09/01/2026
Hello all!
I am in the process of writing a book on my life as an educator in Tennessee. The good and the bad…my experiences.
Thinking of Concert Choir today so I thought I would share my thoughts with you one more time. What I learned from your children.
1. I learned to listen to the kids. I was in a Tennessee Arts Academy inservice the summer before I began at LC where the leader challenged us to LISTEN to the students. Let them assume leadership in the room. I have always embraced ideas from Tennessee Arts Academy so from the beginning I chose listening as my goal. It is hard as a teacher to relinquish power to student ideas. Teachers have a problem with “if I control the situation it will be better.” Giving up some control of thinking and ideas to the students was sometimes difficult for me. I could see down the road that sometimes what they wanted might be more challenging. I was definitely not perfect at this skill but I can honestly say I tried very hard to listen to the kids. I became more of a directional teacher leading the kids to problem solve. This sometimes was a little chaotic because thankfully they all
had ideas. But though the process was sometimes stressful, the conversations were immeasurable and wonderful! With this process a great choir began to form. We began by electing officers. We had officers who absolutely showed leadership through out the year. From behavioral issues to fresh ideas to question of the day…their leadership was always an asset to the class.
The officers knew if they had a concern my door was open to listen. Last year I added a repertoire committee. There were 2 girls that led the charge in finding music for the class. They worked hours and hours searching JWPEPPER for ideas. I did not choose every piece they highlighted but I did choose NYON which helped us receive a Superior at CPA with MTVA and a Superior at State with ACDA as well as Grand Champions at Holiday World. They also chose pieces for the pop concert which by the way was amazing. I have many examples of leadership from this method.. By listening the fruit of their spirits was evident in our class. One young man was my wisdom often coming in my office sharing his ideas. Some could paint floats…some could make videos…some could make us all laugh…some just walked in kindness. Listening to the kids is I think the most important aspect to achieve success as a teacher. With listening comes student ownership. You see…this was THEIR CLASS. I was the facilitator to try to make THEIR dreams come true. We were a pre-college choir…not a high school choir. The kids thought they were great from the start.
2. I learned that with listening I needed to care about the kids. Care about how they felt about things. Care that they had joy. Joy in the Lord is not being happy every day…it is about finding peace in the midst of life which is not always easy…especially for high school students. Artistic kids can sometimes have purple hair or need to chill in my office because they were stressed or needed to have some self time. And it is a definite that kids in the arts need the opportunity to express themselves. Often they are ignored in high school or even considered to be strange or weird because they do not kick a football or run track…but I think those students who are so creative are the ones who actually change the world for good. They are our creators and inventors and thinkers who walk quietly making huge differences with every step.
3. I learned that kids come first. I was having a conversation recently with a fellow educator who was talking about teacher needs…but in reality teachers and teacher needs are second…the kids MUST come first. When making choices we must put the kids in the forefront. They need our full attention and support. We need to be the facilitator of their dreams…not our own. If a process was easier for me but not good for the kids it was actually not good. What must come first are the needs of the children….yes and high school students are precious children.
4. I learned that data is important. At LC our wonderful lead teacher encouraged me every year to gather data. That was one of those things that bothered me. Testing and artistic expression seem to be at odds with each other. Our Lead Teacher was smart. Her idea of Target for the day…worked great especially when I had the students create the target themselves. They had ownership in what was to go on in class and they CARED as to whether we met our target. And the kids were far more critical at their progress than I was. SO finally!!!! I decided to really go for it. Concert Choir has to sightread music at most, if not all, MTVA competitions. They would be provided a first note on the piano, then the kids would have to sing the provided music without my help in any way. To accomplish this we would sight read music every day. But there was no real data to tell me if each student was proficient in their music reading. Because of the gentle push by this wonderful Lead Teacher, I worked out a deal with Sight-Reading Factory to sign up all the choir kids. They would individually test on the site and I would receive their scores…actual ability scores which provided data. Suddenly, I really knew who could sightread and who could not. I began working with some students who were struggling using different methods to get better…and they did get better!!! Data is a good thing. A student motivated target is a good thing. You see, I was teaching a pre-college choir because each student no matter what their major could one day join a college choir. And to be accepted into a college choir they MUST BE ABLE TO SIGHT-READ MUSIC. Answers come with data. Specialized learning is a wonderful result along with student achievement.
5. I learned that when no one believes in you that you look to God. God is so amazing! God is always there. ALWAYS! When others do not see the value of what you are doing, God will send the smiling face of a wonderful student to you to remind you that your efforts are important to HIM! The Lord is grateful for your service in that as you serve the students with your time and energy, you are also serving God the Father.
Teaching is not easy. In fact, it is a difficult profession. Lots of personal time must be sacrificed. But I can tell you that the time I spent with kids…your kids has made me a better person.
I thank God for every remembrance of you!
Philippians 1:3
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