Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a teacher who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a man or woman and a teacher. Above all, the Teacher of the Month is dedicated to his or her students. Rich or poor, famous or not, he or she shines as an example of what teaching is all about.

Our choice for June is Thomas Grandprey, music teacher at David Prouty High School in Spencer, Mass.!

It is hard to imagine how Thomas Grandprey, teacher at David Prouty High School in Spencer, Mass., juggles all his responsibilities. Not only is Grandprey the concert band, jazz improvisation and music technology teacher at the high school, he also teaches concert and jazz bands at the junior high and directs such after school groups as the marching band, jazz band and the pit orchestra for the school musical. To top this off, Grandprey is the father of two – 2-year-old Ella and new baby Grace.

Impacting Lives
Grandprey, who has been at David Prouty for the past three of his 10 years teaching, says he is most proud of his students, especially their work ethic and positive attitude. "After recently being out a week for the birth of my second daughter, a number of teachers who had covered for me complimented my classes on how well they worked together to continue to make music as a group," he says.

Kevin Wells, principal of the school, says Grandprey, who is affectionately known as Mr. G by his students, is a true educator of music and has all the qualities necessary to be a teacher who impacts students’ lives. "His passion for teaching and love for seeing his students succeed has no limits," says Wells. "He has taken over a band program that was struggling and has directed our band into ‘The pride and class of Central Mass.’"

Wells adds that Grandprey is dedicated to his students and the school – working countless hours helping the students strive for excellence. "Most of all, he is a man of quality who brings out the best in people," says Wells.

The Students Agree
Sixteen-year-old Courtney Jones says Grandprey is the best teacher any student could ask for and that he deserves more than just Teacher of the Month. "He should be teacher of a lifetime," says Jones. "The reason he is such an awesome teacher is because not only does he teach us to play music, how music is important and how we will always have music, he also teaches us life lessons that will help us accept many types of people and work as a team in any situation."

Jones says Grandprey, who puts so much work and time into the band and his classes, has high expectations for his students and that they work hard to try to achieve them because he is a wonderful role model. "Mr. G can play every instrument in our band, so he can always help anyone," says Jones. "He taught me how to play my first instrument three years ago. I never played an instrument, and I couldn't read music. Because of him, I can and I am not the only one he has helped. He works so hard to make us the best we can be."

Grandprey says his favorite part of teaching is how much he enjoys the first rehearsal of a challenging piece of music and to see how the students take the skills they have worked on to explore new challenges. He says it is also great to see the progress all the way up to a performance. When asked his least favorite part of teaching, he says getting up early in the morning. "Hey, I'm a musician," he jokes.

Grandprey, who knew as a high school student that he wanted to be a band director thanks to his own band directors in junior high and high school, says the gentleman he student-taught with, Mr. Don Bates, put things in perspective for him when he was a fresh student with a zeal for music. "Teaching music is not about music," he says. "We teach people; music just happens to be the medium. Today's students need the same thing that we did as students – to be appreciated and to have the opportunity to prove that they can be successful."

Life of a Music Teacher – and Dad
Grandprey says his biggest challenge is trying to fit enough hours in the day for family and all of time it takes to have a dynamic band program for the students. His favorite part of the day is seeing his family. "My oldest daughter, Ella, is 2 1/2," he says. "When I open the door and hear the racing footsteps coming and the word ‘Daddy,’ there is no better feeling."

Grandprey recalls one of the times that make him feel good to be a teacher. He had a student that was difficult. He had many conflicting opinions from Grandprey’s about music and what was best for him as a player and as a group member. "He came back after a couple years of college and apologized and thanked me for not giving up on him," he says. "He said he learned a lot from his membership in the jazz band. This affirmed to me something that I have known from my days in the service/performing group ‘Up With People’ – as teachers, we never know the good we do, as the fruits of our labor blossom in places we won’t see, but it does blossom."

In this case, Courtney Jones is making sure Grandprey is recognized and aware of the good he does on a daily basis. "Mr. Grandprey has inspired me to play music and taught me how to love it," says Jones. "Without music my life would be less satisfying, and without Mr. G I wouldn't have music."

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