LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Heather Taylor was nominated by an anonymous colleague.

Ms. Taylor is in her 12th year of teaching and is currently the elementary band teacher at Lakeshore Elementary in the Greece Central School District located in Rochester, NY. Lakeshore is a Title I school where all students receive free breakfast and lunch. Being an instrumental music teacher in a low socio-economic area has required Ms. Taylor to think outside of the box to build a strong elementary band program.

Playing an instrument is an expensive activity. Besides the price to rent or purchase an instrument, there are many additional costs such as lesson books, music stands, reeds, valve oil, cork grease, neck straps, mouthpieces, music folders, maintenance and repairs, etc. Because of the high financial commitment needed to learn how to play an instrument, this could be a barrier for many students and families in the area. Ms. Taylor became the band director at Lakeshore three years ago and has continued to grow the program in ways beyond what is normally "expected."

Ms. Taylor's commitment to students and their music education should be commended. She has worked tremendously hard to ensure that any student who wants to play an instrument not only can, but has the proper materials to learn successfully. She has accomplished this through multiple means and avenues including: donation requests, grant opportunities, Donors Choose, local instrument drives, the #clearthelists movement, partnerships with local businesses, etc. All of these efforts have been successful. Within the past three years, she has acquired more than 15 new and used woodwind and brass band instruments, new percussion equipment, and over $5,000 worth of music accessories and classroom supplies for her program and her students.

Currently, Lakeshore Elementary has the largest elementary band program in the Greece Central School District, averaging between 120-140 fourth and fifth grade students per year. The success of the program has allowed Ms. Taylor to showcase her young musicians in many performance opportunities, including school assemblies/concerts, holiday instrument caroling, school announcements, solo festival, Music in Our Schools Month (March), playing The National Anthem at a local minor league baseball game, local district events, etc. Her students cherish these unique performance opportunities and memories, especially at the elementary level! She highlights her students' talents with her Musician of the Month awards and social media spotlights. Students feel recognized for their accomplishments in music and the arts, helping to keep this program running strong!

Throughout Ms. Taylor's career, she has earned many recognitions and honors! She received the local Terry Taylor (no relation) scholarship, a county award that recognizes a young music educator with the potential for greatness. This award was earned within her first three years of teaching. She has been hired to work for many local school musicals as a pit musician, choir director, and orchestra conductor. She is a continued guest lecturer at her alma mater (Nazareth College of Rochester), sharing her insights with future music teachers. Ms. Taylor has volunteered for multiple county and state music events such the All-County and Area All-State, acting as both a chaperone and committee director in these events. Currently, she runs and facilitates the elementary band collegial circle in her district. 

This past year, Ms. Taylor was named the runner up for the Educator of the Year Award presented by Edincites (an educational technology company). She was the only music teacher on the list of nominees competing against teachers from all over the country. Ms. Taylor has accomplished all of this while not only teaching her full time job, but working two additional part-time jobs, as well. She is a sought-after private lesson teacher in her county, but she also worked at a home decor store on the side for additional income, not only to support her household, but her classroom, as well.

"I truly believe there isn't a thing Heather wouldn't do for her students," her nominator said. "She loves music, being a teacher, and her students. In a pre-COVID year, you would find students in her classroom throughout the entire school day, including lunch. Her classroom is a safe environment for students, not only to learn, but to feel welcome and important. She continues to have great relationships, not only with her current students, but her former students, as well!"