Paul Price

Paul Price

Artifact for ISLLC Standard 4: An education leader promotes the success of every student by collaborating with faculty and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs, and mobilizing community resources.

Name of Artifact: MP3 files from D.A.R.E. Graduation.

Date: April 22, 2009

Course: EDU 695

Rationale: Each year I collaborate with the fifth grade teachers to provide instruction for all fifth graders in the D.A.R.E. program. The students learn two songs as part of the graduation program, and the community is treated to a mini-concert as part of the assembly. There is a great deal of community awareness promoted by the D.A.R.E. program, and the positive relationships developed with families and the community align with Standard 4. I am involved with all grade levels when needed for different programs presented in the community, but I feel the D.A.R.E. program is a strong example.

The students perform as a grade level, which includes about 125 voices singing at once, and the impact is striking. The music adds the exclamation point of believability to the ideas and concepts behind the program. It also shows how the music program works and is used in the process of teaching and building character. The community response is always positive, and students move to middle school after this with the confidence of a strong will and enthusiastic outlook.

D.A.R.E. and fifth grade graduation involve my participation and collaboration with the teachers, and it is usually the last thing the fifth graders do in music. I have taught most of these students for the six years they have attended UES, and it is often an emotional time—of both joy and sadness. I believe it is only natural to have music play a large part of the programs, and it promotes the importance of music throughout the students’ lives.

Reflection: This is the time of year that the fifth grade students really show pride in what they have accomplished in the time at school, and the majority of students join in the singing and performing at these programs willingly. This is the only time of year fifth grade boys participate without extreme “encouragement”, and it is very amusing how their emotions take over. The songs are used to drive points and ideas home, and the students profess their commitments to the next stage in their lives. For me it is a great release, and often it is the last time I see many of these students.