Zell named County Teacher of Year

 “I believe it is the responsibility of public schools to insure that children are not musically impoverished…Study after study has shown the importance of a musical education in the development of the whole child; attention, behavior, even attendance problems have been shown to improve by the addition of well-directed music programs…I believe that music classes give students a place in school where they can be joyful, creative, and imaginative in a learning context that builds discipline, community, and inter-dependence.”           —Ronald Zell

 

Ronald Zell, a K-8 music teacher for Jonata and Oak Valley Schools in the Buellton Union School District for six years, was named 2006-07 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made by County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone at a press conference convened at the regular monthly meeting of the County Board of Education May 4. Zell will become the county’s official representative on July 1.

Zell, one of a number of outstanding countywide nominees for the honor, was selected by a committee including representatives of teachers, administrators, PTAs, and school boards. Distinguished Educators were also named and will be announced at the June board meeting.

Zell has taught music in public and private schools for 16 years and currently teaches K–3 general classroom music, fourth grade chorus and recorder, fifth grade beginning band, sixth grade intermediate band, and seventh/eighth grade advanced band. In all, he teaches 540 students per week, K–8.

Superintendent Cirone expressed congratulations for Zell’s professionalism, enthusiasm, creativity, and successes in the classroom and in the community.

Zell received bachelors degrees in education and music from Concordia University in Portland, and received his teaching credential in music and Masters of Education from California Lutheran University.

Zell began teaching music part-time at La Patera School in Goleta and was director of music at Trinity Lutheran church in Santa Barbara. He then became director of Christian Education at Zion Lutheran Church and School in San Francisco and subsequently held part-time music teaching positions at Adams School in Santa Barbara, El Rancho School in Goleta, and Temple Christian School in Ventura before taking his current position in 2000.

Zell has also served as an adjunct faculty member of the University of San Diego and the University of Phoenix. He founded and directed the Joyful Note Music Education Foundation from 1994-2000, which provided after-school music classes to children in more than 20 schools, churches, and community organizations in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. In addition, he taught more than 20 classes and workshops for teachers on using music in the classroom.

Zell stated, “As music teacher for the district, I have the privilege of teaching music to 540 students each week, in 25 classes, spanning nine different grade levels. In the music program that I have developed for the district, every student receives music classes once a week…In lower-grade classes, I address state and national standards by utilizing a synthesis of nationally acclaimed, age-specific approaches to music education…emphasizing articulated, sequential development of musical intelligence using music, movement, and play as an integral way of developing a child’s natural musical abilities. In addition, these approaches sponsor creativity, enhance verbal communication, improve listening skills, and reinforce positive social interaction.”

He added, “I consider myself fortunate to be in a position of nurturing the gift of music in children. Often in teaching music, however, I am reminded that it is I who receive the greater gift. I can’t tell you the number of times that a child will return to my classroom after the rest of the class has gone, and peek their head through the door and say, ‘Thank you for teaching us music, Mr. Zell.’ Somehow, the day is always brighter when that occurs.”

Wrote Buellton Superintendent Tom Cooper: “Mr. Zell is a teaching icon...[he] is a highly creative teacher who embraces change in the interest of his students…What sets Ron aside from the rest is his ability to implement instruction from a concrete operation level to a synthesis level simultaneously. This unique instruction methodology insures that all students participate at the highest possible cognitive levels…Students in his programs gain the confidence and ability to learn from each other and teach what they have learned in a highly engaging and cooperative atmospheres…He is a teacher who leads by example. His work ethic is beyond reproach…He has the unique ability to stimulate others to achieve at much higher levels through collaboration…His leadership in elevating our education community to higher professional levels is nothing short of inspirational.”

Wrote Jonata School principal Patricia Garrett: “Ron is passionate about music and its benefits for those who both listen to it and, more importantly, learn to create it…[He] is very dedicated to showing Jonata students that music is not only an elective class, but also a way of life. Many students move from grade to grade while playing in the Jonata band and each year Ron helps these students progress not only in musical ability, but also in self-esteem and maturity levels.”

Wrote Oak Valley Principal Joel Williamson: “When evaluating him as a teacher, words like creative, innovative, inspiration, self-started, and dedicated come to mind…He routinely uses music composition software to compose and print his own scores for classroom instruction and band performances. He also uses various forms of multimedia throughout his teaching. To quote from a teacher whose students he serves, ‘Ron is an inspirational teacher. He can adjust to whatever age group he is working with in the blink of an eye. His manner is always calm and reassuring. Everything he does is substantially backed with knowledge and research, yet he keeps his music classes fun.’”

Zell’s nomination will next be reviewed for consideration as California Teacher of the Year in the fall. The California winner will then proceed into consideration for 2007 National Teacher of the Year.

As Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Zell will be available to speak countywide, and can be reached at Jonata School in the Buellton Union School District at 688-4222, or at the County Education Office, by calling Louise Fisher at 964-4711, ext. 5281.