• TOYS
     
    ST. LOUIS, MO, November 20, 2012 – The St. Louis Public School District has presented the Elementary Music Teacher of the Year and the Secondary Music Teacher of the Year Awards to two educators who have made significant and lasting contributions to the music teaching profession.

     

    To earn the Music Teacher of the Year Awards, nominees must explain their teaching philosophy and approach to teaching; be recommended by a principal and a professional colleague; and pass a classroom evaluation conducted by a team of professionals. 

     

    Mr. Carl Nelson, a vocal music teacher at Woerner Elementary School, has been recognized as the St. Louis Public School District’s Elementary Music Teacher of the Year for helping his students find their voice and reach their true musical potential.

     

    “I love to visit the music room and hear the children sing and play their instruments. Mr. Nelson uses a positive approach to teaching music, and is able to keep the students interested and motivated. He also organizes several student performances each year and hosts the St. Louis Symphony in Your Schools program,” said Ms. Margaret Meyer, principal of Woerner Elementary School.

     

    An educator with the District since 2006, Mr. Nelson’s students sing and play the keyboard, drums and Boomwhackers, and go on field trips to hear performances from renowned performers and learn about the drummers during the Civil War. His students also learn how to write their own music, with one of his third grade students being named a runner-up for an original composition composed for a music contest hosted by the University of Missouri. 

     

    Ms. Chrisena Brown, an instrumental music teacher at Soldan International High School, has been named the St. Louis Public School District’s Secondary Music Teacher of the Year for her numerous accomplishments in her 30+ years with the District.

     

    Ms. Brown was nominated by Ms. Mary Armstrong, president of AFT St. Louis, Local 420, and Dr. Thomas Cason, principal of Soldan IS High School, for recognizing the talents and abilities of her students and obtaining the support necessary to address their unique and individual needs.  As a result, Ms. Brown’s students have received numerous accolades at the local and national level.

     

    An educator with the District since 1974, Ms. Brown states her most valuable accomplishments are the successes of her students.

     

    “My students have auditioned and performed in the MMEA Metro District 8 Jazz and Concert Bands, performed in college bands to help finance their post-secondary education, and I have had several students pursue teaching careers in instrumental music while others pursued performance careers,” said Brown. Notably, one of her students performed with “Kool and the Gang” and “Earth, Wind and Fire”, two popular rhythm and blues groups in the 80’s and 90’s.

     

    The 2012 Music Teachers of the Year were honored with an awards reception and presented with a $1,000 award from Webster University.  In addition, they were presented with a trophy, a plaque, and a $500 award for related education materials through the Parsons Blewett Memorial Fund. 

     

    For more information please contact the Office of Public Information (314) 345-2367.

     

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