IESA Headlines

2019 Fine Art Award Winner for Music: Mike Fogarty and Rachel Aupperle

2019 Fine Art Award Winners:

The motivated duo of music teachers who earned the Fine Art recognition awards -- the Distinguished Service Award and the Class Act Award -- are two educators that continually demonstrate remarkable commitment to their craft.

This is the tenth year for the presentation of these awards. The criteria for the two awards are similar. The recipients must be actively involved in IESA Music. The recipients must demonstrate the ability to develop and promote standards of good performance practices, integrity and life skills within their students. The contributions of both award winners must have positively impacted students and the school community.

The individuals are nominated by their school peers, and the winners are voted upon by the IESA's Music Advisory Committee.

For the Distinguished Service Award winner, the contributions must be significant and/or long term for someone involved with Music for over eight years of teaching and directing. For the Class Act Award winner, the contributions are from someone involved with Music for at least 3 and not more than 8 years of teaching and directing.

Jennifer Bolton, who has served as both a music teacher and director at Parkside JHS in Normal, has dedicated 26 years to music education on her way to winning the 2019 Distinguished Service Award. Jennifer works tirelessly to promote music within her school and the district.  She has served as an IESA Organization host for many years and, also serves as the Unit 5 Junior High Music Chair.  She coordinates many opportunities for her students to travel and showcase their talents.  As an active advocate for music education, she works with staff to ensure that her students have a well-rounded junior high experience. 

Jonathan Smaga, a music director at Annawan Grade School in Annawan for the past five years, is the 2019 Class Act Award Winner. Jonathan encourages all of his students to participate in outside contests so that they can grow as performers. On top of his many duties, Jonathan coordinates the Spring Music program for both the junior high and high school. He is looking in to new technology to increase student engagement.

Congratulations to both recipients.