James Logan High School Band & Color Guard

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CONGRATULATIONS TO MR. BARRERA!

All music educators make a difference in the lives of their students, and each year School Band and Orchestra Magazine highlights one band or orchestra director from each state in the U.S. through the annual "50 Directors Who Make a Difference" feature. Since 1998, SBO has recognized 300 directors for their contributions to the pursuit of music education excellence.

When selecting each year's honorees, the SBO editorial staff considers recommendations from state music educators' associations and other organizations in the music education field. Directors are selected based on their qualities of leadership and inspiration as well as their dedication to excellence and to giving students all they have to offer. These directors teach not only the importance and value of music, but also life skills that will help their students along any future path they pursue.

We are very proud to announce that our very own Ramiro Barrera was the band director chosen from California for 2003!

The following is an excerpt from the "50 Directors Who Make a Difference" article in SBO Magazine.

CALIFORNIA

Ramiro Barrera
Director of Bands
James Logan High School
Union City, CA
Years at School: 8
Total Years Teaching: 28
Students in Program: 340

Making a Difference in Students' Lives:
I think the most important thing that I do is to challenge students to be the best that they can be. I set goals and expectations that are high for them, and I try to give them all the information in order for them to actually be successful: musical, life goals - it's all the same thing.

Goal as a Music Educator:
For my students to be musically literate.

Proudest Achievement:
My proudest achievement is the fact that my wind symphony has been invited to the 2003 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, for the first time ever. We've been rehearsing all summer, and continue to rehearse for this event as well. We're doing one of the evening concerts, on Thursday night, an hour-long program. It's the proudest achievement for myself as well as for my students.