The Grammy Awards provided a great platform for teachers this week, as they awarded a Music Educator Award to an elementary music teacher in the South Bronx. Teacher Melissa Salguero is making a huge difference in the lives of her students every single day.
Melissa began her teaching career in Florida, but she chose to go to PS 48 just 7 years ago to resurrect a music program that had been abandoned for 30 years. When Melissa arrived at the school, one of the neediest of all the public schools, they did not have a school song, instruments, or even a school mascot. All of that has changed.
Students arrive one hour before school begins to learn and practice their instruments, which are provided to students free of charge. Band is strictly a before school activity. Melissa’s innovative methods of teaching music, chorus, and band have earned her the respect and adoration of her students.
I applaud the efforts of this extraordinary teacher! In a school with a 22% homeless population, her skills as a teacher and empathy for others have raised children to embrace learning and attend school, even coming in an hour early. She has set high expectations for her students, and they have responded by meeting, and even exceeding, those expectations. She has made them believe they can do wonderful things with their talents and by working hard, like sing, and play the trombone, and be a part of something greater than one person..
It is a red-letter day when educators are recognized for their work. Please take a few minutes to watch the CBS story of this amazing teacher. You will see that here students love her so much, and she is the reason they come to school. Teaching is all about relationships, and she has touched the heart of each of her students. Melissa won a personal prize of $10,000, which she is putting toward her college debt, and a matching amount for the school, which will go toward the purchase of new instruments for the students. This story is so inspiring! Congratulations to Melissa, and to every teacher who is making a difference, with or without the public recognition. #teachersmatter
Here is the link to the story: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2018-grammy-music-educator-award-winner-bronx-music-teacher-melissa-salguero/
As always, I welcome your comments and suggestions.
Rittman Publishing, LLC ®
Please invite Grady Gets Glasses (and me) into your school. if you are not in the Pittsburgh area, we do virtual field trips with a group called Field Trip Zoom. www.Fieldtripzoom.com GRADY GETS GLASSES was the winner of Best New Children's Book 2016 from The Authors' Zone. For more information about The Authors' Zone, please visit http://www.theauthorszone.com/submissions/
Visit Dede's webpage for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading. Signed copies are available www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics.
I LOVE writing. And I love writing children's books- my newest passion. Although it will be a ton of work, I am looking forward to selling my books. Since I was a secondary teacher, I know that I have much to learn about elementary students, and I will have to follow my own advice and be my genuine self. However, I also know that I am passionate about helping kids who have to wear glasses, and that GRADY GETS GLASSES sends a positive message. I am willing to work hard and do all the things that also made me a successful teacher for 37 years. I remain inspired!
Elementary teachers in Western Pennsylvania and beyond - I am willing to come into your classroom in person or as a virtual field trip through a group called Field Trip Zoom. Check them out! http://www.fieldtripzoom.com/
Teacher friends- let me know if you want me to read GRADY GETS GLASSES at your school. I am willing to come in to discuss the creative writing process, why writing is important, and personal fulfillment through writing, along with reading my book. I would appreciate the exposure, and I would make signed copies available for purchase in your classrooms following the reading. Please email me at dederittman@gmail.com The website www.gradygetsglasses.com now has plush Grady bunnies for sale!
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