The Kind of Teacher I Hope to Be

Earlier this semester it was assigned to imaine you were receiving a "Teacher of the Year" award. How would you be introduced before receiving the award? What would you have done that made you successful and distinguished you from other teachers? Here is my response:


Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “If a man is called to be a street-sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven played music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street-sweeper who did his job well.” We are here tonight to recognize an outstanding choir teacher who has been called to teach what she loves for the past 18 years. Though most people don’t see teachers as the Michelangelo’s or Beethoven’s of this era, I believe that a few teachers do live up to that comparison. We are here to recognize one of these teachers who has not only done what she has been called to do, but has done it extraordinarily and touched the lives of many.

Ms. Hannah Berlin-Burns has always been involved in and passionate about music; from singing in church choirs and playing piano as a child to studying at Luther College. Even today, after teaching here at Memorial High School for 18 years she still comes to school each day with a bright smile on her face, excited for what her students might accomplish that day. She puts so much faith in her choirs, constantly teaching them challenging pieces and always looking for ways they can improve even further. This intense love of music and hope for her choirs’ improvement is one sign of her effectiveness as a teacher.

Hannah is not only a knowledgeable resource for students who have musical questions, but also an inspiration on other subjects. Former student, Sean Jones says when his parents were getting a divorce and when he was struggling to keep his grades up in other classes, Ms. B.B was always encouraging him. Sean shared “One quote she shared with the choir that really stuck with me was ‘Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.’ She always told us no matter what is happening in your life, for one hour a day in choir you get to forget about everything and just be joyful and sing”. At the beginning of choir each day, Hannah shares an inspirational reading, whether it is a poem, forwarded email, or a book (spread out over many days). These readings get the students focused and inspired before even warming up to sing.

Hannah believes that anyone can learn to sing. When asked about this philosophy, she responds, “Everyone has the ability somewhere deep inside them. It’s just how much that individual believes they can learn and how willing they are to work at it that can affect their results”. She has taught countless numbers of students how to sing or how to become a confident singer. She helps students to realize their talents and passions and encourages them to dream big.

Hannah works hard for changes she believes will improve the choral program. When Hannah came here 18 years ago there had not been a choir teacher who stayed more than 3 years. The students could not sight-read and saw choir as an easy A. Those of us who know Hannah well know that this must have been shocking to her as she is such an advocate of choirs being able to sight-read. When asked about this “obsession” as some call it, Hannah will tell you that a choir that can sight-read is a more musical choir. They can learn songs more quickly and the pitches and rhythms are more accurate throughout the whole process of learning and performing the song. Though it was a challenge the first few years she eventually built into the curriculum daily solfege sight-reading and over many more years built the choir program up to what it is today.

One aspect of the program that Hannah also believes makes it so excellent is delegating tasks to student leaders. By having a choir president, vice president, section leaders, music librarian, treasurer, etc… lots of people are able to get involved in the shaping of the choir. By having student so involved in the class they are able to see the progress of the choir as their own and not simply the works of a teacher.

Hannah has not only affected lives here at the high school, but she is also involved in music in the community. She has been leading the worship team at Epiphany Lutheran Church for the past 15 years and also is entering her 6th year directing the Chippewa Valley Youth Choir. She says if she didn’t choose to teach high school choir she would have liked to teach Elementary music so directing the youth choir has fulfilled a dream she’s had of also working with younger kids.

Some of us wonder how she can do it, being so passionately involved teaching at the high school and in the community. I believe we truly have a Michelangelo among us in our community. Please join me with all the hosts of heaven and earth in saying, “here lives a [teacher] who does her job well.”