Jenison High School Orchestra Director Dan Scott will receive a national award from the American String Teachers Association at its conference in San Francisco next week.
Scott, in his 29th year of teaching, was named the Elizabeth A. H. Green School Educator Award winner. The honor is given annually to a school string teacher with a current and distinguished career in a school orchestral setting.
“I am incredibly honored,” he said. “The list of people who have won this award are my professional heroes that I looked up to when I was studying in college as a music major… To be on the same list is incredibly rewarding.”
Scott said he won state-level awards in 2014 and 2015, but this is his first national recognition. He was among 37 nominees from across the country. The organization is paying for his trip out to receive the award.
“It’s an incredible capstone on a really fun career,” he said. “Huge appreciation to the Jenison community for giving me the support and encouragement to be so successful.”
He also thanked the Jenison Public Schools administration, his fellow staff members, his students and their parents for helping him win the award.
“It’s really a team award,” Scott said.
Scott and his high school orchestra students performed at Walt Disney World over Thanksgiving Break, impressing visitors from all over the world.
He said the regular success of the Jenison Fine Arts program shows that artistic excellence is possible and sustainable.
“It’s a unique combination of excellent educators who know what’s possible and are experts at achieving with students paired with a supportive administration and a receptive community,” he said.