Western-Star.com

By Ryan Cook

Staff Writer

Being named Lebanon's "Excellent Teacher" in this year's Area Progress Council's Project Excellence awards brought Cynthia Gray to tears.

Gray, Bowman Primary School's music teacher, said receiving the award is overwhelming.

"Music has been important to me since I was a child, so it is always exciting, when as a teacher, I see my students enjoying music as much as I did," Gray said. "Seeing their joy and excitement is gratifying and energizing."

Bowman Principal Gregg Tracey said Gray's enthusiasm rubs off on her students and is evident during their performances.

"She does a wonderful job of getting kids to perform," Tracey said.

Gray said she likes to call their shows "informances" as the children show their parents what they have been learning throughout the year. She said each student has a solo or performs in a smaller group to demonstrate an instrumental, vocal or dance skill they have mastered.

Gray has been teaching for 29 years, with about half of that time being spent in Lebanon. She previously served as a high school choral director in three school districts.

"Having the chance to teach both at the elementary and secondary level has been a terrific learning experience," she said. "It really gives you a much fuller picture of how young people learn and grow."

Gray said she knew from the time she was in fourth grade that she wanted to teach music.

"My fourth-grade music teacher had encouraged me and helped me to see that I could accomplish far more than

I thought I could," Gray said. "I gained a new confidence that affected my outlook, not just in music class, but in every aspect of my school experience."

Now Gray tries to pass that same confidence along to the 800 students she sees twice per week.

"I believe that young children can learn and perform at a very high musical level if that is what we ask of them," she said. "The challenge is to encourage each child to perform the skill at hand, but to also be ready to simplify when needed to allow every child to feel successful."

Gray earned her bachelor's degree is music education from Ohio Wesleyan University, a master's degree from Miami University and an Orff certificate from the University of Cincinnati.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4507 or rycook@coxohio.com.

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