Behind the Baton

Sunday Spark - March 9, 2025

The ones doing the thinking are the ones doing the learning. ~Annika Stucky

Sunday Spark - February 23, 2025

Unclear expectations lead to unexpected results.

Sunday Spark - Februrary 9, 2025

The success of my day is based on the seeds that I sow, not the harvest that I reap. ~ John C. Maxwell

Sunday Spark - February 2, 2025

Catch people doing right more than wrong.

Sunday Spark - January 19, 2025

When you make a mistake, it doesn’t make you a mistake.

Sunday Spark - January 12, 2025

Sunday Spark: Inspiring Insights for a Bright Week Ahead
"Our success is connected. Your success is our success."

Behind the Baton with Annie Adams

Annie Adams is in her sixth year K-12 vocal and instrumental for Thunder Ridge Schools in Kensington and Agra, Kansas.  She earned her bachelor’s in music education at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS and her master’s in clarinet performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 
Annie taught band for two years in Oklahoma before moving to North Carolina.  After graduate school, Annie worked in Scotland and then taught private lessons on clarinet, fiddle and guitar in North Carolina for 12 years.  In 2018, Annie returned to Kansas with her family to teach for Thunder Ridge. 
Annie enjoys spending time with her two boys and husband, working on family projects, and adventure racing.  She performs fiddle locally with her dad and has recently jumped into horse ownership and horse training.
 
Connect with Annie Adams
Email
aadams@usd110.net
 

Behind the Baton with Northwest Kansas Music Educators

I had the privilege of leading a professional development workshop for music educators in the Northwest part of Kansas. In attendance were band, choir and orchestra directors as well as general music teachers at the elementary level; all are from predominantly small and rural schools. And...some teach K-12 Music - wow!
During our time together I asked the participants three questions:
What does success look like in small and/or rural schools?
What advice would you give your first-year teacher self?
How will you define success for your program?  It’s May, school is over…"we were successful because of this" … what is that for you?
The music educators in this episode are amazing...I hope you are able to find some inspiration from their stories.
~Shawn