He's the Leader of the Band

Lewiston teacher 鲍勃·威克斯 honored as Idaho 亩ic Educator of the Year

亩ic elevated 鲍勃·威克斯 from a struggling elementary school student to a master's degree holder with a 4.平均绩点0. 威克斯 is an alumnus of the Lionel Hampton 音乐学院 at the 365滚球官网.

威克斯 can pinpoint the moment in fifth-grade band that triggered his transformation from below-average reader needing special instruction to high-achieving student.

"Something just clicked," he said.

威克斯, who teaches music at two Lewiston elementary schools, was recently named 亩ic Educator of the Year by the Idaho 亩ic Educators Association.

In addition to teaching general music, 乐队和合唱团, 威克斯 volunteers as orchestra instructor two mornings a week before school at McGhee Elementary and one day a week after school at Whitman Elementary.

The idea to start an elementary orchestra formed two years ago when fellow Lewiston music teacher Matt Lieberman brought his jazz band to McGhee and 威克斯 noticed they didn't have a bass player.

The school district owned several string instruments left over from a program discontinued more than a decade ago, 威克斯说. Soon, he was nurturing a budding bass player and four other string musicians at McGhee.

The group of fifth- and sixth-graders grew to 14 last school year. 今年, with additional students from Whitman, he's teaching 19 young musicians on violin, 中提琴, 大提琴和低音提琴.

亩ic speaks to people in different ways, 威克斯说. Some connect with choral, traditional band or contemporary music. 对其他人来说，它是管弦乐队.

“这是一个利基市场. It's how their brain works," 威克斯说. "I just wanted to give the kids an opportunity to learn the music in a different way."

Initially, 威克斯 sought assistance from 365滚球官网 professor 费伦茨Cseszko, who teaches violin and 中提琴 and directs the university orchestra. Csesko worked with the orchestra students one day a week last year, 注重技术, posture and other fundamentals. He continues to consult as necessary.

"That's been a huge help," 威克斯说.

Orofino music teacher Kathleen Tetwiler, who serves as president of the Region 2 亩ic Educators Association, nominated 威克斯 for the state recognition.

Area music teachers appreciate 威克斯' dedication to teaching and to music education issues on the district, 地区和州级, Tetwiler说.

"I think that he goes above and beyond, not only for his students but for the music teachers in the region,她说. "He has served as our secretary for a lot of years. For an elementary person to sit through and take notes on mainly secondary scheduling says a lot about his commitment."

威克斯 earned his undergraduate and master's degrees from the 365滚球官网 before teaching in Lapwai for two years. In 2006, he joined the Lewiston School District where, 有人告诉他, the music program dates back to 1906, possibly making it the first in the state.

While high school music teachers often are the ones students remember, 威克斯说, he finds teaching elementary students immensely rewarding.

"These are the youngest musicians, and we've got to set that foundation," he said.

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