William Floyd's 'Outstanding' Music Department Honored

MASTIC BEACH, NY — Great things are happening in the William Floyd School District.

For the second consecutive year, the William Floyd School District Music Department has been honored with the “Best Communities for Music Education” designation from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation for its "outstanding commitment to music education," a release from the district said.

The award has been given to only 583 school districts across the nation in 2018 and "recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have and continue to make music education part of a well-rounded education," the district said.

William Floyd has now received this designation four times, in 2004, 2006, 2017 and 2018.

“On behalf of the William Floyd School District, I am thrilled to congratulate our entire music department on achieving this honor for the second year in a row,” said Kevin M. Coster, superintendent of schools, William Floyd School District. “This award is a testament to the amazing things that are happening in classrooms all across the district each and every day. All one needs to do is attend a Board of Education meeting or one of our school concerts to understand the level of talent that each and every one of our music teachers possesses and the skills they are passing on to the next generation.”

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students, the district said.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, districts answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

“We are fortunate as a district and community to be able to provide the best possible music education for our students in the classroom and in performing groups at the elementary, middle school and high school levels,” said George Ober, chairperson of the William Floyd Music Department. “I salute my colleagues who continue to make William Floyd one of the best communities for music education day in and day out.”

Patch courtesy photo.