Roan Forest Elementary School music teacher Matthew Trevino is in good company. He is one of 25 people in the nation nominated for the 2019 Music Educator Award by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum. After Trevino found out he was nominated, he put together three videos showcasing his students and his passion for the job. While he may be the one up for a Grammy, he knows he couldn’t have done it without his students.
“You think about the scope of how many people applied,” said Trevino. “This is elementary, middle, high school and college professors that can all be nominated. It’s just amazing. When I’m talking to the kids about it I’m letting them know this is not me, this is us. This is Roan Forest, this is NEISD, this is San Antonio.”
Trevino is in his fourth year teaching general music classes to students at Roan Forest, from kindergarten to fifth grade.
“We sing, we dance, we play instruments and work on music literacy from a foundational level,” said Trevino. “In kindergarten you study beats, all the way up to an audition percussion group. In the fall we have choir, The Trailblazer Singers, and we’ve got over 120 kids in that. We also have a music club with a bucket drumline that we use during pep rallies.”
In December, another panel will judge the semi-finalists and whittle the list down to 10. Ultimately, one winner will be selected and flown to New York to attend the 61st Annual Grammy Awards and a number of Grammy Week events. Regardless of where Trevino falls on the list, Roan Forest’s budding music program will benefit. Trevino says he’s already guaranteed $500 to spend on updated instruments and other needs in the music department thanks to an honorarium. If he makes it in the top 10, that amount will double to $1,000.
While Trevino is honored and excited to be counted amongst the best music educators in the country, just getting to share his love of music is a dream come true.
“I kind of put my heart into it,” said Trevino. “My students are the ones who really motivate me and inspire me to come to school every day.”
Posted on 10-22-18
