Ingraham fills needed music position right before school
For the past few years, Mead has struggled with keeping a music teacher for more than a couple years. But this year might just be different with new music teacher Jeffrey Ingraham.
According to principal Darin Kovar, Mead has not had the best success in finding a music teacher who is going to stay. Reasons why include many people don't want to go into teaching and many kids don't want to specialize in music, he said.
The teacher who Mead officials hired to fill the vacant high school music position resigned in late July and Ingraham was hired in August. Kovar stated Ingraham will be able to help students grow musically.
"I think he has a lot of knowledge, and a lot of background," Kovar said.
Ingraham said he is hoping to grow the band program. He wants to help these students and influence more to join.
Ingraham is originally from Omaha, Neb. He has attended seven different colleges, two of which were UNL and UNO. He majored in vocals at UNL.
Ingraham doesn't just love music; he also loves technology. He has a master's degree in technology.
"I went more towards tech stuff for a while, "Ingraham said, "but I've never left music."
Ingraham has had and still has quite a busy career. He taught at Omaha Public Schools, teaching band and orchestra for six years. Furthermore, he was the technology coordinator of the Bellevue school district. He also taught at ESU 3 in Omaha for 25 years.
In addition, he also works as the chief operating officer of a nonprofit called Prairie Stem, which is why Ingraham is absent on Mondays.
"We're in six or seven different schools that we do daily stem activities," Ingraham said.
Senior Drew Eckart said Ingraham has shown patience with the Mead students. Ingraham doesn’t expect them to know how to play new music right away, Eckhart said.
"He's a lot more understanding on the fact that we don't have the skill to just be able to play it whenever we want," Eckart said.
Ingraham said that Mead Public Schools has been welcoming. He states that these students are fantastic and play well.
"I think the future looks bright," Ingraham said.
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