me arts ed

Teacher of the Year banquet held at Unum

Bill and Joan at the TOY banquet

If you’ve been reading the posts during the last 10 months you know that Bill Buzza, music educator from Leavitt Area High School, was a finalist for Maine State Teacher of the Year (TOY). Bill is a wonderful teacher and represented the arts education community through the tedious, time consuming process for 2011 TOY. Bill was a finalist for TOY. Williams Elementary School in Oakland grades 4/5 teacher Shelly Moody was selected to represent teachers in Maine for 2011.

Last week the annual TOY banquet was held and Bill was introduced by one of his previous students who is now a student at UMF. The students mom, Bill’s parents from Presque Isle and his previous principal were there. Also attending was retired music educator Joan  Hamann. It was great to see her and learn about her new business called Searchlight People Locators. She and her husband help adoptees, birth families, retired military, lost friends and classmates find each other.

Once again congratulations to Bill and a GREAT big THANK YOU for representing Maine educators through the process!

Once Upon a Mattress

Last week I attended Once Upon a Mattress at Camden Hills Regional High School. I know one of the actors in the play so wanted to be sure to attend, not to mention I enjoy attending high school musicals! Even with only knowing one performer, I felt so proud of all the students knowing the time, commitment and passion from each of them and how much they enjoy it!

One part beyond the students that really struck was in the program, specifically the Director’s Notes. Many of you who are music educators know Camden Hills Regional music teacher Kim Murphy. She is an outstanding teacher who received her National Board Certification last year. Kim used her voice and the platform of the program to let those who attended the performance know about the importance of what you do each day in the arts classroom. I just had to share it and hopefully if you don’t, you will think about what you can include in future communications to let attendees know about the importance of arts education and what is “right” for every student.

Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale: The Princess and the Pea is an interesting story and makes one ponder.  How could she have felt that pea underneath all of the mattresses?  Surely it wasn’t the pea – must have been bed bugs!  After all – royalty probably wasn’t used to bed bugs, and having twenty mattresses increases the likelihood of bed bugs by ….well, by a lot!  Due to the fact that bed bugs are a current trend, I just read a news article that stated one mattress can contain 500 bed bugs.  Do the math….20 mattresses can give you the probability of the existence of 10,000 bed bugs.  Certainly that’s what got the princess after all?

Well, what the heck do bedbugs have to do with Director notes – other than to make you start squirming in your seat?  My point is…sometimes you have to look deeper and unearth layers of meaning.  And that’s what I hope you do when you look at each one of these talented students on stage and crew tonight.  Behind each of the amazing talented facades lay intricate layers of intelligence, community service, and a wealth of activities.  The students involved in tonight’s musical are also involved in Windplanners, National Honor Society, a myriad of Sports teams, Empty Bowl Supper, The Rig, Windsong, Amnesty International, Peers, Student Council, Latin Club, International Club, Chess Club, Art Club, The Civil Rights Team, iTeam, Film Festival, Concert Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Chamber Singers, Women’s Choir, Chorale, the Winter One Act Festival, and Spring play and more.   It seems that in addition to bed bugs, the latest news feature that has people itching is the theme: “What’s wrong with education?”  I think the media should dig deeper and find the positive stories.  Therefore, I thank everyone for coming to our show tonight and I hope you’ll be back soon – for concerts, plays, games, etc.  I guarantee you’ll see “what’s right with education” as you celebrate the many-layered talents of our dedicated students.

The play by the way, was FABULOUS! For all of you participating in plays this month: “Break a Leg”. Please send pictures and a description so I can include your information in a blog post.

Photographs taken by Marti Stone Photography, http://www.martistonephotography.com