and Ms. Flook really brought that out of me. I felt safe and wanted in choir, and it gave me so many precious opportunities. Ms. Flook was always passionate about her work and genuinely cared about the students in her class, and provided a great balance between fun and musical education. We wanted to be there, and we learned a lot from being there. I’m a junior voice performance major in WVU, and I still have contact with her. She still encourages me to be better than I already am. Ms. Flook was responsible for my musical foundation, and without her influence, my life and many of my friends lives could have been much different.
Julie Alber
Mrs. Alber is my almost 6 year old daughter’s kindergarten teacher at CHIME Charter in Woodland Hills, CA, and she has been more than I could’ve ever asked for as a teacher to my girl. We’ve been 100% remote this whole year, but Mrs. Alber has made it fruitful and fun. Not only is she excellent at teaching academics in creative ways, but she truly goes above and beyond for her students and parents. My daughter has ADHD, and remote schooling is particularly tough for her. Mrs. Alber has been absolutely incredible with providing individualized teaching techniques for my daughter, and sometimes even stays on Zoom after class is over, just to play and bond with her. She’s even had one-on-one dance parties with my daughter as a reward for good work and focus. These were on Mrs. Alber’s lunch time! I could go on and on here, but I just can’t adequately express how grateful I am for Mrs. Alber! My only regret is that my daughter may never get to be in the actual classroom with her.
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