risti Chynoweth
knows that when she teaches six-year-olds to sing "Mi, a name I call
myself," she is teaching them not only the classic from The Sound
of Music and how to follow a rhythm, but more importantly, how to express
themselves.
That is one reason why Chynoweth, after only one year as a music teacher at Palmer-South Elementary School in Fairborn, has been elected "1997-98 Teacher of the Year" by her peers.
Chynoweth, who got her music education degree here in 1993, teaches over 700 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Last year she held 25 music programs in one week so that each student could perform for his or her parents. "I knew I couldn't put all 700 on one stage," said Chynoweth. "So I did programs at night and programs during the day so that no one was left out."
She created a program of seven songs called "A Pocketful of Dreams." The younger kids sang "Do-Re-Mi" from The Sound of Music, and the older students dressed in 50's garb and sang "At the Hop." "I wasn't sure if the whole thing would work," said Chynoweth, "but I think the other teachers saw the hard work that went into it and how beneficial it was for the students and their families."
A graduate of Fairborn High School, Chynoweth previously taught elementary school in Piqua and Springfield. "I'm glad to get back to my home town," she said, "and I really love what I'm doing. I've known for a long time that I wanted to teach general music.
"If you start teaching music when children are young, they can do so much. Right now my students are learning to read rhythms from the board. My first graders can already read quarter notes and eighth notes and they can keep a steady beat."
"Kristi is absolutely deserving of this honor," said Joan Fine, principal at Palmer-South Elementary. "Last year was her first year here, and everybody was enthusiastic about her selection."
"She is committed to children and to helping them express themselves,"
added Fine, herself a Wright State alumna with master's in both administration
and special education. "Kristi has a kind heart and a generous soul
and we are very fortunate to have her here."
