As the school year wraps up, we’re reflecting on many remarkable stories from our Education programs, the heart of ACG.
We serve public school teachers all across the US. Many times choir, orchestra or band directors step into the role of guitar teacher to reach more students, or to fill a need, and that’s a place where our staff, curriculum, and kindness can make all the difference.
Learn more about ACG Education here. Click here to learn more about supporting ACG.
When you walk into the guitar classroom at Farley Middle School in Hutto ISD, you can hear the sound of discovery, of chords coming together, and of students taking ownership of their music. At the heart of it all is a first-year teacher, Isabella Anderson, who stepped into the unknown with courage and found something extraordinary.
This past January, just a few weeks after graduating with a choral music degree, Isabella, a brand-new teacher, joined the Farley Middle School faculty. With no formal guitar training and a fresh diploma in hand, she began teaching both choir and guitar. It was a bold beginning!
Isabella shares,
“This year has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. I was nervous stepping into a role of a subject I had no background in, as a first-year teacher. The support from my students, admin, and from ACG really helped make it a smoother transition than I expected, and the encouragement and guidance helped me grow quickly and created a learning environment that felt collaborative and supportive from day one.”
Isabella and her students recently had their spring concert and wow! They really blew us out of the water.
“The highlight of the year was undoubtedly our spring concert. For many of the beginner students, it was the first concert they had ever performed in. The students were proud and excited to show off to their parents all that they had learned in such a short time. Travis even noted how impressed he was by how much one of our beginner classes had accomplished, especially considering I was learning right alongside them at times!
Since my choir students were having their “pops” concert, featuring student-chosen solos, I wanted to create a similar experience for my guitar students- something that gave them ownership and creative freedom. An 8th grade student of mine, Abel, played “Five Years” by David Bowie, with vocals. Abel is an incredibly talented student and sometimes would teach guitar to the beginner classes during the fall semester before I arrived.”
As the school year comes to a close, this first-year teacher is already looking ahead with excitement! Isabella shares,
“After a strong, successful year, I am looking forward to building on this momentum and foundation we’ve laid. I’m especially excited to continue growing as a guitarist myself and to foster even more student leadership- particularly from returning students who can serve as role models and mentors for next year’s beginners.”
We are so grateful for the teachers we get to work and interact with everyday. Every day, your dedication, creativity, and passion shape not just your students’ musical journeys, but their confidence and sense of community. We’re grateful for those who have no experience with guitar prior but push themselves to learn alongside their students and still produce successful, beautiful, and driven music in the classroom.
Thank you for another successful year. Thank you for being on this journey with us.