Educator of the Week: Michael Kidd
It’s time now to recognize this week’s Educator of the Week, brought to you by the Tennessee Education Lottery.
Michael Kidd is a music teacher at Newbern Elementary School.
“My favorite part is just being here everyday with the kids, introducing them to new things,” Kidd said.
Kidd wasn’t originally planning to become a teacher.
“I wanted to be a doctor but then, in high school, I was doing band and taking lessons. I was like, hmm, I think I could do this for the rest of my life,” he said.
This is now Kidd’s eighth year teaching. He shares about his class.
“It’s important to sound before sight. Just like when you were little you learned how to say words and then eventually, when you came to school, it was like ‘hey, this is what those words look like.’ This is what we do in my class. We sing lots, we do lots of rhythms then, eventually, third, fourth, fifth grade be like ok these rhythms, they look like this.”
Kidd believes that music is incredibly significant.
“I feel like it’s very important. It’s one of those things that’s good for the brain and also good for the soul.”
Kidd shares how music education can be applied to various areas of his students’ lives.
For those going to middle school, he uses cheerleading as an example.
“Cheerleading, that’s all you do. 1, 2, 3. It’s just doing different rhythms with different parts of your body. Being able to say things and do different things at the same time,” he said.
Kidd also mentions examples like enjoying the soundtrack of a movie or dancing at a social event.
He says that it’s important to enjoy music together in community, however you choose to do it.
Kidd was then asked how he feels about his nomination.
“Blessed. Just blessed to be here and very blessed to be nominated.”
Kidd is now eligible for the Tennessee Education Lottery Educator of the Month award.
To vote for him or any other nominees, go to the Tennessee Education Lottery website.
To nominate an educator for our Educator of the Week award, email us at [email protected].
