“GRPS Champions” is a web series published every Monday celebrating the incredible work of GRPS team members.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Matthew Palmieri, Band Teacher at Southwest Elementary and Middle High School, has been named the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) District 10 Teacher of the Year for Band.
Palmieri is the first GRPS teacher in recent memory to receive this honor. As the District 10 award recipient, he will now advance as a nominee for the statewide MSBOA Teacher of the Year award.
“Matt has proven himself to be a fine music educator by providing outstanding teaching to the students in Grand Rapids Public Schools and hundreds of hours of service to MSBOA,” said Rebecca Kilgore, MSBOA District 10 President. “We are thrilled to honor him with this award.”
Palmieri credits much of his success to the strong professional community he has found at GRPS.
“The music team in GRPS is the most supportive and collaborative team I’ve ever worked with,” Palmieri said. “Being a part of such a great group of teachers is invaluable. I love working in an environment where all the teachers support each other and the students.”
While Palmieri’s passion for teaching music is clear, he hopes the lessons scholars learn in band reach far beyond the rehearsal room.
“I see band students go on to success in so many other areas because the skills they learn in band apply to everything,” he explained. “Learning to play in a band makes you good at multitasking, good at listening to others, and good at working in a team.”
Palmieri is setting a high standard for excellence both in and out of the classroom, making him a GRPS Champion.
