Get to Know Your MMEA Board
AN INTERVIEW WITH SUE BARRE , MMEA PRESIDENT
We asked Sue Barre , our current MMEA President , to answer a few questions : some personal , some professional , some just for fun . We hope this interview helps you to know Sue a little better .
Tell us a little bit about yourself …. I am the band director in Waterville . I teach all band students grades 5-12 , I travel to three schools a day . I oversee a program of approximately 200 students , 4 concert bands , 2 jazz bands and a pep band . What is your favorite thing about your teaching
job ? I love seeing each of the different age groups have those " light bulb " moments when they get it !
… Least favorite thing ? That I feel like I am on a treadmill that is on the highest setting 85 % of the time .
What is your proudest professional accomplishment ? Being invited to conduct district festivals over the years . I feel that is a compliment from by peers .
What has been your biggest professional challenge ? Working hard to stay engaged with the others on the different school staffs where I work so that I can be part of the team , it is so much easier to close my door and teach and ignore all else .
What ’ s your most memorable teaching moment ? Each year conducting the bandorama grades 5-12 playing together , I love to watch the younger kids looking up the the older kids and the older students sitting a little taller .
What ’ s a book that you think every music educator should read ? “ Classroom Management in the the Music Room " by David Newell .