Craig McCauley, West Middle School choral music director, has been honored as the Lawrence school district’s Teacher of the Year for secondary schools.
McCauley has taught for 24 years in Lawrence Public Schools, according to a news release from the district on Friday. He directs four choirs at West: 6th Grade Music, 7th and 8th Grade Choirs, and Chorale.
“Craig strikes the correct balance of toughness, fairness, and high expectations with remembering that students are still maturing, and he is always, always, always striving to make them better, more accomplished musicians and people,” Charlie Goolsby, retired West theater arts teacher, wrote in a nomination of McCauley. “His mark on kids is that they are just flat out better people for having learned the cooperative skills his music classes and choirs teach them.”
Under his direction, the West Chorale has been invited to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association State Convention multiple times, and the Southwest Division American Choral Directors Association Convention, according to the release. In addition, McCauley’s students have gone on to top fine arts programs, including The Juilliard School in New York City, according to West Interim Principal Kathy Branson and former Principal Dr. Brad Kempf’s joint letter of nomination.
“He continually uplifts his students and builds confidence through his curriculum, rehearsals, and performances. Craig encourages all of his students to set high standards for themselves and their peers,” Melissa Smith, assistant director of bands at Free State High School and sixth and seventh grade bands and sixth grade orchestra at West, wrote in McCauley’s nomination. “Accountability, acceptance, and excellence are common themes in his classroom.”
McCauley said that “It’s all about the community.”
“We talk about this all of the time. Awesome! Awards are awesome. They always are.
“But, it’s really the day to day of seeing you guys do just cool stuff that really makes the difference. Thank you for your efforts. Thank you for believing in what we do,” McCauley said, motioning to his students, according to the release.
The district’s Teachers of the Year and Master Teachers for the past five years, according to the district’s website, are as follows:
2020-21
Barbara Tholen, Lawrence High, Lawrence Master Teacher
Jennifer Gorup, Quail Run Elementary, Lawrence Elementary Teacher of the Year
Tracey Norris, Project Search, Lawrence Secondary Teacher of the Year
2019-20
Dr. Jessica Larsen, Hillcrest Elementary School, Lawrence Master Teacher
Amanda Lovett, Schwegler Elementary School, Lawrence Elementary Teacher of the Year
Shari Flakus, Billy Mills Middle School, Lawrence Secondary Teacher of the Year
2018-19
Paula Barr, Quail Run Elementary School, Lawrence & Kansas Master Teacher
Peter Gipson, Sunflower Elementary School, Lawrence Elementary Teacher of the Year & Kansas Teacher of the Year Region Semifinalist
Julitha Rials, Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, Lawrence Secondary Teacher of the Year
2017-18
Julie Battaglia, Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, Lawrence Master Teacher
Nicole Corn, Sunset Hill Elementary, Lawrence Elementary Teacher of the Year & Kansas Teacher of the Year Finalist
Cari Davis, Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, Lawrence Secondary Teacher of the Year & Kansas Teacher of the Year Region Semifinalist
2016-17
Leslie Downing, Langston Hughes Elementary, Lawrence Master Teacher
Lisa Melton, Sunflower Elementary, Lawrence Elementary Teacher of the Year
Jack Hood, Lawrence High School, Lawrence Secondary Teacher of the Year
Article updated at 3:23 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, to add previous honorees
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