Kathy Thompson

University of South Florida

BA in Music Education

MA in Music Education

 

I was one of 6 children. My parents were both musicians and growing up, there was always music in our house. My mother was a high school choral director, and my father was a professional saxophone player. Interestingly enough, I was the only one of the 6 kids who went into music as a vocation. One of my sisters works in IT but sings and plays classical guitar regularly. 

 

When I went to college I majored in music because the only two things I was interested in were music and history, but they wanted me to declare a major so I chose music thinking I could always change later. The summer after my sophomore year, I was part of a team of college students who taught at a band camp of a local high school band and that "hooked" me. Rehearsing, hearing improvement from what I was telling them, and watching kids succeed was a great motivator to want to continue to do it. 

 

My mother will always be the most influential teacher/person in my life. She's a much better musician than me, and it is through her that I have the love of music that I do. 

 

I love biking, gardening, reading, walking, yoga, and playing with the dog, in no particular order!

 

This one is easy!  I am a band geek, completely and unabashedly!! I love the sound of the band and the daily challenge to help students achieve at their highest level!

 

The one characteristic of all great teachers is passion. Everything else can be learned and great teachers all have different ways of getting there, but a great teacher must love WHAT they teach and WHO they teach. 

 

I love that it is a nurturing environment not only for students but for teachers as well. I love that our administration understands that what goes on in the classroom between teacher and students is still the most important component of every student's education.