LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Ryan Mack was nominated by an anonymous colleague.

Mr. Mack came to P.S. 10 during a critical time in the school's history. In the fall of 2021, the world was still accepting the "new normal" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools in NYC were re-opening for five-day in-person learning weeks for the first time since schools went remote in 2019. In addition to this, the school's previous music teacher, who had been with the school for decades, had retired. Many students were entering schools for the first time with new worries, and anxiety was at a high as nobody knew what to expect. 

However, over the past few years, Mr. Mack has established a program that excites and engages students of all ages, levels, and abilities through music. What was once just a general music program has now expanded to include three after-school choral ensembles, guitar, drumkit, synthesizer, piano, performances inclusive of all grades and classes, field trips and partnerships with local arts organizations, and a list of awards, recognitions, and a news spot featuring the program (News 12 Brooklyn Music Teacher Honored with National Award). These are just a few aspects of his program that demonstrate a true testament to his dedication and care for the community he serves.

In addition to music, Mr. Mack draws cross-curricular connections with other disciplines within the school. The Earth Day Show that his second graders put on featured songs and presentations that entertained the audience, explored the science of climate change and renewable resources, and empowered students to make a difference in the world. One student took it upon herself to go further and started The P.S. 10 Climate Club, which organizes students to actively participate in the community. Mr. Mack currently oversees this new club as a staff advisor. Last year, he organized the entire fourth and fifth grade to participate in a Black History Month concert that drew connections between music, history, art, literature, and social justice. This year, Mr. Mack introduced a school newspaper that releases monthly issues for the entire school community. Despite being a music teacher, he coaches students in reading and writing and encourages them to use their voices through collaborative works of self-affirmation (The P.S. 10 Post).

What sets Mr. Mack apart as a LifeChanger is the tremendous amount of love that he holds for the Music Program, as well as for his students. He relentlessly pursues additional studies and workshops in music to be whatever his students need. His passion for his work is contagious, and his enthusiasm and ambition to educate, elevate, and inspire make his classes a joyful and refreshing time. He has a persistent drive that encourages his students on a deeper level, awakening within them an inner greatness not yet encountered. Above all, students love coming to music class and are continuously motivated to invest further in their education. Lessons are rigorous and challenging yet always promote fun and play, as the classroom is filled with life, learning, and especially laughter. The families of his students recognize the profound and positive impact that he has had on their children, as he constantly tries to find new and innovative ways of reaching students through music. The endless creativity he pours into every moment has created an incredible shift over the years as his students familiarize themselves with a new means of artistic and intellectual expression. This is why Mr. Mack is a phenomenal educator and an artist of learning. He is a GRAMMY Music Educator Award Semi-Finalist and a recipient of the CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence award and the Give a Note Foundation Music Education Innovator Award, and the program he has crafted has been recognized nationwide with the NAMM Foundation Support MusicMerit Award. Mr. Mack is a role model and an inspiration, gifted at sparking young minds. He is a true LifeChanger.

Mr. Mack's Music Class