Teachers of the Year

Nominations must be submitted by local music teachers associations. MTA chapters with membership of 1-25 may submit one (1) nomination. MTA Chapters with membership of 26-50 may submit two (2) nominations. MTA chapters with membership of 51-75 may submit three (3) nominations.

This is a lifetime award. Former winners may not be renominated. Past nominees who have not won may be resubmitted.

There are two categories: Independent and Public/Private School Music Teacher (eligible every year), and University Teacher (eligible only in even-numbered years). Only one teacher will be chosen each year. The nominee must be a certified member of NDMTA or MTNA.

Selection is based on submitted materials including information concerning teaching/professional achievement, reputation as an effective teacher, philosophy of teaching music, general professional activity, and letters of support from former student/parent and a professional colleague.

The deadline is March 1.

Application blanks may be obtained from the North Dakota MTA Certification Representative listed below.

If you have questions, contact:
North Dakota MTA Certification Representative
Kathleen Johnson, CTM
1110 10th St. S
Langdon, ND 58249
701-256-2652
kathleen@utma.com

NDMTA Teacher of the Year Awards

1994	Sharon Wesbrook	Hillsboro
1995	Eloise Halverson	Williston
1996	Dr. Diana Skroch	Valley City
1997	Beth Gigante Klingenstein	Valley City
1998	Dr. Jane Solose	Grand Forks
1999	Dianne Hardy	Dickinson
2000	Elizabeth Rheude	Grand Forks
2001	Eileen D. Geske	Verona
2002	Carole Flatau	Valley City
2003	Sara Bloom	Grand Forks
2004	Sara Hagen	Valley City
2005	Linda Hanson-Bell	Larimore
2006	Corinne Nustad	Moorhead
2007	Karen Okerlund	Fargo
2009	Marilynn Moe	Fargo

2009 NDMTA Teacher of the Year: Marilynn Moe - Fargo, ND

Marilynn Moe has been teaching music to children and adults for 54 years. She started teaching piano students as a Concordia College student where she studied piano and organ. She became a member of NDMTA and MTNA in 1968. She also became state certified at that time.

Marilynn's lists of accomplishments are long. Besides the numbers of students that she has taught, Marilynn adjudicates for both the Junior Festival of Music and National Guild of Teachers. She developed a course of study for preschool music students known as Little Mac (Music Awareness Class) which was published in the Clavier magazine. She wrote and published Creative Chords, which is a music theory text/workbook on chords and their symbols and how you can use them in music. She has made numerous presentations to local associations and at the State Convention on the Little Macs and her Creative Chords.

Marilynn was and is a big cheerleader for the MTA and always enthusiastic about it; she believes in the importance of belonging to a professional organization because of all of the assets you have access to, as she wrote:

"I am very grateful for the privilege of being involved in and part of NDMTA and MTNA. They have been the source of much personal and professional growth for me....Had it not been for NDMTA having patience with me as a very young and inexperienced piano teacher, I would never be where I am today. There were NDMTA workshops for us to attend. Personally, friendships with music teachers across the state and country are among my most treasured possessions. We have traveled together to National Conventions, met at State Conventions, and made decisions together at board meetings..."

Marilynn was instrumental in organizing the Upper Valley MTA. She worked tirelessly to bring Lynn Freeman Olson, James Bastien, Marie Almlie, Amanda Vick Lethco, and Carole Flatau to Grafton to present workshops.

Marilynn also wrote,"I can't imagine life without piano students. I tell them often, "You light up my life!" Marilynn lights up the piano students' lives also. To quote a writing from one of her students:

"I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn to play the piano and also to make use of my learning; I mean that I have played the piano as an accompanist in our school concerts, and I am presently playing the organ in my church."

"For seven straight years I have taken six-mile trips out to my piano teachers' home out by Grafton, ND. My teacher's name happens to be Mrs. Darrel Moe. To me, she happens to be one of the greatest music teachers because she not only teaches piano, but she also teaches accordion. To me, she's terrific!"

"Thanks to her, I am going to be the 1st- and 2nd-grade accompanist for their concerts. To me, it was a great honor to be asked. Not only was it an honor to be asked to play the piano for the 1st and 2nd graders, but I was also asked to be an organist in church and also to play the organ at an anniversary."

"So, now I am going to give Mrs. Moe a big thanks for what she has given to me: her time, her knowledge, and her kindness. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!! Love, your student, Janelle Walski."

There is much more to tell about Marilynn and all her accomplishments - 54 years of accomplishments. But the student letter pretty much sums up Marilynn: to teach with patience, kindness, knowledge, respect, and love. She not only teaches her students, she mentors us teachers with the same patience, kindness, respect, and love - and always with a smile.