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.