by Katelyn Dotson
Every year, the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum hold the Music Educator Awards, which recognize the music instructors that have put in a sufficient amount of effort and determination to continue music education in schools.
Amanda Blevins, a Tri-Valley band instructor, is one of the 212 quarterfinalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award, who were chosen out of over 2,000 applicants. This is granted to music teachers of kindergarten classes all the way to college, and to those who have greatly impacted music education in schools across the country.
Mandy Walton, one of Blevin’s former students nominated her for the award. Walton currently teaches 7th-grade math at the Tri-Valley Middle School and is one of the Tri-Valley color guard directors. “I can’t thank anyone more than Amanda for supporting me, believing in me, and giving me opportunities that I may have not gotten elsewhere. In my eyes, no one else deserves this honor, as I see her as the same devoted and supportive teacher I did as my 12-year-old self. I only wish I become half the educator she is,” explained Walton.
“She is one that does and always has had high expectations for her students, doesn’t allow anyone to think they “can’t” achieve their goals and dreams. She believes in her students even when they don’t believe in themselves. Sometimes I didn’t have the best support outside of band, but Amanda and her band program allowed me to feel like I had all the support in the world. It was my home away from home and an immense amount of that was because of her. I was her student until I graduated in 2013. My final year of high school I wasn’t set on which path to take at college, whether that be accounting, education, or something else. I recall the time I went to Amanda’s office to talk with her about it and at the end of our discussion she said, “I know you’d be a great teacher.” …and at that point, I knew education was it,” said Walton.
The Music Educator Award is the product of a collaboration between the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. Nine finalists will earn a $1,000 honorarium, while fifteen semi-finalists will earn a $500 honorarium as well. The schools of both finalists and semi-finalists will be given a grant of the amount earned, courtesy of the Grammy Museum’s Education Champion Ford Motor Company Fund. Semifinalists for the 2024 Music Educator Award will be revealed during the month of September.
