Who I Am

Today, I am many things. God put singing at the core of my existence. Throughout life, in everything I do, at the heart of it all, I know that I am first and foremost a singer. That does not mean that anyone or anything else is necessarily second to my music. It means that in everything I do, I do it as a singer, in the way a singer would do it, with the logic, forethought, creativity, and temperament of a singer.

I am a Music Teacher
Three years ago, when I stepped into the public school classroom for the first time, I thought it would be at an elementary school. I figured at my age (have about 17 years before I can retire) they would put me in an elementary school and leave me there. I knew I could work well with elementary and high school students, but middle school was not on my list of strengths. I had no idea when Don Gray called me to take the one job that no one else wanted that he would be doing me the biggest favor anyone has ever done for me. It is the most difficult thing I have ever done; and I once learned the function, features, location, and standard maintenance procedures for all the parts of the avionics system in the Boeing 747 in one week so I could teach a class on it. Middle school is harder.

I teach at Truesdell, one of the largest middle schools in Wichita, Kansas. In the coming years, we could have more than 1000 students. Most of our students live in poverty. That could change with the rezoning, but I am confident that we will still have lots of kids doing without. My kids are totally amazing. They are talented, passionate, and hard working musicians. They are not easy. So many of them don't get how valuable they are and give up on themselves before the age of 13. I simply can't let them do that without a fight. I have a great administration and the staff is outstanding. There is no place I would rather be.

The first year was crazy difficult. The kids had had three music teachers in three years. The program had been shut down two years before I got there and the very talented music teacher who preceded me really wanted to teach at an elementary school. She did a great job with singing techniques, but the kids knew she really wanted to teach somewhere else. When I got there, they were angry. They were sure that I would leave them just like everyone else and they made sure I knew it. I survived and so did they. Relationships were built. Music was made.

The second year was so much better. The 8th grade class had more confidence that I would be there for them. The 7th grade knew me from the year before and gave me more of a chance. Still, there was not complete buy-in. They didn't try as hard as they could to learn the proper techniques and complained a lot. Numbers were up, but there were only about 55 in both choirs combined. Most of them sang so quietly, I could hardly hear them from where I stand. Still, we all survived, more than survived. The spring concert was a huge success and better music was made.

This year, my third, is still just as much work, but the students are so talented. I have about 90 students with the 7th and 8th grade combined. They are singing beautiful harmonies and try to actually understand the individual styles and intent behind the arrangements. There are so many talented singers, I am going to have a terrible time choosing soloists for the spring concert. My sixth graders this year are the best I have had. They are musical and cooperative. The are willing to try anything even if they aren't sure if they are going to like it. They celebrate their achievements, work to overcome their failures, and work well with the special education students. I can't wait to see what will happen next year when they join the choir.

So I teach music, but I also teach life. I try to let these students know that I love them even when we struggle. I care about everything that happens to them from not making the team to watching their best friends move away. Many of them need to know that someone is there for them who cares about more than just the classroom requirements. Someone who is there to celebrate or mourn. There to help pick up the pieces. If I can be that someone for at least a few of them, I will be who I should be.