5 minute read
FINDING THEIR GENIUS
“Finding Their Genius” Music Education in Hillsborough County Public Schools
by Laura Cross, photos provided by Hillsborough County Public Schools
Jon Casanas is a music educator at Lanier Elementary School in Tampa. He’s the one who gives your children the recorder in fourth grade and teaches them to play “Hot Cross Buns.” Thank you for that, Mr. Casanas. More importantly, he is a teacher who understands elementary school is much more than math, language arts and science. “My favorite part of being a music educator is the fact that I can help kids find their genius, help them find their voice,” Casanas says. “I have worked mostly in Title 1 schools and some kids have academic challenges. They are really struggling. But they might be the lead singer in my rock band, or a natural with a guitar or drums.”
Casanas has dedicated his professional life to the students at Lanier Elementary. Is it a 7:40 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. job? Hardly. Casanas works hours before school, after school, on weekends—whatever it takes to continue to nurture the kids who have taken a passion for music. He is one of the many educators in our school district who are not limited by the state’s “requirements” for an elementary education. Instead, he uses those requirements as a jumping-off point.
Beyond teaching several music classes each day, Casanas has also started a student rock band, a world drumming ensemble, a show chorus and even a staff rock band.
His job does not come without frustrations, and at the crux of the frustrations is funding. A lack of funding can cause job insecurity for many teachers—especially teachers of the arts. Some years, Casanas was an itinerate teacher who worked three days at Lanier and then traveled to other schools to teach a class here and there. That was tough, he recalls. Being an itinerate teacher doesn’t allow for the strong bonds that help kids thrive.
There’s also so much more he could do in the classroom with more funding.
“If someone gave me money right now, I’d love to buy more technology,” he says. “I think that’s a great way to be more culturally responsive to kids. I’d buy more iPads to download music and allow the kids to create something with just the tip of their fingers. Most of the music they do is done digitally, and we don’t offer them a lot of avenues to do that in school.”
Funding is tough to come by. Sometimes the Parent Teacher Association will step in with some extra money. However, many times, teachers are left to find and write grants to get additional funds. That’s a lot of additional work, but for Casanas, it’s worth it.
He will do whatever is necessary to meet his students’ needs and help boost their self-esteem, which is a powerful advantage of the arts.
“Music education does wonders for social-emotional learning,” Casanas says. “With music ensembles, there is so much collaboration and so many interpersonal skills. Kids develop so much empathy because they play together and learn to be sensitive to others around them. Music builds a stronger community and builds those social bonds.”
And for many kids, it helps them find their genius—and through that, their place in the world.
Visit HillsboroughSchools.org/ strongschools for more information about how the millage would preserve art, music and physical education by providing a full-time teacher in every elementary school and help recruit and retain highly qualified teachers.
Strong Schools – Stronger Hillsborough
Like most school districts across the nation, Hillsborough County Public Schools is experiencing critical staff shortages including teachers, bus drivers, and support staff. Just this year, we have had a 240% increase in teacher vacancies. This has resulted in approximately 650 classroom vacancies leaving students with instability in our schools. Additionally, experienced teachers in our district earn salaries only slightly higher than early career teachers prompting many of them to seek new careers.
On August 23rd, Hillsborough County voters will have the opportunity to strengthen our schools and community by deciding on increasing the ad valorem tax by one mil for a period of four years. This would provide the school district with about $146 million annually to be used specifically for: • Recruiting and retaining the best teachers in the region by increasing compensation for our highly qualified teachers and staff. • Protecting art, music, and physical education by adding teachers to our elementary schools and upgrading obsolete instruments, equipment, and supplies. • Providing kindergarten with full-time elementary art, music, and physical education programs that currently do not exist. • Expanding workforce development programs that align with the current and future demands of the
Tampa Bay region resulting in local positive economic impact. • Providing charter schools a proportionate share of funds based on student enrollment.
The school district cannot afford to lose exceptional talent or the opportunity to engage students in well-rounded educational experiences as we strive to achieve our mission of “Preparing Students for Life.” Strong Schools are the foundation for a Stronger Hillsborough.
Teachers Art Music PE Workforce Education
Strong Schools – Stronger Hillsborough
During the height of the pandemic, many parents saw firsthand the true challenge of our teachers.
It’s become even more evident that teachers are heroes – the first responders that our children go to for answers or just a kind smile. But like most school districts across the nation, Hillsborough County Public Schools is experiencing critical staff shortages including teachers, bus drivers, and support staff. Just this year, we had a 240% increase in teacher vacancies.
While teachers enter the profession due to a calling, many are leaving for financial reasons. According to EdWeek, teacher salaries are not keeping up with inflation. The national average teacher salary for 2021-22 was $66,397 – a 1.7% increase from the previous year. But when adjusted for inflation, the average teacher salary decreased by an estimated 3.9% over the last decade.
Mid-career teachers in Hillsborough County earn salaries only slightly higher than early career teachers, prompting many of them to seek new jobs outside of education or in other school districts where salaries are more competitive. Twenty-one Florida school districts have successfully implemented a millage referendum, gaining a competitive advantage over Hillsborough in attracting high-quality teachers and staff. Other school districts considering a referendum or renewal in 2022 include Pasco, Sarasota, Duval, Brevard, and Palm Beach. On the August 23rd primary ballot, Hillsborough County voters will decide on increasing the ad valorem tax by one mil. What could this mean to our school heroes? 75% of the district’s share of the funds over the 4-year term will
