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Cindy
Fox, Excellence in Teaching Awardee
 Mendenhall
Elementary School
Music Specialist
Philosophy
of Teaching
Educational/Professional
Background
School
Principal Comments
Philosophy of Teaching
Teaching is the ultimate art form. The materials a teacher works
with may be standard, the subjects they teach universal,
and the methods they use may be similar, but in the
hands of a teacher they become
a work of art. Every moment of every day is a carefully
crafted, inherently unique expression of the education
process. Standard concepts are molded
and melded so that they are meaningful and understandable
to every individual student in that classroom. Too
often the profession is defined
in black and white, but teaching is a beautiful creation
of subtlety and nuance.
Every teacher brings their
own unique gifts to the classroom
and uses those talents to reach students that are
themselves unique and distinct from anyone who will
pass through that teacher’s
life. Students enter into this process as both a
work in progress and an artist creating a masterpiece.
Drawing on their past experiences,
their current environment, and the guidance and instruction
we give them at school, students become the creator
and the product of this
artistic process, as all that we share with them,
and all that they are, combines to form the knowledge
base that will serve them the rest
of their lives.
As I teach, I strive to recognize both the unique
artist and work of art that each student is. As a
music teacher seeing as many as 300 students a day, it
is much too easy to begin to see the forest rather than the individual trees.
However, the extra effort it takes to recognize the distinct abilities, characteristics,
and traits of the students makes the difference in my classroom. Through music,
I help those students that are musically gifted discover and develop their abilities.
Amongst the incredible diversity of today’s
students, it is very important to acknowledge that
many children’s gifts may lie outside of the
traditional subjects. My job as a music educator
is to identify and cultivate those students
and, hopefully, help them discover feelings of success and accomplishment in
the school environment.
Appreciation and understanding of the arts requires
abstract thought and personal judgment. As I explore
music with my students, they must learn to discern
qualitative
relationships and use personal preferences to find meaning and value in what
we study. In the midst of the school environment where answers are right or
wrong, rules are followed or broken, and directions are spelled out in black
and white,
I attempt to show my students the beauty of struggling to make judgments and
discovering answers and opinions that are as unique and varied as they themselves
are.
In my classroom, music serves as an entry point
into the study of different cultures, unfamiliar
people, and even into the diversities within the
students
themselves.
Through the common language of music, I am able to provide my students a
glimpse inside different worlds. The universal bond
of music allows my students the
opportunity to learn that while much may separate us, there is much that
is the same in all
people. Music also provides an additional, and often more meaningful, entry
point into traditional subjects. Simply presenting core material in conventional
manners
is not enough for today’s diverse students.
As I integrate math, science,
writing, and literature into my music classes, I work to compliment material
being taught in the classroom and provide alternative opportunities for
my students to master other subjects and skills.
I strive to use any and every
avenue available
to help them internalize and value not only music, but the entire educational
process.
I consider education a fluid, dynamic, artistic
endeavor and my students unique, developing, multifaceted
masterpieces.
As they struggle to find
meaning and
value in something not concrete, as they discover and cultivate their
abilities and
talents, as they explore commonalities and differences in the world,
it is my greatest hope that these experiences will
leave their mark and become
a guiding
force in the lives of these young works of art.
Educational
/ Professional Background
Work History
- Music Educator, Mendenhall Elementary, Plano
I.S.D.
August 2002 – Present
Music instructor for K-5 students
Specials Team
Leader (2004-2005)
Co-Coordinator
Academic Enrichment Program (2004-2005)
Co-Coordinator
Science Club (2004-2005)
STARS Science Tutor (2004-2005)
PAL East Summer School, Reading/SPED/Green
Room (2004)
- PASAR Tutor (2003-present)
- Music Educator, School of the Plains
2001-2002
Music Instructor for School of the Plains, a
private, holistic, arts integration school in
Oklahoma City. Responsibilities include music instruction for students
ranging from 3 to
13 years old, collaboration with educators in other disciplines,
and creation of an
integrated music curriculum.
- Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Oklahoma
1999-2001
1999-2000 Instructor for two sections of MUNM
1743 Experiencing Music, coordinated elementary
music education field experience, assisted Dr.
Joy Nelson
2000-2001 Instructor for MUNM 1743 Experiencing
Music, MUED 2743 Music for Classroom Teachers;
coordinated elementary music education
field experience;
supervised elementary music education student teachers.
- Spring 2001
Instructor for MUED 3773 Multicultural Music Education
- Assistant
Children’s Choir Director, McFarlin
Memorial United Methodist Church
August 2000 – May 2001
- Music Educator, Idabel Public School District
1993-1999
- 1998-1999 Choral Director, Idabel Middle
School; Assistant Choral Director/Accompanist,
Idabel High School
- 1996-1998 General Music Instructor,
Central Elementary School (3rd-5th grade)
- 1993-1996
General Music Instructor, George Early Childhood
Center
(Kindergarten-1st grade)
- Director of Youth Ministries, Idabel First United
Methodist Church
1994-1999
- Director of Youth and Youth Choir,
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church
1991-1993
Responsible for youth activities
for Jr. High and High School youth,
coordination
and training
of volunteer workers, design and
implementation of mission activities,
and direction
of youth choir.
Education
- Master of Music Education with Kodaly Emphasis,
University of Oklahoma
1999-2001 (4.0 g.p.a.)
- Bachelor of Music Education (vocal/piano
emphasis), University of Tulsa
1990-1993 (3.9 g.p.a.)
- Associate of the Arts, Cottey College
1988-1990 (3.6 g.p.a.)
Activities
- TEAMS Mentor (2004-2005)
- Destination Imagination
Judge (2004-2005)
Assistant Coach for Team Bellar and Team Lee
(2003-2004)
- District Faculty Council (2005)
- Mendenhall PTA
- Site Based Improvement Committee,
Mendenhall Elementary (2002-2004)
- Wednesday’s
Child Mentoring Program, Mendenhall Elementary
(2003)
- Mendenhall 50th Anniversary Planning Committee
(2002-2003)
- After Class Enrichment, Mendenhall
Elementary
Teacher, music and drama (Fall 2003)
- Selected as
a member of a research team using Q Methodology
to study perceptions of the arts
in
education. ( Fall 2001)
- School of the Plains Administrative
Council Member at Large (2001-2002)
- Camp Success
(week long summer camp for MR and multi-handicapped
children ages 7-13).
Director of Music, 1994-1998
Co-director, 1998
Board of Directors, 1994-1999
Member of an OU education team, led by Dr. Joy
Nelson, that traveled to Guatemala to share music
education concepts and techniques with Guatemalan
music educators
(January 2001)
- Adopted faculty member, Walker Hall, University
of Oklahoma (1999 – 2001)
Awards
- Mendenhall Elementary Teacher of the Year (2004-2005)
- Received
Mildred Carr Wolford Scholarship for Outstanding
Graduate Music Education Student,
University of Oklahoma (April 2001)
- Nominated for
membership in the National Association of Collegiate
Scholars (April 2000)
- Nominated by the Kiamichi
Council for Exceptional Children for State Teacher
of the Year in the
category of regular classroom teacher
working with special needs students.
(January 1996)
Professional Activities/Memberships
- Association of Texas Professional Educators
Building Representative (2003-2004, 2004-2005)
- National Education
Association
Delegate to Representative Assembly
- Oklahoma Education
Association
Elected to Board of Directors (unable to serve due
to return to college)
Zone SE-C, Chair
Zone SE-C, Secretary
Selected to attend Emerging Leaders Training
- Idabel
Education Association
President
Delegate to Oklahoma Education Association State
Convention
- Music Educators National Conference
- Texas Music
Educators Conference
- Texas Music Education Association
- Organization
of American Kodaly Educators
- Kodaly Educators
of Texas
- PEO (Philanthropic Education Organization)
- Phi
Kappa Phi, Collegiate Honor Society
- Kappa Delta
Pi, Collegiate Education Honor Society
- Sigma Alpha
Iota, Honorary Music Society
School
Principal's Recommendation
It is an honor to recommend Cindy Fox, our music
teacher, for the Excellence in Teaching Award. She
has made a lasting impact on the staff, students,
parents, and programs at Mendenhall Elementary School.
Although Cindy has only been at Mendenhall for three
years, she excels as a leader with a vision and utilizes
every possible opportunity to make a difference in
the lives of children. She serves as a team leader
and TEAMS mentor, coaches and judges Destination
Imagination, tutors fifth graders in science, coordinates
our Academic Enrichment Program, sponsors the Science
Club, and helps students with homework in PASAR.
In the past few years Cindy participated in our
Wednesday’s Child mentoring program, taught
music and drama in After Class Enrichment, served
on our 50 year anniversary planning committee, wrote
original songs for our school, and served on our
SBIC for two years. When a volunteer is needed at
our campus, Cindy is prepared to help every single
time….carnivals, childcare, special programs,
committees, P.T.A., field day, parent nights, and
field trips. The word “no” is not in
her vocabulary! She is always there to help staff,
students, and parents with a positive attitude and
a happy heart. Once she even borrowed a used flute
and taught a student to play it, just because he
showed an interest.
When our campus had a Writing Extravaganza, Cindy’s
students wrote original music compositions. Connections
to math, science, and social students are incorporated
into her music lessons, and her grade level music
programs which showcase all children as they sing,
dance, and play instruments with confidence and pride.
Each child experiences being a star under her direction!
When selected as the Mendenhall nominee for Teacher
of the Year, Cindy was most humble about how our
staff values her efforts. She holds such a high esteem
for other staff members and what they collectively
do as a team for our students. Cindy embraces the
diversity at our campus and recognizes the unique
experiences and needs of each child as she strives
to build a positive rapport. All students in her
class experience success at the highest level possible
as they participate in meaningful activities. Cindy
Fox exhibits Excellence in Teaching every single
day and would be most deserving of this honor. We
strongly recommend Cindy Fox for PISD’s Teacher
of the Year for 2005.
Sincerely,
Karen Noble and Cathy Taylor
Mendenhall Principals 2004-2005
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