Walter Reed Music Department Wins Countywide Award

Stephen McDonough, Janice Kueppers and Jessica Johnson are the music teachers honored.

Posted by Mike Szymanski (Editor), March 8, 2011 at 09:57 pm

The teachers of the music program at Walter Reed Middle School found out Tuesday that they won the prestigious BRAVO Award from the Music Center, in a competition that included every school of every grade in Los Angeles County.

"All of our teachers do an excellent job, and we've always known about our music teachers doing so well, so it's nice that they're being recognized for their exceptional work," said Reed Principal Donna Tobin. "I'm so proud. They were up against schools from all over the county."

Stephen McDonough of the band and orchestra, Janice Kueppers who leads the choir and Jessica Johnson who works with the orchestra are the three teachers honored for Outstanding Leadership in Arts Education.

The Music Department award means $3,500 for the school program, which has a choir, orchestra, wind ensemble, barber shop quartets, jazz bands and other musical programs. This weekend they're performing

The BRAVO Award was established in 1982 to recognize teachers and schools for creativity, innovation and excellence in arts education.

BRAVO Awards are presented in three categories; schools, arts specialist teacher, general classroom teacher.

"Now I'm ready to see e at least three times," Tobin said.

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Don Helverson March 9, 2011 at 01:04 am

This music department is wonderful! They deserved every second of raucous applause they received today at the Walter Reed faculty meeting.

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Karen Young March 9, 2011 at 04:13 am

It's is such a well deserved achievement. Stephen McDonough, Jessica Johnson and Janice Kueppers are tremendous teachers who put in so many extra hours to teach their students. All the musical groups are consistently award winners year after year at various competitions because of the dedication of these teachers. The musicals are always top notch. It truly is a unique department, especially because it's a regular middle school and not a music or arts school.

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Michele March 10, 2011 at 03:33 am

They deserve so much more! If it wasnt for this music department, my son would not be pursuing a great thing. because of the inspiration of this crew of teachers, they gave him the opportunity to explore a new venue and give him the opportunity to compose for a middle school orchestra. Not many teachers would let a student do that. My son continues to express gratitude to the great music department of Walter Reed for their inspiration and willingness for students to thrive. They are the best, and I as a teacher and parent will be forever grateful.

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Stupified Beyond March 12, 2011 at 11:57 am

$3,500.00 ? What on earth are they going to do with all of that money?

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Don Helverson March 12, 2011 at 12:04 pm

The money goes into the teaching program, and instruments, instrumental upkeep, reeds, mouthpieces, strings, repairs, ointments, humidifiers, cases, linings, drum heads, sticks, mallots, tuners, picks, amp tubes, cords, chairs, and upgrades cost thousands of dollars when servicing a huge population of active, young musicians. It's not for a road trip to Vegas, and it will vanish into the deep well of costs of running successful arts programs. But the award is still appreciated and was greatly warranted.

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Michele March 12, 2011 at 12:40 pm

ARe you kidding me? $3500 is nothing to keep a music department running. They supply instruments for over 100 kids who dont have ones at home. They are allowed to check them out and practice . then they have to up keep the instruments, tune them, fix them through out the year. They have to rent buses to go to contests, print programs, pay for costumes, sets etc. you obviously dont know what it takes to run a music program. That is only the essentials. it is over $300 to tune a piano.

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Michele March 12, 2011 at 12:46 pm

Also as a math teacher myself, i spend $1000 at least a year of my own money to help my students along. Mostly because of the budget with the schools. it would be a shame that people don't think when a public school wins money, that there is no use for it. WE use it to educate the future of our country and hopefully instill in them the value of the arts, education and giving

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Don Helverson March 12, 2011 at 11:44 pm

How ironic that this fabulous music department's leader, Stephen McDonough, just got a RIF notice effectively laying him off in June. Can you think of a time in our country's history which damaged more schools and hurt more kids' futures with stinginess against necessary taxes, corporate swindles leaving state coffers empty while bankers and brokers got a raise, funded by the public? Outrage should show up at the polls and in the mailboxes of assembly members. How dare the "reformers" talk about school scores while losing all the yardage schools--like Walter Reed--have gained in a decade of improvements! Ironic Week: "Congratulations, you're fired!"

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Michele March 13, 2011 at 01:14 am

That would make me sick that he got a RIF notice. Lets save money by not giving quarterly tests that mean nothing in the scheme of things. They could save millions of dollars there, instead of giving a termination notice to a music teacher who inspires children to create art and to inspire for a dream. What the hell is this state going to?

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