Daniel Gutierrez, vocal music teacher at Reed Academy, was named SPS 2017-2018 Teacher of the Year during the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools’ annual Teacher Appreciation Banquet, Monday, April 17. The event was held at the Ramada Oasis.Gutierrez grew up in Long Island, New York and loved music, always listening to his favorite pop music on the radio, and playing his viola. His life was changed when his music teacher gave him a classical music CD.
“It totally changed my life,” he said. “I was listening to New Kids on the Block and then he gave me a classical music CD with Bach and Beethoven. It changed my life. I had no idea music could do that.”
Gutierrez bases his teaching philosophy on the belief that test scores improve as character improves.
Graduating from Evangel University, Gutierrez began his music education career at Rountree and Delaware elementary schools but felt something was calling him to work at Reed Academy where he continues today to use music to bring a group of diverse learners together.
Gutierrez will go on to compete for Missouri Teacher of the Year at the regional level. The regional program is designed to focus public attention on excellence in teaching and to honor classroom teachers from across Missouri. Regional winners will advance to the state competition.
The SPS Teacher of the Year selection committee interviewed five finalists selected from 77 nominations for the 2017-2018 SPS Teacher of the Year. The other four finalists recognized during the event are:
- Betsy Cannella, Project Lead the Way teacher, Glendale High School
- Jenny Talburt, fourth-grade teacher, Pershing Elementary School
- Gretchen Teague, communication arts teacher, Central High School
- Kevin Zimmerman, art teacher, Harrison Elementary School