Music Students Make Impassioned Pleas To Keep Beloved Band Director At Greenwich High School

GREENWICH, CT — Dressed in their concert attire to show solidarity for their music teacher and band director, Michael Breaux, over a dozen Greenwich High School students spoke out at last week's Board of Education meeting and urged the school district to reconsider a staffing change that would've sent Breaux to a different school for 2025-2026

Thanks to their impassioned pleas, Breaux will now stay at GHS.

Superintendent of Greenwich Public Schools Dr. Toni Jones said she would reconsider the move, and on June 13, she sent a letter to district families informing them that Breaux would remain a Cardinal.

"After the students spoke, I shared that I would go back and take a closer look. What really resonated with me was the social and emotional aspect for how our students were being impacted. It was obvious to me it was not just the music," Jones said. "I have reflected, as the leader of this district, and we are going to keep Mr. Breaux where he belongs, at Greenwich High School."

Breaux was set to be transferred to a middle school position because of lower enrollment and fewer music class requests, according to district and GHS officials.

The students who spoke during the June 12 meeting said Breaux's departure would drastically impact the GHS music program, which they say was already hurt during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the post-COVID years.

Sylvester Pecora, a junior at GHS, said various music events would be much more difficult to execute without Breaux's guidance.

"Mr. Breaux is a terrific teacher who has made a positive impact on my and these guys' lives," Pecora said. "He strives to open doors for students, treat them with care and show them that they are appreciated. I urge you to listen to us students, I urge you to reconsider this decision, and bring back Breaux to Greenwich High School."

Toby Leonard, a junior, called Breaux "the most sturdy pillar of the GHS community."

"He has helped me more than any guidance counselor, he has inspired me more than any coach, and he has taught me more than any other teacher," Leonard said. "Removing him is a serious misstep."

Another student, Elias Orrell, a rising senior, said Breaux has attended every GHS football game, conducts all band concerts, helps with jazz festivals, plays at every graduation, and supports students through different events and competitions.

Miller Fishback, a junior, spoke about Breaux's potential departure and the impact on staffing.

"We've been told over and over that this is simply a logistical shuffle, that this is just something that happens in large school districts, but that logic doesn't apply in this case," Fishback said. "This loss means cancelling new and innovative classes like modern band, it means combining jazz ensembles and reducing opportunities for students. It means overloading the remaining teachers and undercutting any momentum that's finally being built after years of COVID disruption. That context matters."

Read also:

• Here's Greenwich's Representative In The 2026 CT Teacher Of The Year Program
• June 2025 'Difference Makers' Announced By Greenwich Public Schools
• Assistant Principal Appointed At Julian Curtiss School In Greenwich

In her note to families, Jones said GHS administration was working on the 2025-2026 master schedule based on student pre-enrollment numbers, and as a result, Breaux, was set to be transferred due to lower enrollment.

"This change has brought sadness, frustration, and concern to our student musicians, educators, and their families," Jones said. "While well-intentioned to be fiscally responsible, there were some missing pieces which needed to be considered."

Jones pointed to the Ellington Jazz Festival and football pep band as "enormous" undertakings.

"The budget for 2025-2026 was not built counting on reductions in the music department. This decision was solely an outgrowth of the GHS administration working on their schedule with best intentions," Jones added. "Greenwich Public Schools has one of the most premier music programs in the country. We would not do anything intentionally to harm the great work of our music staff, or to diminish the quality of our programming."

Jones said in her note that she has "learned through additional sharing, that there will be a great deal of enrollment shifts between now and September."

Jones thanked the students for speaking out and participating in the June 12 meeting to advocate for their beloved teacher.

"They were extremely respectful and thoughtful. They were the perfect example for all of us, as adults, what true advocacy can look like," Jones said. "Personally, after they all finished speaking, I was so inspired for the next generation of leaders."