Arbor Park's Mr. Kellogg Ends Career on High Note

Roger Kellogg's first teaching job out of college would be his only one. Where he started in 1977, he would finish in 2011. The beloved music teacher conducted his last concert before retirement Thursday, May 12, with the fitting theme: "I've Had the Time of My Life."

Kellogg lifted his baton and led Arbor Park students one last time, for a crowd of hundreds. At times, he picked up his trumpet and multi-tasked, playing the brass with one hand and tickling the ivory keys of his keyboard with the other. At the end of each of the last four songs, students stood clapping and calling his name. Some alumni call him an inspiration, others say he taught them to live with passion and "set the world on fire."

"It's nice to feel loved," Kellogg said, afterward.

Kellogg's parting words in the program say it best.

1977 seems like a long time ago, yet in some ways like yesterday. I came here at the age of 21, "fresh" out of college. Our principal, Mr. Hopkins had enough faith in me to give me my first teaching position, one I've held now for 34 years. His first words after I was hired were, "Don't let me down, kid."

Mr. Hopkins has since passed on, but those words have stuck with me since—and I can only hope I lived up to his wishes. That first day of band with just 18 kids stays in my mind. I vividly remember raising the conductor's baton and counting off to a group of blank faces—they had never seen a baton before.

The great kids at Arbor have come a long, long way since then. We just finished five years straight of first place/Division I ratings in our conference contest. I've been blessed with more great memories than anyone could hope for in one lifetime: 68 spring and Christmas concert programs, 20 years of eighth grade trips to Washington D.C., two Arbor Park "musicals" in the '80s, 34 years of music classes with kids from fourth through eighth grade, three years of applied reading classes, nine nominations for "Who's Who Among American Teachers," 16 years of perfect attendance awards, and the list goes on.

My best memories by far, though, are of the wonderful kids I've had the honor to teach for the past 34 years—their smiles and love will stay with me forever. To the parents and the kids of Arbor Park, I just want to say, Thank You. I really have had the time of my life, and I owe it all to you.