NEISD teacher guides students for nearly three decades

At Garner Middle School, there is a room filled with music.

Phyllis Malone stands at the podium in charge of it all.

She has been the orchestra director at Garner for 27 years.

Mrs. Malone grew up in Dallas and turned to music at a young age.

“When I started the violin, my mother made me sign a contract that I would not stop my piano lessons. They had invested in a piano, rent -to-own, bought the piano, and started me on lessons. I’m forever grateful that they did that,” Malone said.

In the Garner Orchestra class, the students aren’t just learning music.

“There are lots of things; it helps their grades, it helps their focus and their skills, the teamwork, their creativity. A lot of business are looking for people that can be creative and can work together,” Malone said.

She said music has also helped her students through the tough times.

“We have children who have personal issues, family issues and things that they have to overcome that I never had to overcome. It’s a little bit of a different world. There are a lot of children that have a lot of things that are big stumbling blocks. Music and being with children that have same goals, same ideals, and high expectations pulls them out of some of those situations and makes them become better people and move on and do something with their lives,” she added.

Mrs. Malone said a lot has changed since she first came to the school nearly three decades ago.

“When I first came back to Garner after staying home with my children, we didn’t have cell phones; there were no cell phones. Now, we have to ask them to put them away. I think it impacts their social skills and the way that they interact with each other. I think the music and having to work together as a team and having to put themselves aside and work together makes a big difference,” Malone said.

Maria Holland has played the violin for four and a half years.

“When I do music, it helps me focus better,” the Garner Orchestra Student and YOSA musician said.

Maria hopes to play professionally one day.

“It’s kind of fun to watch them. To try to teach them the work ethic that it takes to learn to play an instrument. If they use that and take that challenge, it carries over into their other academics and they become better students,” Mrs. Malone said.

She said she doesn’t plan to stop teaching music anytime soon.

“I take every year one year at a time. I love the kids and I love to come to school every day. The children who are here to learn and come in excited every day, it keeps me coming. To see the pride that the parents have in their children and the pride the children themselves have, it’s a lot of fun!”

Discover the NEISD way, where our educators share their love of teaching year after year.