Mastic Beach, NY - April 23, 2018 - For the second consecutive year, the William Floyd School District Music Department has been honored with the “Best Communities for Music Education” designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. This prestigious award has been given to only 583 school districts across the nation in 2018 and recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have and continue to make music education part of a well-rounded education. William Floyd has now received this designation four times – 2004, 2006, 2017 and 2018.
“On behalf of the William Floyd School District, I am thrilled to congratulate our entire music department on achieving this honor for the second year in a row,” said Kevin M. Coster, Superintendent of Schools, William Floyd School District. “This award is a testament to the amazing things that are happening in classrooms all across the district each and every day. All one needs to do is attend a Board of Education meeting or one of our school concerts to understand the level of talent that each and every one of our music teachers possesses and the skills they are passing on to the next generation.”
The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the Best Communities designation, districts answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.
“We are fortunate as a district and community to be able to provide the best possible music education for our students in the classroom and in performing groups at the elementary, middle school and high school levels,” said George Ober, Chairperson, William Floyd Music Department. “I salute my colleagues who continue to make William Floyd one of the best communities for music education day in and day out.”
Members of the award-winning music faculty include: Kaitlin Albus, Julia Bellante, Kelly Bergquist, Diana Brown, Amanda Burrage, Michael Cicerelli, Christine Coffill, Dawn Conefry, Joseph Cordaro, Michael Cordaro, Jonathan Dignam, Barbara D’Orio, Ryan Feldscher, Gabriella Forgit, Ralph Guasp, Richard Harris, Therese Heins, Garry Helbock, Juliana Hyatt, Kimberly Hyland, Sharon Kitzis, Jessica Marks, Christopher Miranda, George Ober, Denise Post, Donia Rivera, Garrett Rode, Barbara Sapanaro, Christine Saraceno, Amy Sckipp, Michelle Seifert, Christopher Shaughnessy, Mick Singh, Lauren Svoboda, Debora-Ann Tomko, Jon Trask, Donna Visone-O'Brein, Lynn Zummo and music secretary, Nancy Slane.
About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,300 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs. For more information about the NAMM Foundation, please visit www.nammfoundation.org.