Massapequa High School Hosts Fulbright Scholar

Story & photo by Massapequa Schools

Massapequa High School was honored to host Fulbright Scholar Dr. Bojana Kljunic, a music educator from the Czech Republic, to observe the district’s music program. Kljunic teaches at the Academy for Performing Arts in Prague and, as a Fulbright Scholar, is studying and comparing American and Czech music education systems and identifying best practices. The district was selected by the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, Kljunic’s United States affiliation, because of its reputation for providing a high quality music program to students of all ages and abilities.

Kjlunic and her sponsor from Queens College, Dr. Janice Smith, were escorted by Dr. David Gaines, the district’s curriculum associate for music, K-12 during the Nov.10th visit. Throughout the day, they observed the high school’s music theory classes and award-winning A Cappella Choir, toured Berner Middle School and the Ames Campus, attended a special education class at Unqua Elementary School, and watched the McKenna Elementary School’s Show Choir as they performed patriotic songs during a Veterans Day assembly.

“We had the opportunity to discuss the differences between the two education systems, especially how education has changed in her country after the fall of the Soviet Union,” Gaines said. “We also discussed how aspects of Massapequa’s music program could be adapted to the education system in the Czech Republic. She was particularly interested in our work with special education students.”

Gaines called the experience “enlightening. It is always a pleasure to hear how things are done somewhere else. It gives us a chance to reflect on our successes and how we might improve.”

Smith added that Massapequa’s program is “exemplary” and has a lot to be proud of.

The goal of the Fulbright Scholarship Program is to increase mutual understanding between people of different countries. In addition to Massapequa’s music program, Kjlunic has or will be visiting Julliard, City University of New York (CUNY) Queens College – The Aaron Copland School of Music; The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, and LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in New York City.