2013 Local Assoc. and Teacher of the Year Awards

2013 Association of the Year: Fort Collins MTA

2013 Teacher of the Year: Jill Hanrahan, NCTM

Awards were presented during the CSMTA 2013 Conference. Congratulations to all!

CSMTA LOCAL ASSOCIATION OF THE YEAR for 2013-2014

This year’s “Local Association of the Year” has such an impressive resumé, it was not difficult for the CSMTA Local Associations Committee to pick this group on the first ballot. The Fort Collins Music Teachers Association has zealously promoted music and music education, not only in their association, but throughout their community. They hosted 12 student events this past year, including two Halloween parties involving 29 teachers and 128 students, and collected food for a local food shelf at these recitals. They had a Mall Christmas Performathon in December, their Achievement Day is among the largest in the state, and FCMTA students perform regularly at senior centers around the area.

This vibrant association had eight scheduled programs for teacher education during their meetings, including presentations by professors from the local college, and added two classical classes for their teachers in the spring. They have made a group visit to the Technology Lab at CSU, and had a presentation from Piano Marvel to promote technology in their teacher group. They currently have a scholarship available for a teacher to attend the CSMTA conference. FCMTA ordered the PREP books so that teachers in their group could borrow them. They are starting a small awards program to show appreciation for their Local Association Teacher of the Year and another award for the most active New Member of the Year.

FCMTA hosted a joint festival recital with another local association in the spring and invited other local groups to attend two of their teacher workshops this past year.

To attract new members, they use word of mouth, inviting colleagues to attend meetings. They have an active mentoring program which includes a printed packet and pairing with a seasoned group member, and a Certification Chair to identify and aid teachers interested in the certification process.

Their future projects include working on grant-writing for those individuals teaching to families in need of financial assistance. They are also helping senior citizen residences obtain quality pianos for future student performances in these spaces.

Congratulations to Jill Hanrahan, NCTM, who received the 2013 CSMTA Teacher of the Year Award at the Local Association Lun- cheon on June 7, during the State Conference. Jill’s accomplishments and her contributions to CSMTA are many. She has filled the roles of Achievement Day Chair, VP for Local Associations, VP for State Conferences, and MTNA Competition State Coordinator and Chair, as well as presenting numerous sessions at state conferences.

Ms. Hanrahan served two years as President of Pikes Peak MTA. During her term, PPTMA was awarded CSMTA Local Association of the Year and MTNA Local Association of the Year. She has contributed locally as a festival chair or co-chair over a dozen times, VP for Mem- bership two years, PPMTA Newsletter Editor five years and, PPMTA Handbook Editor five years, PPMTA Website Manager three years, and has helped with computer work for many of the local association festivals.

On the national level, Jill has served on the Local Association of the Year Committee for four years, acting as Chair for two of those years. Additionally, she is West Central Division Coordinator of Young Artist and Chamber Music. Special national awards include the 2012 MTNA-Piano Technicians Guild Recreational Music Making Workshop Scholarship. Jill has also been selected as the MTNA Foundation Fellow nominee from Colorado for 2014.

In addition to maintaining a private piano studio for 22 years, Jill has worked as a public school piano accompanist, most recently at Carson Middle School. In 2010, she was selected as the Carson Middle School Classified Employee of the Year. Above and beyond her job as accompanist, Jill gives of her time freely. Perhaps her most exciting volunteer contribution is the method she developed to get students interested in musical composition. These middle-schoolers know very little about music, but because of Jill’s simple and ingenious curriculum, they become hooked immediately. She also created a “Piano Club” at the school to provide free musical instruction for children of military families, low-income families, and students with disabilities. And Carson Middle School now has a Concert Choir Clothes Closet, thanks to Jill. The Closet collects white shirts, black pants and ties for students who can’t afford choir clothes. Jill certainly lives out her passion to give every child the opportunity to learn to love music!

I enjoyed reading the many letters of reference in support of Jill’s nomination for CSMTA Teacher of the Year. Here are some words and phrases that stand out: whole-hearted, selfless, calm, pleasant, joyful in service, professional, enthusiastic, ambitious, an eye for detail, organizational skills, creative ideas.

On behalf of the Teacher of the Year Committee, I am proud to present Jill Hanrahan, NCTM, as the 2013 CSMTA Teacher of the Year. Please congratulate her!

By Dr. Joan Sawyer, CSMTA President-Elect

Past recipients of the Teacher of the Year Award:

2001. Sara McDaniel, NCTM

2004. Nonie Birkdahl, NCTM

2005. Nancy Kaesler, NCTM

2006. Hazel Ramsbotham, NCTM

2007. Roberta Morris, NCTM

2008. Mary Leah Chavies

2009. No Award

2010. Kathryn Hammer, NCTM

2011. Barbara Taylor, NCTM

2012. Gail Clark, NCTM

2013. Jill Hanrahan, NCTM