Wicomico Schools Recognized For Music Education

SALISBURY – Wicomico County officials this week recognized Wicomico County Public Schools for being named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” for 2017.

The school system was one of 527 school districts in the nation to receive the distinction from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. Districts that demonstrate commitment and access to music education are recognized and chosen based on national survey results.

In a meeting of the Wicomico County Council Tuesday, Councilman Matt Holloway presented school officials with a proclamation that celebrates the school system’s success.

“This was the eighth time in the past 11 years that the Wicomico County Public Schools has been selected as one of the ‘Best Communities for Music Education’ in the United States and the sixth consecutive year,” he read.

Gary Beauchamp, the school system’s supervisor of fine arts, thanked county officials and music teachers for the honor.

“These awards that we have been winning several times in the last years have all been to the dedication and the hard work of all the music teachers within the county,” he said. “We cannot do it without the teachers working hard. All we do is provide them the opportunity to do what they do.”

Also in this week’s meeting, officials honored high school band director Douglas Miles, for receiving the 2017 Outstanding Career Music Teacher Award from the Maryland Music Educators Association.

Holloway also presented Miles with a proclamation from Wicomico County.

“Mr. Douglas Miles joins a distinguished group of Wicomico County educators who have been recognized for demonstrating outstanding leadership, dedication and education to our children and professional achievement,” the proclamation reads.

Miles has been the band director at James M. Bennett High School since 1999 and spent nearly two decades prior as the band director at Wicomico Middle School.

“I’ve been blessed the past 38 years now with wonderful students, wonderful parent,” he said. “Thank you so much to the council for continuing to support the arts in our county.”

About The Author: Bethany Hooper

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Bethany Hooper has been with The Dispatch since 2016. She currently covers various general stories. Hooper graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in 2012 and the University of Maryland in 2016, where she completed double majors in journalism and economics.