As has been remarked upon time and again, this past year has not been an easy one for many public schools. Cuts in both funding and staff have had harsh impacts on teachers and their students. With glimmers of hope that the American economy may finally be breaching the stormy clouds, there is no shortage of reasons to be optimistic about school music programs throughout the country. In fact, in this report, School Band & Orchestra is proud to present 50 of them.

The educators selected for SBO's 12th annual 50 Directors who Make a Difference report hail from every state in the nation, and they are but a sampling of the many great music instructors in our schools. From eager newcomers who are breathing new life into music programs to wizened veterans who continue to share their years of experience and knowledge, each of the teachers profiled in the following pages represents a reason to have confidence that music will find its way through the dark and twisting maze of funding and bureaucracy and into the hearts and minds of tomorrow's leaders. With educators such as these among the rank and file, the future of music education is as bright as ever.

ALABAMA
Dr. Rusty Logan
Director of Bands
Auburn High School
Auburn

Years at School: 21
Total Years Teaching: 30
Students in Program: 170

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope that I can set an example that my students would embrace. When they leave my class, they will understand that hard work, dedication, and an enjoyment of what you do can lead to a fuller life. I truly enjoy coming to work each day and spending time with my students. I hope they see this and will take it into their own lives.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: I have had many proud moments in my career. The proudest is watching those students who decide that they want to become a band director. It is such a joy to realize that these students see what you do each day and decide that want to do the same themselves. Then once they do become a band director, the enjoyment comes from watching their band perform.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: I have learned that there really is no correlation to how accomplished a student may be (or become) on their instrument, to how good of a band student they are. Some of my most dedicated students have been some of the least talented. These students try as hard as they can, do everything that is asked, and become the strongest supporters of the band once they leave. When you first start teaching, these are the students you might wish were not in the program because they are not strong players. As you grow and mature as a director, you realize that these students really are just as important as an All-State player.

ALASKA
Kathryn Hoffer
Director of Orchestras
South Anchorage High School
Anchorage

Years at School: 6
Total Years Teaching: 40
Students in Program: 90

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope that my orchestra classroom will be a safe place for my students, a place where they are respected, comfortable, at peace, and able to enjoy sharing an activity that they love. I hope to make the orchestra class different and unique in the school day of my students. I promote music as a lifelong activity, both through words and modeling. It is my hope that my students will also participate actively in music throughout their lives.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: My proudest moments have nothing to do with the success or failure of a performance, how much the latest fundraiser earned, or how many students are accepted to All-State. My proudest moments occur every time a student plays a scale in tune for the first time, every time a student corrects a bow hold with the resulting improved tone quality, every time a shy student is able to express himself through music, and especially when a student decides that music would be a rewarding career choice.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: 100 percent is never enough.

ARIZONA
Gregg I. Hanson
Director of Bands/Conductor
University Wind Ensemble
The University of Arizona School of Music
Tucson

Years at School: 20
Total Years Teaching: 40
Students in Program: 40

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: By creating an advanced level of self-awareness and creative sensibility through the study and performance of music.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: There are too many to specify one.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: That our young people have no limits.

ARKANSAS
Michael Wells
Band Director
Clinton School District
Clinton

Years at School: 2
Total Years Teaching: 13
Students in Program: 116 students in program

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope to teach students that the only limitations that exist are the ones they place upon themselves. Teaching in a smaller school, I see students who think they can never reach the same level as the students in the larger programs. I try to teach my band members that success is a product of how much you are willing to put into it and is not controlled by outside forces. Hopefully this lesson will serve them past high school music and into their future plans of college and beyond.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: The first time I saw one of my former students standing up and conducting a band of his own. I realized just how much impact one person can have and how indirectly I was influencing students I had never met. It reminded me of my deep respect for my own high school band director who was my motivation to become a teacher, and how I now was in his position inspiring others into the field.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: As a young director, I was more focused on what students I had lost out of the program and how we would make it without them. I have since learned that no one person, student, or director is bigger than the program. Instead, focus on teaching those students that are right in front of you; there will always be someone ready and willing to step up into the role of leader. Sometimes it's even the student you least expected, who was just waiting for their chance.

CALIFORNIA
Gregory Taylor
Band Director
Beaumont High School
Beaumont

Years at School: 4
Total Years Teaching: 18
Students in Program: 48

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: By exposing my students to high quality music literature in a stimulating, nurturing environment. I'm very fortunate to be able to work in such a place where I can do just that. By providing them daily with opportunities to be successful, I believe that will help my students to become better musicians and individuals as they approach adulthood.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Of course, I have proud moments daily, like when my band plays a piece particularly well, or when a student learns a new concept. When I was hired at my current school four years ago, that may be my proudest moment yet. My place of work is in a scenic community at the base of a very tall mountain. It is in a small town that is growing, but still has a strong sense of family values. I feel very fortunate to have the privilege to work in such a great place with an extremely supportive principal, dedicated parents, and terrific students.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: I am charged with the awesome responsibility of teaching students music at the highest standards possible. This never ends! I have learned that I can never rest and feel I've done all that I am supposed to do, because there is always something more that needs to be done to advance my program. I think above all else, I have learned that I should always treat my students as musicians, from the very beginning.

COLORADO
Ed Roush
Director of Instrumental Music
Pomona High School
Arvada

Years at School: 19
Total Years Teaching: 19
Students in Program: 175

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope that they leave our program understanding they are capable of anything they can imagine. Through performance opportunities, we constantly try to offer students the chance to see that they can produce levels of achievement that are well above what they believe possible when they enter our program. Whether these students continue in music or not, our hope is that they value the lessons they learned in our band program and that they not only strive for excellence in all areas of their lives, but that they will also become advocates for the benefits we all know music education provides.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Although our program has been fairly successful, my proudest moment has nothing to do with awards or titles. It would have to be the letters that I have received from previous students who have recognized that the passion they shared with all the other members of our program to constantly achieve at a high level has created a positive impact as they moved on in their lives. I cannot begin to describe how humbling it is to know that in some small way I have impacted someone's life in a positive manner. It definitely drives me to continue to reach out to every student in our program and let them know important we believe they are.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: I have learned that music allows the opportunity to teach some truly powerful and many times unexpected life lessons. In our classrooms, we create lifelong friendships, the passion to have music be a daily part of our lives and the expectation of giving and sharing the absolute best of ourselves in everything we do. I know I have experienced those moments when things seemed overwhelming and I wondered if my efforts were really making any difference. I try to always fall back on my belief that if we allow students to see the benefits learning and creating music will give them beyond the classroom and we continually strive to provide (and expect) the very best for and from our students, they will not only continue to want to participate in music but they will share with so many others how being involved in music education has enriched their lives.

CONNECTICUT
Peter Horton
Band Director
Trumbull High School
Trumbull

Years at School: 20
Total Years Teaching: 37
Students in Program: 250

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: Students today need to understand the trials and tribulations that life is going to bring them. My goal is to give my students a variety of life and musical experiences. Through band, the student learns social skills, discipline – both behavioral and work oriented – how to budget time, how to set long and short term goals, respect for people, places and things and how to face success, as well as defeat. By becoming the best they can be, I hope that they will be prepared for life after high school.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: The band being accepted to perform at the 2001 and 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parades, and the faces on my students on becoming Class V Champions of the Musical Arts Conference in 2006 and 2007. The students work very hard throughout the year and to be acknowledged as one of the top bands in the country is a great honor and a very proud moment.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: That a teacher needs to be open, flexible and adaptable. Without these traits, teaching and being a band director would be most difficult.

DELAWARE
DuWane L. Sandlin
Director of Bands
Caesar Rodney High School
Camden

Years at School: 20
Total Years Teaching: 32
Students in Program: 220

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: In addition to a lifelong passion for music and the arts, I also hope that students leave me with a sense of great pride in teamwork – setting and achieving goals through hard work. I hope they know they were a part of something very special while they were here.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: It's difficult to define any one single moment, but every one that comes to mind involves student achievement. For instance, just last week one of our marching band members was named to the US Army All-American Marching Band. It is a huge honor, and he worked hard for it. Another student comes to mind as well - one who struggled in school, and as his mother said to me many times, only stayed in school because of band. Today, in addition to being successfully employed, he is a great husband and father. I am proud of both of these students, and many others like them. I like to think I am a part of their success in life.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: I think I have learned that we music educators really have the edge on the field of education. Every time something new comes down the pike – performance assessment, differentiated instruction, you name it – I realize that we already do it in music education, and we've been doing it for years.

GEORGIA
Gary Gribble
Director of Bands
Pope High School
Marietta

Years at School: 22
Total Years Teaching: 25
Students in Program: 195

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: It is my hope that students will experience lessons through participation in the band program that will make them stronger members of society and better adults. While our focus is on musical development, we also relate our experiences to the everyday lessons in life, such as cooperation, planning, efficiency, credibility, trust, determination, and vision. If they can learn lessons in our program that will allow them to be more successful later in life, then I feel that I have done a good job as their teacher.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: This fall we hosted a multi-year reunion for our alumni. To reconnect with so many former students and to hear about how our experiences have shaped their lives was humbling and gratifying. It was also amazing to see how many former students are now teachers or performers and still keep music as a part of their lives.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: That we do not teach music, we teach students. Even those who are not your top players can benefit greatly from the program. The awards and accolades are nice, but the process of learning is the ultimate prize.

FLORIDA
Ryan Kelly
Director of Bands
Lincoln High School
Tallahassee

Years at School: 3
Total Years Teaching: 5
Students in Program: 120

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: As I see it, the most important job of any music educator is to teach students not only to be performers, but also appreciative patrons of music. While I may have a few students who will become future symphony orchestra musicians, I am educating a much larger number of students who will hopefully be future symphony orchestra audience members. I want my students to love the experience of listening to music, attending performances, and purchasing recordings as much as I want them to enjoy playing it. I measure my success as an educator by the degree to which my students keep music in their lives after they graduate.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: When my band performed at the National Concert Band Festival in March 2009, the most exciting moment of the entire trip was in the rehearsal room in our final opportunity to prepare for our performance. Going through a routine we had been through many times before in rehearsal had an energy that it had never had before. My students had heard other high school bands play outstanding programs, and with their turn coming up, the level of excitement and anticipation for playing music they had worked on for months had never been so high. I knew in the first few seconds of that rehearsal that preparing for this concert had positively affected the way in which my students appreciated the experience of performing great music.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: That being a music educator is much more than being a conductor, rehearsal-facilitator, musical critic, or disciplinarian. Instilling and cultivating a love of music in my students has become my number one priority, and I see it as my job to educate and expose them to as many quality musical experiences as possible. While the majority of our learning takes place in the preparation of quality literature for performance, encouraging students to attend concerts, purchase recordings, and experience music outside of the band room has had a tremendous effect on the enthusiasm my students bring into rehearsals. I have found that my students share the same excitement that I do in our performances because of the way they experience music outside of the fifty minutes per day I spend with them.

HAWAII
Elden Seta
Band Director
Moanalua High School
Honolulu

Years at School: 21 years
Total Years Teaching: 21 years
Students in Program: 600 students

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: It is always the hope that the lessons learned through music will affect the students' lives in every way. I also hope that every student will learn that music is not only the finest art form, but a necessary and life developing discipline that every student should master. Students need to be people first. If they can master the basic personal values that music requires, then everything else (music and academics) will eventually fall in to place.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: It's really hard to choose one or even a few since there have been so many great tear-jerking moments here. If I had to choose, then I guess it would have to be the full house standing ovation performances at Carnegie Hall and the International Band Festival at Hamamatsu, Japan. The feeling of the huge audience appreciating the students' hard work and sacrifices were moments that I will never forget. Of course, as I said before, there were so many more, too.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: That you have to be humble and remind yourself every day that being at your best everyday is essential to the students' lives. Music education is not just about teaching music. It is about using the fine art of music to shape every student into the masterpieces that they deserve to be. The students are my number one pride and joy! Teaching music is the best profession in the world.

IDAHO
Jay Ronk
Band Director, Music Coordinator
Highland High School
Pocatello

Years at School: 26
Total Years Teaching: 32
Students in Program: 160

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I see myself not only as a music educator, but as someone who is a mentor, disciplinarian, friend, and life skills teacher. I want students to love music but to exit my program with the necessary skills to be successful in whatever they choose to do with their lives.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: I've had so many it's hard to name just one. I feel so very blessed to have been able to take my band to the BCS Championship halftime in Miami this past January and was also very honored to be named the Simplot Inspirational Teacher for the year all during my 25th year at Highland High School. I have had many great moments when I've been fortunate enough to see the light coming on in a student's eyes and you know they feel the magic of a great musical experience.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: You can only learn so much from college classes; the rest is gained through experience. Teaching is a humbling profession and you should never be so stuck on yourself that you forget to try to be better at what you do every single day. Don't be afraid to laugh at yourself – the students definitely will when you make a mistake!

ILLINOIS
Jeff Neavor
Director of Bands
Morton High School
Morton

Years at School: 9
Total Years Teaching: 13
Students in Program: 130

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: My music teachers had a profound impact on my life. I went into education to have the incredible opportunity to share that with future generations. While music organizations expose students to the arts and culture, our goal is to prepare students for real life while gaining a love and respect of music. The goal is to have students learn that the proudest moments in life are a result of effort, respect, responsibility and teamwork. I hope that they graduate with a life-long love of music, and a constant desire to set high goals and rise to the challenge.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Marching past the President of the United States. Seeing the pride in the faces of the students, staff, alumni, and parents and experiencing the overwhelming support from our community to send the students to Washington D.C. is something I'll never forget.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Students will rise to our expectations. Every time we've raised the bar to a level that seems just out of reach, when the students know that we truly believe in them, they've jumped over the bar and raised it even higher.

INDIANA
Janis Stockhouse
Director of Bands
Bloomington High School North
Bloomington

Years at School: 30
Total Years Teaching: 34
Students in Program: 200

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: By sharing with them my passion for music, I hope that they too will become excited about making music, and see how it can enrich their lives. Becoming a confident musician can also help them to have more personal confidence in themselves.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Seeing the looks in their eyes when they know that they just presented a truly spectacular and musical performance.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: To treat every student with the same level of interest and respect.

IOWA
Nate Sletten
Band Director
Earlham Community Schools
Earlham

Years at School: 2
Total Years Teaching: 13
Students in Program: 114

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: It is an honor to teach music. It is an even greater honor to teach students. I want my students to walk out of the band room with a positive attitude, a drive for success and the inspiration to make the world a better place.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: A senior student's parent walked up to me after graduation crying. She gave me a big hug and told me that she had something very important to tell me. After wiping away the tears from her face, she told me that her son named me as the most influential person in his life. We both walked away from that conversation with tears in our eyes.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Music education is not only a job, but a lifestyle. Even though it can get overwhelming at times, it is important to realize that you are not alone. There are so many great professional organizations, publications and mentors out there ready and willing to help you out. Just don't be afraid to ask.

KANSAS
Eric Griffin
Director of Bands
Olathe East High School
Olathe

Years at School: 13
Total Years Teaching: 14
Students in Program: 140

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope to leave students with a lasting impression that music matters, and that they shouldn't settle for less than their personal best. When they begin life after public school, some students will continue in music, and some won't, but I hope that all will continue to value high achievement in music and in life.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Last spring, we were given the opportunity to perform at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. The performance itself was memorable for all involved, but it was the dress rehearsal that was my own personal "mountaintop" experience. We all teach our students that the cumulative learning process through rehearsal is the key to a great performance, and at this dress rehearsal it was clear that the kids took that to heart, and were ready to deliver.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Music education is a balancing act. Just like music itself, and just like life. I'm still learning that lesson.

KENTUCKY
David Centers
Director of Bands
Central Hardin High School
Cecilia

Years at School: 6
Total Years Teaching: 10
Students in Program: 135

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: It is my hope that in teaching students how to make music, I am doing something far greater in showing them how to live a full and rich life. I hope that through this shared experience in band that my students leave with a greater understanding of how to live and work together. I hope that they learn how to face the hard times with great attitudes and meet challenges head on with determination and hard work. I hope that I have given them skills and knowledge that will go beyond just playing an instrument and translate into solutions for their real life dilemmas and a plan for their future. I hope that I make a difference by creating not just great musicians, but great people.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: I have had many proud moments as a band director – from great accomplishments in competitions to great performances on stage with the full band to fantastic solos with individual students. But the times that stand out the most are those that I recall having directly impacted individual students. I am reminded of my first year here at Central Hardin near the end of the marching band season when we were honoring our senior band and football members. Each senior had a chance to walk across the field with their parents as the student's name, accomplishments, and future plans were being read. I had one student whose parents would not come for this event. He approached me and asked if I would walk with him. I was honored to do so – and very proud to be his band director at that moment. I realized at that time that I had made an impact in his life deep enough that he would allow me to walk side-by-side with him for this special occasion. It is times like this that I look back on with the most pride.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Perseverance. Things don't always go your way, but there are those moments that it is all worth it. The daily stresses of rehearsals, scheduling, instrumentation, and retention can seem to negate the overall progress of a program and of its students. However, I have learned that the one quality that outlasts all others is perseverance. At the end of my career I hope that I can say that I persevered and I made a difference in students lives – not just musically, but also in the great business of being human.

LOUISIANA
Robert Freeman
Director of Bands
West Monroe High School
West Monroe

Years at School: 13
Total Years Teaching: 15
Students in Program: 250

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I know that most of my students will not become professional performers, although a few will choose music education in college. I hope that being a band member has instilled a love of music that extends beyond the classroom and will help them to be advocates for music in our community. I hope that the lessons learned in our band program will assist them in becoming successful, engaged, motivated young adults in whatever field of study they choose after high school.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: There are so many. I think the proudest moment I have had as a teacher was when our band was chosen to represent the state of Louisiana in the 2005 Inaugural Parade of George W. Bush. We had such a short amount of time to make the arrangements and raise the necessary funds. Our community came through with overwhelming support, and it was so humbling to see the entire region get behind our band in that endeavor.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: That there is always more to learn. This profession is a life-long pursuit of knowledge and understanding. I covet the advice of seasoned colleagues daily and am continually reminded that there is more to learn, more to share, more to give. I can always do better.

MAINE
Dr. Paul McGovern
Band Director
Portland High School
Portland

Years at School: 3
Total Years Teaching: 17
Students in the Program: 30

MAKING DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope that my students will recognize and appreciate the value of music as a unique way to enrich their lives and those of others.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: I am always most proud when I see my students working hard and doing their best to achieve excellence in rehearsal and performance.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Everyone is capable of being musical and, therefore, every student must have ample opportunity in school to develop their musical skills to their potential.

MARYLAND
Brooke Humfeld
Director of Bands
Patuxent High School
Lusby

Years at School: 1
Total Years Teaching: 1
Students in Program: 75

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: My hope is that students will leave my program with an appreciation for band literature and music performance. I also hope that they will take with them a true passion for music, whether as a future career, a fun activity, or an emotional outlet. I want my students to find the value and importance of music in a way that is most meaningful to them.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: As this is my first year teaching, watching my students perform for the first time was an incredibly proud moment for me. I was overwhelmed as I watched them take all of the tools I have given to them and perform with such emotion. Their musical ability, intense focus, and pure enjoyment of the activity was evident in every minute of their performance. I was so proud to call them my students, and knew that more moments such as this would make every day as an educator worthwhile.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: That no matter what other day-to-day responsibilities I may have as a band director, my students must always come first. By developing sincere and unique relationships with every single one of my students, I feel that I have gotten them one step closer to feeling confident in their abilities, proud of their accomplishments, and motivated to keep music in their lives for many years to come.

MASSACHUSETTS
Steven T. Yavarow
Director of Bands/Coordinator of Music
Hopkinton Public Schools
Hopkinton

Years at School: 30 years
Total Years Teaching: 32 Years
Students in Program: 1140

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope that my students will experience the joy that music has given me and to help them gain valuable life skills as they grow.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Having my students perform multiple times at Symphony Hall in Boston after receiving gold medals at our state festival.

MOST IMORTANT LESSON LEARNED: You need to keep growing and learning from those around you. You need to "rub elbows" with who you consider the best so you can grow as an educator and to pass that knowledge onto your students.

MICHIGAN
Ryan J. Stangl
Michigan Lutheran High School
St. Joseph

Years at School: 6
Total Years Teaching: 9
Students in Program: 70

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: First of all, as a person and an educator I try to be a good example for them in general. The world is full of bad examples for our youth to follow, so I hope that the way I approach both the successes and challenges in my life will provide a positive example for my students to emulate. As a music educator, I strive to share with my students the love I have for music. My hope is that, by sharing my enjoyment of music with them, I can help them both appreciate the power and importance of music and find ways for them to use their musical abilities in their lives.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: I don't think of the successes I've experienced as "proud" moments, because they generally aren't about me. The things that bring me the greatest joy in my ministry as a Lutheran music educator are the times when I can show my students how powerful and meaningful God's gift of music can be. Whether they use their music in a worship setting or in a secular pops concert, my greatest joy comes from seeing my students apply the musical gifts they've been given to share their music with others. When we use the gifts we're given, we validate the one who gave those gifts to us. I don't give the gifts of music to my students, but I have the privilege of being able to help them develop those gifts so they can give praise back to the one who truly did bless them. When I have led my students to that end, there's no better feeling as a music educator.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Teaching music isn't about making kids play the right notes at the right time; it's about learning how to breathe life into the notes on the page. So often I find my students trying to get everything right when they play, and in the process they lose sight of the music inside of the notes. I can't imagine a composer who would want his or her music to be played technically precise at the expense of what the music is trying to say within itself. And the beauty of music is that it is brought to life anew each time it's performed by each unique group that performs it. I've learned that the most important thing I can do is to help my students find the soul of the music behind the notes on the page.

MINNESOTA
Jim Iverson
School Band Director
Fergus Falls High School
Fergus Falls

Years at School: 26
Total Years Teaching: 33
Students in Program: 200

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I try to be a good role model for my students through the pride and passion that I exhibit in my teaching, and I challenge them to use that same level of pride in all of the things they do in their lives.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: It was a very exciting time for our band program when our marching band was selected to march in the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C. During the time leading up to our inaugural performance, I received many e-mails and letters from former students, expressing their pride for being a Fergus Falls band alumni, and thanking me for the experience they received in my program. It was an overwhelming and humbling experience to know that I had made a difference in so many of my student's lives.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: High expectations yield high results. Continue to challenge the students to not be ordinary, but instead to be the best they can be, both musically and as young adults making correct choices in today's society. Challenging the students in this manner continues to make me a better educator also.

MISSISSIPPI
Joe A. Cacibauda
Director of Bands
Ocean Springs High School
Ocean Springs

Years at School: 25
Total Years Teaching: 37
Students in Program: 752

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: When students are a part of the Ocean Springs programs, I hope they have a feeling of learning, togetherness and belonging. Our program provides strong teachings of music, social graces and citizenship. It is my intention to provide the best possible band and life experiences, as well as learning environment, for students each day. I hope they leave each day with a sense of worth, pride, and a desire to share what they've learned.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: It happens each day... when a phrase is played with so much emotion you feel it in the air...when students smile and you can tell they love and are proud of who they are, what they're doing and where they are... making music!

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Never settle for less. If you set high standards and expectations, within reason, students will do what it takes to reach them...and they do it for you... then, somewhere down the road, they realize they did it for themselves as well.

MISSOURI
Curtis Tipton
Director of Bands
Parkview High School
Springfield

Years at School: 4
Total Years Teaching: 8
Students in Program: 145

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope to instill in my students a hard-work ethic and a sense of ownership for the musical product that our groups. Most importantly, I want my students to leave my program as respectful and trustworthy young adults.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: One of the things (there are many) that I am always really humbled by is when I have students tell me that I made an impact in their lives and that I inspired them to want to go into the music teaching profession.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Students do not respond to yelling and put-downs. Teachers must have very high expectations for their students and reward the students that continually do the right thing.

MONTANA
Jennifer Kirby
Director of Bands
Florence-Carlton Schools
Florence

Years at School: 6
Total Years Teaching: 12
Students in Program: 182

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope to bring students an appreciation of, if not a love of, many different forms of music. They also gain, whether they like it or not, a sense of discipline and an admiration of the work ethic it takes to play an instrument. Playing an instrument is a lifelong skill of which you never grow too old to do. Whether my students continue to be players or are active listeners, they will know what it takes and can be better supporters of the arts.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Came this year when five of my students made the Montana All-State Band. This is a big deal for students from a Class B school.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: They are daily, making it difficult to identify the most important. I think I have to say that I know in my heart and must always remind myself that it is not just about the music - it is about the students. They are why I am here.

NEBRASKA
Tim Rischling
Wahoo Public Schools
Wahoo

Years at School: 1
Total Years Teaching: 1
Students in Program: 150 students participating in 5th-12th grade band

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: Teach them a skill that they can use and enjoy for the rest of their lives.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: As a first year teacher, just witnessing my beginning students see their progress from their first time picking up the instrument to what they know today.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Having patience will give you more progress and a better result.

NEVADA
Curtis Melton
Director of Bands
Cimarron-Memorial High School
Las Vegas

Years at School: 2
Total Years Teaching: 2
Students in Program: 70

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope to give my students a memorable experience while in my classes, to instill leadership skills, solid thinking skills, as well as how to have fun with music. I also hope that they will learn valuable life lessons while in my program - as well as not being afraid to take risks.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: It was in October 2008, when I took over the Cimarron-Memorial Band Program, and we went to our first competition of the season. We took first place as well as Outstanding Visual and General Effect. The win was not the proudest moment in itself – it was the moment where my new band students, my new band parents, my staff and I got to celebrate how far we had come in such a short period of time. Seeing the kids' reactions, seeing them in tears of joy, was truly one of the more remarkable moments of my career thus far. Also this school year, seeing where my band started in August, and seeing the exponential growth they've made in just a few short months has also been extremely rewarding for me, to see that they are enjoying music, and I feel that this year we have a really close band "family."

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: That the size of your band is not everything. Developing a rapport, developing musicality and the experiences can be just as rewarding with a small band as it can be with a large band.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Scott Thibodeau
Band Director
Bishop Guertin High School
Nashua

Years at School: 2
Total Years Teaching: 2
Students in Program: 60

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: Students don't only learn how to play music, they learn so much about social interaction, public speaking, performing, teamwork, auditioning, etc. I hope that when students graduate they take away all of the life lessons they learned and come out a well rounded person with a love and appreciation for all types of music.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: It came last year during our band trip to San Antonio, Texas. We marched in the Fiesta Flambeau parade, which is an illuminated parade at night. After the parade was finished every single one of my students was excited and completely pumped about the experience they just had. That was the best they had played all year, and they were all excited to be performing. Just knowing that I didn't have to do anything to incite them to perform as well as they did made me proud that they had taken away the lessons I had been teaching all year. It also didn't hurt that we won second place in the out-of-state band category.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Not to dwell on your mistakes, which you will make plenty of. Even as a second year teacher I can look back on last year and say, "Wow, that was stupid. Why did I ever do that?" The best thing you can do is learn from your mistakes and keep trying to improve. As a teacher you also have to be a life-long student.

NEW JERSEY
Joe Bongiovi
Band Director
Princeton High School
Princeton

Years at School: 4
Total Years Teaching: 7
Students in Program: 167

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: By not only teaching music, but using music as a way of teaching my students life skills that will prepare them for college and the real world. I am fortunate to work with great music students, but pure musicianship alone will not carry a student through our program at Princeton High School. Responsibility, character, commitment and hard work are stressed throughout the entire year in all of the ensembles we offer. It is my hope that these high standards and expectations help our students develop a self-discipline they will need to succeed after they leave Princeton.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: In May of 2008, we took Princeton's Studio Band to Italy for a performance tour. As part of that tour, our students performed at the Boys' and Girls' Town in Rome. Boys' and Girls' Town of Rome is a school and community environment for children throughout the world who have tragically lost their parents as a result of war. Most of the children there at the time were from Iraq and Afghanistan. As our students performed for their entire community, their students began to dance the way they dance in their home countries. It was touching to see music transcend all language and cultural differences and allow all the students to communicate non-verbally. I was extremely proud of my students in this international setting, not only because they played well, but they represented our country in such a positive manner.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Teaching music is not just teaching students to play the right notes at the right time. It's teaching how to express a feeling or an emotion that our students might not be able to express in other ways. I've learned that it's not about getting first place in a competition, but that it's about getting goose bumps during a performance. Music is for everyone, and I think we can teach everyone how to achieve these emotions no matter what their musical skill level is.

NEW MEXICO
Henry Estrada
Band Director
Los Lunas High School
Los Lunas

Years at School: 26
Total Years Teaching: 32
Students in Program: 90

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: My goal is to help every student learn how to love and appreciate music on a deeper level than your average radio listener and to pursue their interest in music beyond the classroom.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: There are actually many recurring proud moments that I have as a teacher. Every time I watch the students buy in to what music is really about (beyond the notes and rhythms and into the expressive qualities inherent in music), I feel really proud to be the one to have helped open the door for them into the intrinsic value of great music. This is what gives greater value to their lives.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: It is more important to educate each student on the value of music in their lives than to win countless awards. The awards eventually fade, but their love of music will last them a lifetime and continue to enrich their lives. In addition, the structure provided by a well run program will be invaluable for them as they learn to structure their own lives.

NEW YORK
John J. Spillett
Director of Bands
Solvay High School
Solvay

Years at School: 32
Total Years Teaching: 32
Students in Program: 44

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: Music is a powerful force that touches people spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally and cognitively. I love music and I want to share my knowledge and love of music with my students. My educational goal is to provide students with the means to understand, communicate and express themselves with the unique language of music. This will produce students with a deeper understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of music and its unique potential to enrich their lives. I hope to make a difference in their lives by nurturing them not only as student musicians but as unique individuals.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: I have had many proud moments as a teacher. My proudest moments have come from helping student musicians from Solvay High School reach the highest levels of musical achievement both individually and collectively as an ensemble. Also, helping students obtain college admission, and music scholarships, has been extremely rewarding.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: The study of music is a lifelong pursuit. As a musician, educator and lifetime student, my goal is continued growth and improvement to achieve a higher level of musical performance and deeper understanding and enjoyment of music.

NORTH CAROLINA
James Daugherty
Director of Bands
Central Davidson High School
Lexington

Years at School: 16
Total Years Teaching: 16
Students in Program: 140

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: When I began to teach, I had all this knowledge from years of great training, and just couldn't understand when students didn't want to hear about tone quality, twelve major scales, or the history of a Holst Suite. Eventually the realization came that to balance all the musical goals I have, which are so important, I must also understand the kids I teach on a personal level. We must know about them, who they are, where they live, what they like, what makes them happy, and what makes them sad. All of these elements make a tremendous difference in attention, discipline, support. How can we ever forget that one of the reasons we all got into a music profession isn't necessarily because someone made us a better musician, but because a music teacher cared about us in a very caring and professional way that caught our attention and gave us the drive to want it more and more? In a seminar, I once heard a presenter say, "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." So often we, in today's fast-paced, busy world, have stopped short of leading and we are pushing that horse to the trough and telling him to drink fast, drink now, drink at this top of his class and drink with the highest score on the standardized drinking test. Often, the horse becomes a mule and tension results or he just gives up and goes thirsty out of exhaustion or anger. The solution – put salt in his oats. He'll eventually drink. Music is one of the salts of life that will have our students to thirst for more and to drink from the fountain of a great and well-rounded life often. This is a passion I hope to instill that will always make a difference in their lives for years to come.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Without a doubt, seeing students achieve great rewards, especially students who have had difficulty in school or who have been marked to not be successful by others. I feel very proud and a great deal of excitement and reward when my students want to audition for county, district, regional, and state events because they have a passion for music and want to go beyond what we are doing in the classroom each day. When students are selected for these events, and I see them performing on stage synthesizing all of what they have learned, and making music on their own, and with others, it is very humbling to know that you helped to shape what they are doing. Equally as humbling is to see former students who have made a choice to enter the music profession as performers or teachers. This is a point when you realize that not only did a spark get ignited with those students, but you realize they will carry on the flame and help to shape the future of music and music education. The things that make me the proudest all centers around seeing music continue to change lives and reach students in ways that no other subject can.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: A key element to be a successful musician and music teacher is to listen to lots of great music that covers many different styles and genres, and to listen as often as possible. It is only through listening that we gain the interpretations and expressive values of other musicians and we see how their ideas can shape our own perspectives. We also cannot forget to listen to the music that our students enjoy, even if we do not care for it, so that we gain an understanding of what it is they enjoy from it. When we can make connections from popular music such as rock, jazz, country, dance and electronica and translate those connections to Western music, it makes a huge impact. Musicians, even young, really enjoy the programmatic elements of the music they perform. A student who can't quite get the notes on the page may grasp more if they understand the history of the composition or the composer. Most students think the composer of every piece they play is dead. We must remind them this is not the case and that it is our job as musicians to bring the music (which is dead on the page) to life, and in doing so, we actually even bring a "dead" composer to life momentarily. Beyond the immediate classroom, we must get students involved in as many musical experiences as we can. Encourage them to attend concerts and take them to professional performances. Inform them of summer music camps and find people to get them lessons. Allow the students to mentor one another and especially younger students. Finally, the last piece of the musical puzzle for success is to continue to be a practicing musician ourselves. Take as many opportunities as we can to perform and make music so that we don't forget what it is like to not just shape but make the music. Non-musically, organization is one of the most important elements to utilize, especially as a band director. We are called upon to be a secretary, press-agent, foreign ambassador, financial advisor, inventory specialist, repair technician and many more things every day. Without a great plan of action to get those tasks accomplished, it can be easy to burn out. We must remember to thank those who help us in these areas. Our secretaries, custodians, bus drivers, band parents, administrators and community members will continue to support us if we just thank them for what they do as often as we can. Second, communication is a huge area that is often overlooked or underutilized. Most parents would rather get too much information than not enough. There must also be great communication with our own peers at school. Never wait until the last minute to let them know that you have students who will be in the All-District Band and not be in class on Friday. They appreciate advance notice. We have so many tools available today with email, texts and the Internet. Third, having fun and enjoying what we do is a key for success. Everyone wants to be a part of the fun and cool thing. If the most fun and cool thing around is the band, choir, or orchestra, then that feeling grows into ownership. A fun, thriving and visible music program that is active in a community reminds parents and students that you are a part of the total atmosphere and their lives, and that having the music program isn't an option - it must be there.

NORTH DAKOTA
Karen "Anne" Nies
Instrumental and Choral Director
Killdeer Public School
Killdeer

Years at School: 11
Total Years Teaching:11
Students in Program: 107

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope kids look back with good memories about their music education. I hope many will continue to sing or play throughout their lives.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: The "Aha" moments my students have.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: I am teaching the kids how "to be." I am the example.

OHIO
Greg Snyder
Director of Bands
Lakota West High School
West Chester

Years at School: 22
Total Years Teaching: 30
Students in Program: 450

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I do this by setting the best example I can.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Having both my sons participate in our performance at Midwest.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Students want to be part of a great organization and will work hard to meet expectations.

OKLAHOMA
Peter Markes
Orchestra Director
Cheyenne Middle School and Edmond North High School
Edmond

Years at School: 8
Total Years Teaching: 9
Students in Program: 214

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope that they realize the value of hard work, especially in an age where more rewards are given for less. I think they see the example of hard work and discipline from me, and I hope they see the reward of hard work in themselves.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: My dad has said, "Peter, every now and then, it is okay to be proud." These proud moments usually follow a performance, and I cannot claim just one culminating moment. I am proudest when my students, normal high school teens, feel proud and mature about a performance they've just given, whether it be in our school auditorium or one of the world's great stages. I can feel their pride from the stage, just in how they sit and how they play. That is my proudest time.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Be organized, and be patient. I find the former begets the latter.

OREGON
David M. Hodges
Director of Bands
McNary High School
Keizer

Years at School: 5
Total Years Teaching: 38
Students in Program: 115

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I try to let my students know they have a lifelong advocate when they have me as a teacher. I have students that I taught 25 years ago still contacting me for advice and encouragement. I hope my students today know they will be able to count on that as long as I am alive.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: In my first year of teaching I had a young lady who was mentally handicapped playing in my percussion section. When I would cue her to play the cymbal part for the "Star Spangled Banner," she would always play the part 6 beats late. After a day or two of mulling this over, I decided to cue her 6 beats early to see what would happen. It worked. She played right on time, got the biggest smile on her face, and really enjoyed band.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: To be humble, to stay grounded in my faith and to serve others.

PENNSYLVANIA
Gregory MacGill
Director
Liberty High School Grenadier Band & Orchestra
Bethlehem

Years at School: 31
Total Years Teaching: 31
Students in Program: 235

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: By providing a welcoming environment, where all students are able, encouraged, and expected to achieve their best, and where they can realize the importance and enjoy the rewards of hard work, persistence and time management. Over the years, I've witnessed how our music program has positively affected our students, and helped them to grow into well-rounded, responsible individuals.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Wow, tough call... so many cherished ones. On a grand scale, our marching band just came back from the 2009 Tournament of Roses Parade... many hours of practice and hard work, culminating in an amazing day before hundreds of millions in the TV audience. Our students knew they had outdone themselves, behaved impeccably, and were extremely proud of their feat... which, of course, in turn, made me immensely proud for them. On a smaller scale, it warmed the heart when our band bagpipers brought a smile to some seriously ill children (and their parents) as they played for the annual "Dream Come True" Flight at our local airport... at 5 a.m.! Finally, on an individual level, it's certainly a good feeling any time our music program is integral in helping one of our students through an especially difficult personal or academic struggle.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Take your job seriously, realizing that your actions and words do truly impact your students. But, at the same time, don't take yourself too seriously. When I first started in 1978, I was very focused on maintaining high musical standards, progress, accomplishments, etc. While teaching music is obviously one of our primary functions, balancing this with students' (and our own) lives "outside of the band room" is also critical, if our program (and we) are to flourish and sustain over the decades. Amid enjoying all the fruits of hard work, take time to laugh and share some lighthearted moments with your students. Everyone (and your music program) will be the better for it.

RHODE ISLAND
Phillip Statser
Band and Guitar Instructor
Middletown High School
Middletown

Years at School: 9
Total Years Teaching: 9
Students in Program: 90

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: Through teaching music I hope to give my students a sense of pride in themselves and their abilities. When I look out from the podium during a concert, it is not the assured confidence of my All-State clarinets that makes the goose bumps raise on my arms, but the sparkle in the eyes of my third trumpets when they nail the 7/8 passage we had all been sweating.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Occurs every year at our homecoming game when I invite all of our graduated musicians to bring their instruments and join us in the stands. They can't wait to tell me what they played in college, or in the community band that we had performed before. I'm excited when they remember the name of the piece. I'm beside myself when they remember the composer.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: While never a young teacher, (I started teaching when I was 51), I made the mistakes one attributes to the first year teacher. I looked for the best and the brightest and thought that several of my 5th grade beginners were not only wasting their time in band, but more importantly, were wasting mine. I continued to help all students, praising each one's achievements, but always having the kindest words for the stars. Somewhere along the way, things changed. After four years, when my first class of 5th graders was ready to move on to the high school, I moved with them and consequently was that class's band director for eight years running. As I think back to that first class, since graduated, I find I am the proudest of those that had the hardest struggle. I have learned to never write a child off; he's the one that will surprise you.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Kevin E. Horton
Director of Bands
New Prospect Elementary and Chapman High School
Inman

Years at School: 1
Total Years Teaching: 10
Students in Program: 150

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: Band directors spend more time with their students than any other teacher, so it's even more important that we serve as a positive role model to all students all the time. Most students will only be a part of an organized band ensemble once in their lives, during high school. My job is to make sure that this one chance they have to participate in marching band and symphonic band is the best possible experience they can have, and something they will remember for many years to come. For those who continue in band after graduation, I hope I have prepared them with all the necessary tools to be successful at the next level.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: My first four years of teaching, I taught in a school that did not have a very strong band program. In 30 years of existence, the band program had never received a rating higher than excellent at the state concert festival. In my second year, we received straight superiors and the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award, an award given by earning points for the number of students involved in all-region or all-state band, the rating at concert festival, and solo and ensemble superior ratings. The students really worked together, practiced hard, and their determination certainly paid off.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Starting the beginning students with proper mouthpiece testing placement and strong fundamentals is the key to having a successful program. If they can have a sense of accomplishment early, they will continue to work hard to be the best players they can be in middle school and high school.

SOUTH DAKOTA
Dan Carlson
Associate Band Director
Lincoln High School
Sioux Falls

Years at School: 11
Total Years Teaching: 11
Students in Program: 300

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I believe the biggest lessons I can pass on to my students are teaching them how to take responsibility for their actions, manage their time, experience excellence and fun through hard work, and become respectable individuals through all of these things. To me, teaching band is an excellent means through which I can accomplish teaching these things. In essence, I hope to help teach my students outstanding character.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: The moment that comes most recently to mind is watching the Lincoln Band step off in last year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It was a thrill like no other. It was really a "wow" moment and one that I and the students will never forget. It was also made more special for me because I was able to experience it with my father, with whom I teach, at Lincoln High School. My lovely wife, daughter, and mother were also there supporting us. My dad and I have had the privilege of teaching together at Lincoln High School for 11 years, and this was a great moment for us all.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: We continually work with, shape, and mold each individual. Our expectations change because we sometimes think, "I've invested all of this time into these students and then they graduate and I have to start all over and I never get anywhere," when, in fact, as long as we are persistent, insistent, and consistent, we are making progress. Our job is to start over and continue the process. We never arrive and we're never done with our work.

TENNESSEE
Marion Coleman
Band Director
Tullahoma High School
Tullahoma

Years at School: 21
Total Years Teaching: 34
Students in Program: 150

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS LIVES: I encourage my students to excel in music by maintaining high expectations for them, and then helping them see how achievement in one discipline can lead to successes in other areas. I also want my students to appreciate the importance of music in their lives - how it nourishes the soul, helps us convey feelings and emotions that could not be expressed in words and ultimately makes us understand what it is to be human.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: We all have those students who become our special projects. I have had several such students throughout my career, but there is one that I will always remember. I had this student from sixth grade through his senior year in high school. His home life was extremely difficult, leading to problems with truancy, passing his classes, and getting along with his peers. I did everything I could to get him interested in coming to school, including giving him a gig bag so he could ride his bike and still carry his instrument. I continued to support him and as he progressed in school, when problems would arise he would always seek me out as his confidant. In time, his grades improved and he eventually had no trouble graduating. I'll never forget him running up to me after graduation with tears of excitement in his eyes as he told me that I was the force behind him that made him work to achieve his goal. He's now a successful student in college with what promises to be a bright future ahead of him.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: All teachers have an influence on the lives of their students, but none more than those who teach music. We usually have our students for more years and for more hours each week than other teachers. Often they experience more excitement, emotion and success in our ensembles than at any other time in their lives. Because of this we have an effect on our students that should never be underestimated nor taken for granted. Every day that we deal with students we need to be mindful of the tremendous impact that we have on their lives, and let this knowledge guide our actions.

TEXAS
Lance Flisowski
Director of Bands
The Colony High SchoolThe Colony

Years at School: 4
Total Years Teaching: 12
Students in Program: 150

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: There are two main points that I want our band students to learn during their time in our program, two things that will impact their lives. The first is a love of music. We strive to expose our students to many genres of music, composers from different time periods, and different ensembles. The second thing, and perhaps to me more important, are the concepts of commitment and hard work. With hard work and dedication you can achieve great things. I want my students to learn those ideas by the time they leave our program.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: The Colony Wind Symphony performed at the 2009 Music for All/Bands of America National Concert Band Festival. Our students performed a very challenging program that was well received by many in attendance. The program covered a diverse selection of literature. Many of the students in the band had been in our top group since my first year at the school. It was a joyous time to share such a wonderful experience with those students. Perhaps the best part was to have a former student of mine (who just completed her Masters in Oboe at the Eastman School of Music) solo with the ensemble on a selection of music that I had arranged for the occasion. To top it off, my high school band director (and former mentor) was our guest host for the festival.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Balance. Balance in your personal life and balance for your students. I am married with three children. These four people are the most important thing in my life – not being a band director. Earlier in my career I did not understand this as much as I do now.

UTAH
Joseph M. Windsor
Director of Bands
Roy High School
Roy

Years at School: 7
Total Years Teaching: 17
Students in Program: 100

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: By instilling in them that the journey toward success is equal to the achievement itself. I want them to know that "if something is worth doing, it is worth doing right." I also want them to know that music is a lifelong gift that they can share with all those around them.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: The daily rewards of seeing students as they succeed in a rehearsal or a concert. To be a part of the process of their growth is an experience that words cannot express. As they go from learning to perform on their instrument to auditioning for a college scholarship, the experience is one to enjoy.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: That music can help shape the philosophy of a school and the community. As the students and I have become better ambassadors for music in our own school, we have seen the appreciation for those who choose to be a part of grow.

VERMONT
Brent Barnett
Director of Bands
Rutland High School
Rutland

Years at School: 3
Total Years Teaching: 5
Students in Program: 80

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: It is my hope that students will walk away from my classes having gained an arsenal of skills that are useful not only in music, but also in life. High expectations, hard work, respect and teamwork are things I try to stress and I hope those qualities will aid my students throughout their lives.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: When a hard-working student finally gets things to "click" and all of a sudden everything makes sense and they can really start to make music. You can just see their faces light up as they discover a whole new world of possibilities. I find those moments to be the most rewarding.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Not every student has the same drive and love of music that I had at their age. Some students have a great passion for music and hope to be first chair in the all-state band. Some are there simply because their parents make them be in band. It's up to me to help my students not only develop an appreciation for music and perform at a high level, but more importantly to enjoy themselves while making music.

VIRGINIA
Kathleen Schoelwer
Director of Bands
Herndon High School
Herndon

Years at School: 2
Total Years Teaching: 6
Students in Program: 170

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: If I succeed as a teacher, the most important impact I'll make on these kids won't be seen for years to come. I hope to instill all of those traits that we preach about, but don't usually see immediate results for: character, service, time management, self discipline, a love for aesthetics. It's one thing for students to demonstrate these to me within the band program, but I truly hope to have a lasting impact throughout their young adult life and beyond the classroom.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: There are so many levels of achievement in different students. I've had incredible musical experiences with my top ensembles that gave me chills, but I've nearly cried when my youngest group "got it" and started to play their hearts out for our state festival. Watching the reaction of a fantastic student make All-State Band is just as meaningful to me as the first time a dedicated freshman plays their chromatic scale up to tempo.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: To succeed in music education, you have to be absolutely invested in the students. We face so many obstacles with resources, funding, scheduling and bureaucracy – the kids are what make it important. I tell my students that I will always push them as hard as I can in class and rehearsal (and they might not like it!), but I will always fight for them and their program. The students are what keep me fresh and make it worth the extra hours.

WASHINGTON
Vince Caruso
Band Director
Bellevue High School
Bellevue

Years at School: 9
Total Years Teaching: 15
Students in Program: 115

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I just try to be a person they can trust and a musician they can follow. Hopefully, those things lead to a musical experience that is memorable for them. It's cliché, but in music kids get to use a different portion of the brain and express themselves in a way not duplicated in academic disciplines. With the emphasis on AP courses and the resulting stress level, I think kids need that now more than ever.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: There have been concert performances and festival trophies over the years to be proud of, but what makes me most satisfied is when former students visit and they talk about fond memories from their high school band experience.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Be organized. Students need it and parents and administrators appreciate it; Be a model for what you expect of your students; Reinforce fundamentals every day; Program music that the students can sound their best on.

WEST VIRGINIA
Shawn Dunn
Director of Bands
Fairmont Senior High School
Fairmont

Years at School: 9
Total Years Teaching: 22
Students in Program: 80

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope that I can give them an appreciation for music and the arts, and help them realize that it's an important part of a well-rounded education, as well as a fuller, richer life after they graduate. I encourage them not only to learn to play their instruments well, but to be creative and have fun in the joy of making music together.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: When a student who has gone through our program decides to become a music major when they go to college. We usually have several each year who takes this route. This tells me above all else that they have had a truly meaningful experience in our band program.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Meet the kids where they are, and take them as far as they are able to go. Not every student is going to become a professional musician, but they are all capable of contributing in their own way, and I try to appreciate that. Also, don't sweat the small stuff.

WISCONSIN
Kathy Bichler
Band Director
School District of Random Lake
Random Lake

Years at School: 10 years
Total Years Teaching: 20 years
Students in Program: 110

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: I hope that students feel the sense of pride following a performance that comes from accomplishing something nice due to the amount of work they put into a challenge. I hope that students hold onto the attributes learned in band such as responsibility, respect, cooperation and dedication.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: Every time a student beams and yells "I did it!" or "I got it!" there is nothing that tops that moment.

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: Teaching is not just about the subject matter. There is so much baggage that comes into the classroom nowadays, music is often times a release for the students – it's nice to be here for them.

WYOMING
Patrick Kukes
Director of Orchestras
Natrona County High School
Casper

Years at School: 5
Total Years Teaching: 36
Students in Program: 154

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN STUDENTS' LIVES: By seeing my students as the wonderful unique individuals they are. Also, taking them from where they are and helping them grow to become the person they need to be to succeed in life. Music and love are my tools to make it happen.

PROUDEST MOMENT AS A TEACHER: I spent a year teaching in inner city Madison, Wisconsin. One school I had was across the street from the projects. Most of my 64 fourth and fifth grade string students lived in these rat infested apartments. At the end of the year, I was let go because of a reduction of staff. I was on the top of the list to be let go because it was my first year in this district (my 30th year of teaching). One day in early May, my students found out about this and got together to form a plan of action. They decided to take a bus down to Washington street where the "rich folks live" and play on the corner to raise money so I would not have to leave. Another group talked to their parents and said my wife and I could live in two of the cellos' (twin sisters) basement. They thought that then we would all come over at night and I could continue to teach them to play. This touched my heart forever. "The desire to learn to play."

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON LEARNED: If we (and all those who control education) could let every child play an instrument, we would have a society of well rounded, self directed, community based, self-fulfilled people. Oh yeah... we would score way higher on tests, also.