Kathy Kuddes (continued)

"This was an extra special honor for me as the Plano ISD elementary music specialists submitted the nomination and OAKE secretary and recognitions chair David Gadbury (a former Plano ISD music specialist) presented the award," said Kathy. "It felt great to be surrounded by Plano colleagues, past and present, as well as several members of my family."

Kathy is pictured with Dr. Georgia Newlin, OAKE president.

Among her nominators was Linda Arbolino, Hedgcoxe Elementary School music specialist, east cluster elementary music team leader and former Plano ISD Teacher of the Year. Linda said, "I have known Kathy ever since she joined the staff at Plano ISD in 1995 as a music specialist at Weatherford Elementary School. She rose rapidly through our ranks to vocal coordinator k-12 and finally director of fine arts.

"Kathy's most recent vision has been to unify the music teaching of Plano ISD into a K-12 Kodaly-inspired, sequential, developmentally appropriate and vertically aligned curriculum," continued Linda. "This curriculum will allow each student an opportunity to build musical skill and understanding through a wide variety of quality music experiences."

The Plano Children's Chorale is directed by Plano ISD Elementary Music Specialists Kenny Allen at Schell and Brenda Keen, Hightower.

Also during her career in Plano schools, Kathy has fostered the continuation of the Plano Children's Chorale, a 90-member choral group chosen by audition from more than 5,000 fifth grade students in Plano ISD. Last year, the Chorale was awarded the title of Elementary Honor Choir at the Texas Music Educators Convention. The Chorale performed at the convention as well as at the national OAKE conference in Dallas at which Kathy was awarded.

Jim Lovell, Brinker Elementary School music specialist, co-nominated Kathy for the OAKE award. "As director of fine arts for Plano ISD, Kathy has always strived to bring the secondary choral, orchestra and band teachers on board with the Kodaly philosophy and methodologies that were well established in the elementary schools," noted Jim. "By 2007, she was able to obtain a grant to hire curriculum consultants and to put together a team of elementary music teachers as well as secondary band, choir and orchestra teachers so that, over the course of a year, a comprehensive, vertically-aligned K-12 music curriculum was created."

The results of Kathy's work in conjunction with the district's music specialists was the topic of a report Kathy presented to the Plano ISD Board of Trustees this month. "While the learning experiences are the primary product in any quality educational environment, quality products are evidence of quality student learning. Our fine arts students demonstrate superior learning. And, our fine arts staff is, in my humble opinion, simply the best in the land." (Read Kathy's report on the district website.)

A strong advocate for music education, Kathy is much better at "tooting the horn" for students and staff than she is for herself. She shared the following involvement of Plano ISD students and staff at the OAKE conference where she earned her recent award.

Plano ISD Student & Staff Involvement at 2010 OAKE Conference

• The Plano Children's Chorale presented the first concert of the conference
• Linda Arbolino, Hedgcoxe Elementary School music specialist and east cluster music team leader, presented a session entitled "Student Composing in the Elementary Music Classroom."
• Kathy Kuddes presented "Traditional Voices of Texas" featuring folk songs of the early Texas settlers.
• The Robinson Middle School "South of Legacy" Orchestra performed for the OAKE president's reception on Saturday evening.
• Former Plano ISD Music Specialist Gay Baker deMontel led the Texas Dance Session at the conference.
• The Richardson North Junior High Treble Choir performed under the direction of former Plano ISD Teacher Melissa Dabbs Roth.
• Plano Senior High Counselor (and former choir director) Nora Henson lead a performance of the Children's Chorus of Greater Dallas Youth Chorus.
• Seventeen Plano ISD students earned a place in one of three honor choirs that rehearsed with internationally reknowned conductors and presented a concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center during the OAKE conference. Singers were Gina Reynolds, Forman Elementary; Libby Cooper, Alissa Dover, Audry Goodwin, Danielle Haase, Tiffany Lam and Victoria Shiau, Hightower Elementary; Francesca Hecker, Danielle Russo and Shiri Spitz, Frankford Middle School; Grant Schussler, Rice Middle School; Karena Tsai, Shepton High School; Megan Spinhirne, Harrison Tsai and Nathan Wills, Plano West Senior High; and Tate Keen and Ryan Schaap, Plano Senior High.
• Current OAKE Board of Directors include former Plano Music Specialists Karen Gentry and David Gadberry.
• Jim Lovell (Brinker) served on the conference planning committee.
• Brenda Keen, Hightower Elementary School, was a coordinator for the National Honor Children's Choir.
• Robyn Heyde, Hughston Elementary School, organized room hosts and monitors for each conference session.
• Stefanie Champion, former Plano ISD employee, coordinated the Golden Key banquet.
• Tina Arenas, former Plano ISD employee, arranged transportation for all of the invited conductors and special guests.

Back to District Digest