Denmark Teacher Wins State Music Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kevin Thays • Phone: 608-850-3566
Email: kthays@wmea.com •
Web: www.wsmamusic.org
www.wmea.com
WAUNAKEE, WI (May 28, 2004) – Denmark High School teacher Karen Johnson is the 2004 recipient of the Wisconsin Award for Excellence in Teaching Music.
The honor was presented to Johnson at the Fine Arts Recognition
Night on May 27, 7:30 p.m. at Denmark High School.
Established in 2002 to recognize Wisconsin's finest and most exemplary
music educators, the award is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin School
Music Association and Wisconsin Music Educators Association. It
includes a $500 grant and a plaque for permanent display at Denmark
High School. A plaque will also be placed at the Wisconsin Center
for Music Education, Waunakee, upon the Center's completion. Additionally,
Johnson received a “Letter of Commendation” from State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Elizabeth Burmaster.
Several letters of support were written on Johnson’s behalf, as part of the nomination process. "Ms. Johnson takes a personal interest in each of her students. She has high expectations for them, individually and as a group. As a result, students perform at a very high level and they feel good about their accomplishments," noted Denmark School District Superintendent LeRoy Miles.
One of her former students wrote, “Ms. Johnson takes a personal interest in each of her students. She has high expectations for them, individually and as a group. As a result, students perform at a very high level and they feel good about their accomplishments.”
Johnson was asked to submit a personal statement titled "Why I Teach." An excerpt from her statement read: "What better way is there to share my gift of music than to teach others about music, and demonstrate the value of appreciating music whether listening to the radio, or performing as part of a 120-piece marching band? I am doing something that I love to do."
Nomination applications for the 2005 Wisconsin Award for Excellence in Teaching Music will be available during the Wisconsin State Music Conference, Oct. 27 - 30, at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison.
For more information about WSMA and WMEA, log on to www.wsmamusic.org and www.wmea.com.
# # #
The Wisconsin School Music Association is a non-profit service organization composed of over 1,000 member public and private schools. Last year, more than 200,000 students took the initiative to be involved in WSMA activities, including District and State Music Festivals, the State Honors Project, Student Composition Project, State Marching Band Championships and more. WSMA believes music is basic, and all children have the right to experience all that music offers them.
The Wisconsin Music Educators Association consists of music educators, school administrators and others interested in seeing all youths in Wisconsin receive a well-rounded education that includes a comprehensive music program taught by certified music teachers. The Association works to improve the quality of music education in Wisconsin by representing the shared interests and needs of music educators and fostering their professional growth. WMEA is affiliated with MENC: The National Association for Music Education.