“I started teaching at Irvington in 1992, so I’m not exactly sure how many years it has been now, but it’s been quite a while. My time here has really been all over the place. When I first arrived, the program was very small and we had to work incredibly hard to build it up. At that point, we only had about 30 kids in the band. Now, we have around 240.

We don’t do this anymore, but back then, we used to take the marching band on tour. We would go and play at all the elementary schools to get the kids excited about music. It’s gotten so big now that there is just no need for that anymore, but it was a major part of how we grew.

One thing about Irvington that has stayed exactly the same since I started is the fact that it looks like a prison. The cinder block walls were my very first impression when I got here and looked around. They’ve tried to dress it up a little bit over the years, and those walls are finally supposed to go away soon, but that feeling has stayed the same. The main changes are really just the layout. The new building in the back wasn’t there, and the cafeteria used to be over where the dance studio is now. It was all just one big room. As far as the culture goes, I think we have a higher percentage of students now who really, really do care. They want to be good, they want to succeed, and they want to work hard. That wasn’t how it was when I first got here.

The hardest part of teaching is when you have kids who don’t really care. My more advanced groups don’t have that problem, but in other groups, they don’t try and kind of hold everyone else back. It depends on the person, but a lot of times I just use assignments to force them to practice. On the other hand, the most fulfilling part is working with the kids on the music. I love seeing them grow as they learn the parts and figure things out. If there is one thing I’ve gained from being here, it’s patience. I have to remind myself that I’ve seen so many kids figure things out and get better over the years, so I know it’s always possible.

One of my favorite memories was the first time marching band won a Sweepstake at a competition. I knew the band had gotten better that year, but the students still didn’t really believe that they could accomplish that. A Sweepstakes means you were the best band out of all the divisions in the entire competition. To the kids, it was like winning an Olympic gold medal. They were so excited. Now, the program is at a point where they almost expect it because everyone is so good.

If I could go back and give my first-year teacher self one piece of advice, it would be to be more organized. As you can see, I’m not a very organized person. I’ve made attempts here and there over the years, but I always fall back into old habits.

To describe my career here in three words, it would be challenging, rewarding, and entertaining. It’s challenging because there are always things you have to overcome. It’s rewarding because of the accomplishments and the fact that we play great music that most high school bands can’t even touch. And it’s entertaining just watching the students and all the silly stuff that happens in class.

I’m hoping the success of the program continues, and I think it will. I just hope they remember that I was patient with them and encouraging. My juniors going into senior year just need to work hard and help the new director succeed. I’ll miss them. Most of them, anyway.”