Teaching across all grade levels isn't easy, but Laurianna May has made music and theater come alive at Fleming School.
"Ms. Laurianna May passionately and positively promotes music and theater in education! In addition to teaching kindergarten through 12th grade students about music and drama, she devotes countless hours and energy toward concerts, pep band performances, talent shows and drama productions, not to mention all of the extra time dedicated to fundraising. Laurianna's enthusiasm for music and theater is contagious! So many students are excited to be a part of those activities, and the connection she forms with her students is amazing. Students can tell she genuinely cares about them," said one of her Crystal Apple Award nominators, Amy Brekel.
"She is such an inspiration at our school. She teaches K-12 grade students, which takes a special person to connect with such diverse age levels, but she loves each of them the same. It is quite evident how her students feel about her when their faces light up when seeing her in the hallways, classroom and outside of school," another award nominator, Christy Stumpf, said.
May is in her third year at Fleming and in that time the number of students involved in her band program has grown each year. It was inspiring teachers in her past that sparked her love of learning and gave her the desire to teach and she has always had a passion for teaching kids about theater.
"The kids, there are some really good kids," she said when asked what keeps her at Fleming.
While teaching K-12 is exhausting, May does enjoy it, particularly the middle school and high school levels.
"Elementary is definitely a challenge but it's fun in a whole different way and being K-12, I get to start them in the beginning of their music knowledge and then build them into exactly what I want them to be. So by the time they're in middle school and in the band if they know the music it's because I taught it to them; if they don't it's because I didn't teach it to them, I can't blame anybody else for it. It's fun but it's challenging," she said.
For May, the true reward comes when she gets to see the "ah ha" moments when something just clicks for a student.
"It feels so satisfying and they've seen me cry a couple of times because of it, I just get so excited that they finally got it," she said, recalling a time in her second year when she pulled out the music for "Circle of Life" and while it didn't go well when the band tried to play it the first year, that second year they played by sight reading the song and it actually sounded like the song. "I just started sobbing because it was like, they've got it, they've learned so much and they've grown so much that they're able to look at the song and just play it and that's really cool."
May has provided some wonderful opportunities for her students to develop their talents and achieve their goals. So far this year the band students have played the National Anthem at a Colorado Rockies game with two other bands, performed at the 6-man football state championship game, as well as at regional and state basketball, which the fans have thoroughly enjoyed. They have also attended various competitions including the High Plains Band and Choir Festival at Chadron State College; three students went to Festival of the Winds, in Pueblo; eight students attended the Holyoke Honor Band; and just recently the band went to the Winter Park Musical Festival and now they're getting ready to compete at Elitch Gardens Music Festival. Plus, May leads the band in parades including Fleming Fall Festival and Haxtun Corn Fest.
"We're a really small school and we only know what we sound like and when you get to go play with other bands, honor bands, you get to hear what a bigger band sounds like playing together. With other bands like at the Rockies or Chadron, you get to hear what songs they do and you get that connection," May said, recalling when a tuba player randomly broke out into the song "Hey Baby" at the Festival of Winds and her students were so excited to find that other schools knew that song too. "Everybody was able to sing and play together and it was just one of those bonding experiences where you're like, 'hey I'm not alone, I'm a band kid and I have this whole family all over the world.'"
The contests also provide a chance for feedback from judges and that helps them improve their music.
May has provided her students with a place where they feel they truly belong.
"Some students who previously felt like they didn't quite 'fit in' at school have found their niche, thanks to Ms. May. Those students are now beaming with greater self-worth and pride," Brekel said.
Another of May's award nominators, Kortney Firme, said she has gone above and beyond in every way imaginable for her students. Not only has she reenergized the music program, but as Stumpf, pointed out, she has started a drama program on her own time and has allowed pupils to demonstrate their strengths outside of the classroom.
"I am my mother's child," said May, who is the daughter of Sterling Miracle Players Director Dana May. "I think theater is really important because it fosters imagination and a different kind of friendship and family for the kids. It's fun to pretend to be something you're not for a while."
Firme says May has created a family for her students.
"On any late afternoon/evening, you will find Miss May in her classroom preparing for her next big adventure with her students. Whether it's for the Drama club, a talent show, a play, a fundraiser, playing music at an athletic event, or tirelessly planning one of her amazing field trips. She is always providing students an opportunity to grow their love for music and theater. Students have a platform to show off their tremendous talents through Miss May's devotion and dedication to her 'family.' We love Miss May, and truly believe she is the best music/theater teacher around!" Firme said.
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