2005 Outstanding First-Year Teacher Award
The California Association for Employment in Education (CAEE) recently recognized a first-year teacher in California for his unique and creative contributions to the education profession. The recipient received a $500 cash award.
Criteria for the awards included: special accomplishments, unique and creative contributions, highlights of instructional skills, interaction with students, parents and peers, and innovative programs and projects which distinguished the nominee from other first-year teachers.
CAEE links colleges, universities, school systems, students and education professionals to encourage employment in the field of education. CAEE membership consists of school district hiring personnel along with college and university education placement professionals.
The Award Winner:
Matt Murdock
Gladstone High School Azusa Unified School District
I am pleased to recommend Matt Murdock for the 2005 CAEE “Outstanding First Year Teacher Recognition Award”. Mat is an instrumental music teacher who displays extraordinary skills in instructional skills, in his interaction with parents, peers, and students, and in innovative programs at Gladstone High School. His extremely positive attitude and skill in student relations make him a truly inspiring teacher.
Matt set a goal early this year to expose every ensemble at Gladstone High School to both classical and commercial music performance. Eighty-percent of students in his bands receive instruction in improvisation, a unique standard for high school bands. Matt’s success this year with our band speaks for itself:
- 1st place at the West Hills Field Tournament
- 2nd place at the Los Altos Field Tournament
- Superior rating by Wind Ensemble at the district music festival. The head judge commented that Gladstone High School performed the best it had in 30 years.
- Unanimous superior ratings by Jazz Band at the Fullerton and Reno Jazz Festivals, the largest in Southern California and the Western United States, respectively.
Music students at Gladstone High School are performing with a level of confidence that truly is inspiring!
But, Matt doesn’t just reach out to the advanced students. His assignment this year also includes teaching 5th grade (and some 4th grade) music at several elementary schools in the district. Juggling elementary school schedules with high school performance requirements has been a challenge for tour first-year teacher but throughout it all Matt continues to learn and adapt and maintain his smile!
His personal time is limited, not only due to marching season but also in connection to his candidacy for a Masters degree from Azusa Pacific University.
Matt’s connections with the community and with Citrus College established a partnership whereby a dozen Gladstone High School students receive private lessons from the college music faculty. This innovation is new to our school and is stimulating our students to pursue music in college. He also has recruited his colleagues from Azusa Pacific to coach sectionals in our band.
Immediately after being hired, Matt reached out to the band boosters and won over their support. This resulted in a strong start-of-the-year fundraising barbeque. Throughout this year the boosters have remained an extremely strong organization, thanks to Matt’s time, energy, and vision for Gladstone music.
As you observe Matt exercise his craft in the bandroom, you immediately notice that he uses organized and powerful teaching techniques to accelerate the learning process. For example, the students lead all daily warm-ups. There is no prodding on the teacher’s part – they just do it. Rehearsals are brisk and crisp; corrections are dealt with professionally and with respect. Sometimes he takes his place among the students to play his trumpet to inspire them, or to simply participate alongside them. Matt never raises his voice – he seems not to have to! The students appreciate the level of challenging music that he introduces and want more of it.
Through all the praise that he receives from parents and students and his peers, Matt remains humble, low-key, unassuming, and just wants to help his students. Their success is his success.
Our school is 83% Latino and a third of the student body is limited English proficient. Yet, enrollment is at an all-time high in our bands. I credit Matt and his colleagues for his surge in success in music among our students.
I am confident that you will agree that Matt Murdock exemplifies the elements of excellence for a first-year teacher that the California Association for Employment in Education wishes to recognize.
Sincerely,
Scott Magnusson
Principal