Van Hise Music Teacher Receives First Madison Symphony Educator Award
by Kiara Lee, age 13
Margaret Jenks, music teacher at Van Hise
Elementary school, accepted the first Award
for Excellence in Music Education from the Madison
Symphony Orchestra earlier this Spring.
Created in
partnership with Ward-Brodt Music,
this award recognizes
a passionate, dedicated, and innovative
educator
who positively
effects the
lives of students. Jenks
received a commemorative plaque
and a $500 prize.
Jenks'
teaching career
has been varied. After a short term in
Germany, she established
the Bridge Ensemble at Butler Middle
School in Waukesha, Wisconsin. This creative progam pairs cognitively
disabled students with gifted ones. Currently,
Jenks
creates and teaches introductory choir
programs for Madison Youth Choirs and runs two of the performing
boys' choirs. Jenks also
servres as chairwoman of the Wisconsin Comprehensive Musicianship
Through Performance project.
Jenks
cherishes the chance to teach in a classroom and to
meet students she may
not otherwise see outside of her class.
According to the Wisconsin
State Journal,
students say they look forward to coming to school on the days they
have her music
class. One student said Jenks
“makes everyone feel special." Another
student said she
“makes us recognize the beauty in music.”
[Source:
Wisconsin State Journal]
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