Students, Parents Speak Out In Support Of Beloved Fair Lawn Music Teacher

FAIR LAWN, N.J. — Dozens of parents and students spoke out last week against the possible release a beloved band director from his district contract.

Daniel Burbank, who is in his third year of his contract, teaches at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, is the assistant director of the marching band and indoor percussion ensemble at Fair Lawn High School. The band placed second at the US Band Nationals in November and the ensemble placed first at the US Bands Championships last month.

More than 100 people packed the board meeting to speak of the impact Burbank has had on their lives.

“This decision does not just take a teacher out of a classroom, it takes a passionate leader and musician out of the music program in the district,” said Rebecca Graziano, president of Fair Lawn Friends of Music, a district-wide Parent Teacher Organization that supports the music programs. “We can only imagine that people don’t know the incredible job that Mr. Burbank does for Fair Lawn.”

More than a dozen students addressed the board. They spoke of the profound influence that Burbank has had on their lives.

According to Graziano, the board is reconsidering its decision.

None of Burbank’s positions appear on the employment opportunities section of the district website.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Sign up for Patch N.J. email newsletters here.

Parents and students hold up signs and wait to speak at a Fair Lawn Board of Education meeting recently in support of music teacher and marching band director Daniel Burbank. — Courtesy of Rebecca Graziano