Derrick D. Brookins, Excellence in Teaching
Philosophy of Teaching
As a teacher, nothing is more exciting than being present at creation, when the clay that we mold begins to breathe. Good teaching requires love - not only the love of teaching your subject, but the love of learning and sharing ideas. It is the love that a teacher feels for those students who walk into our lives, begin to breathe, and then walk out again, that inspires us to become better. I teach because being around students who reach out and take a chance, inevitably begin to breathe, and I find myself quite magically catching my breath with them.
Throughout my years of teaching students at various grade levels, several thoughts emerge. My goal has been, and continues to be, to help students experience our world more richly, beyond the everyday, beyond what we experience through textbooks and different methodologies. I hope they never stop wanting more out of life and continue to pursue a life-long passion for learning. I tell my students that from a window you can only see a piece of sky; it’s only when you step outside that you realize just how big and wide it really is.
As a choral musician, I am devoted to the cultivation of the art of music in the lives of my students and in the broader community. I strive to teach techniques of musical expression and seek to provide a sequential, developmental vocal music curriculum. This allows my students an opportunity to build their skills and understanding through a wide variety of quality musical experiences. I structure my classroom to help mold reflective practitioners, students who creatively consider how things might otherwise be. As an educator, I guide my students in becoming collaborative thinkers who share their thoughts and support others in developing their own ideals.
There is no more important ability required in a democratic society than that of sharing common goals with others and working together to achieve them. It is when the words of President John F. Kennedy come to fruition that I know my work has had some effect. “I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft. I look forward to an America which will steadily raise the standards of artistic accomplishment which will steadily enlarge cultural opportunities for all of our citizens.” In my estimation, a performing group is a microcosm of society. In addition to skills related to music reading, self-expression, self- discipline and concentration, performers become interdependent.
An old Chinese proverb says, “A teacher for a day is like a parent for a lifetime.” My students are my “academic children,” and when they grow intellectually I value my part in contributing to that growth. I take great joy in seeing my students develop into reflective practitioners who embrace diversity, think independently and discover how to learn for themselves.
Before my students take the stage for a performance, I remind them of an adage of my own to inspire them: “Come to the edge.”“But we are afraid.”“Come to the edge,” I said. “But we may fall.” “Come to the edge”. . . it is through the power and the life-changing inspiration of music that you will give life to your wings of clay...and fly.
Educational / Professional Background
University Degrees
- Master's Degree in Secondary Curriculum - University of North Texas Denton, TX
- Bachelor of Music Education, May 1996 - University of North Texas Denton, TX
- Certification - State of Texas; AlT Level Vocal Music K-12
Professional Work Experience
- Plano Senior High School - Director of Choral Activities (2003-Present)
- T.H. Williams High School in Plano ISD - Director of Choral Activities (1997- 2003)
- Travis Jr. High School in Irving I.S.D. - Assistant Director of Choirs (1996-1997)
- Professional singer: recording artist with The Moses Hogan Singers for 15 years
- Selected Choral Conductor for the 2007 National American Choral Director Association Convention, Miami, Florida
- Texas Music Educators Association-All State Choir Organizer
- Conducted educational workshops, both on the state and national level
- Guest choral clinician for several regional, honor and district choirs throughout Texas
Honors and Activities
- Elected Vocal Chairman for both TMEA Region 24 and Region 25
- Awarded 2008 Teacher of the Year, PIano Senior High School
- Awarded 2000 Teacher of the Year, Williams High School
- Chairman of the Multicultural! Ethnic Choral Music Division for Southwest ACDA
- Grammy Foundation Award Recipient for Excellence in Choral Music
- The Dallas Summer Musicals Board of Education Member
- Awarded PTSA Lifetime Membership
- Who’s Who Among American Educators
Professional Organizations
- Texas Music Educators Association
- Texas Choral Directors Association
- National American Choral Directors Association, Southwest ACDA
- Texas Music Adjudication Association
School
Principal Recommendation
 Teacher of the Year Selection Committee:
To understand what makes Derrick Brookins a great teacher you need to attend one of his choral music classes. There you would observe the mutual respect that he and his students share. You would experience the love for music that permeates the classroom and the attention to the finer points of performance that he inspires.
Many of Derrick’s students continue their study of music in college but all of them have a lifelong appreciation of music. Some of his former students made the following comments about Derrick.
“I was a first year choir student and felt pretty lost, but with the way he taught I quickly felt better.”
— Ashley Maddox.
“It is his love and passion for music that inspired my life both in and outside of the arts.”
— Andrew Mitchell
“It was so refreshing to know that he enjoyed and believed in what he was teaching.”
— Olivia Jabbinski
“I became obsessed with the music literature we worked on ... I would like to thank Mr. Brookins for giving me the opportunity to discover my passion for music.”
— Pragnyn Maruwada
Just before Thanksgiving this year I mentioned to Derrick that someday I would like for the choir to produce a CD of holiday music to distribute to our staff feeder schools and Central Office personnel. Derrick’s reply was, “We can do that this year!” He quickly recruited the band and orchestra to join the choir in the task and produced a CD that was appreciated and enjoyed by the entire academic community.
In closing, I would describe Derrick Brookins’ excellence in the way a football coach once described his star player, “He may not be in a class by himself, but it does not take long to call the roll.”
Dr. Doyle Dean
Principal, Plano Senior High School
E-mail congrats to Derrick Brookins
|
