Spotlight: Meredith Reid (KS '24)

Kansas Milken Educator Meredith Reid (KS ‘24) is a seventh through 12th grade music teacher at Girard High School. Reid, a dynamic force in choral music education, has revived and led Girard High School's award-winning choir to new heights. With numerous regional and state accolades, Reid is shaping the future of music in her community. Beyond the classroom, her mentorship, leadership, and dedication to lifelong music appreciation inspire students and educators alike. Reid received her Milken Educator Award on January 8, 2025.

Milken Family Foundation: How did you feel at your Milken Educator Award notification? 

I was completely overwhelmed and honored to receive this Award. As a teacher, I am always focused on lifting up my students and showcasing their talents on stage. Having the tables turned and the spotlight put on me was humbling to say the least. When I lived and taught in Fort Scott, Kansas, I worked at the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in the summers. It was there when I first heard about the Milken Family Foundation and met some of the previous Milken Award winners when they completed a fellowship with the Center during the summers. I was in awe of their creativity and innovation and enjoyed getting to know some of them. To be considered one of those teachers is absolutely an honor. 

MFF: How did students respond to your Milken Award? 

The pictures of my students at my notification say it all. They were ecstatic about my Award. My students performed at my notification, which meant they were all gathered together behind me, so we all experienced the moment together. Not only were my choir students excited, but my whole school was happy for me. My school includes grades six through12, and because I teach almost every middle school student, I know nearly every student in the school. As I walked through the halls the next few days, students I hadn’t taught in several years stopped me and were very genuine in their congratulations and excitement. 

MFF: What made you want to pursue a career in education? 

I grew up in a family of educators, which had a big influence on my decision to become a teacher. My maternal grandfather was a school superintendent, and my grandmother was an English teacher. My father was an elementary school teacher and principal. I was also fortunate to be surrounded by outstanding teachers throughout my K-12 education. My gifted facilitator made a particular impact on my life and inspired me to explore new and innovative ideas. All of these experiences influenced my decision to become a teacher. 

MFF: What were the biggest challenges you faced in rebuilding the Girard High School choral program, and how did you transform it into a high-performing, Award-winning ensemble? 

One of the biggest challenges I faced in rebuilding the Girard choral program was the lack of any program at all when I was hired. My school is situated in the most southeastern corner of Kansas, a highly rural and agricultural area where sports reign supreme and high quality musical experiences are scarce. I was recruited to return to this area, my hometown, to revive the choir program, which through budget cuts and lack of a choir teacher had been whittled down to almost nothing. The students entering my choir classroom typically have no formal singing experience except performing in “programs” in elementary school. In order to build the new program, I looked to the legacy left decades before as a launching pad. In 1972, a group of students gathered together to name a new show choir at Girard High School. Inspired by their new and innovative choir director, Mrs. Janis DeChicchio (Saket), the students decided on the name “Reflections,” with a mission to “reflect” the music of the times. 

Over the next two decades, Reflections became a renowned performing group in Southeast Kansas, recording professional quality albums and touring both locally and across the United States. In 1976, Reflections was selected from hundreds of applicants across the United States to perform at the National School Board Association convention in San Francisco. In 1981, the group traveled to Nashville to spend four days performing with country music star Roy Acuff. I reached out to the former Reflections director, Mrs. Saket, and many of her students in order to get inspiration and ideas. I hosted panels where alumni came in to talk to my students and share pictures. One of those alumni is my dad, Dan Duling! I started including alumni in our concerts as singers and instrumentalists. Most importantly, I kept the name the same for the select high school group - Reflections. 

The mission of the Reflections is still to “reflect” the music of the times but also to reflect the joy that comes with singing in our school and community. We wish to honor the past tradition imagined by a group of students 53 years ago and also ignite a new tradition for many years to come. 

MFF: How does your positive rewards system work in the classroom, and what impact has it had on student engagement and vocal development in a rural setting? 

Early on in my career, I was mentored by a family friend and master teacher, Missy Brynds. Although she is a first grade teacher, her concepts about positive rewards in the classroom translate across grade levels and contents. I vividly remember calling her in my first year of teaching in a panic about classroom management. Her advice - find the one student who is doing the right thing and recognize them. After 14 years of teaching, I still use her idea of recognizing “the one” to reinforce student engagement. Just a few of the incentives I use at the middle school level include golden coins, Jolly Ranchers, recorded comments on singing assignments, and “music money.” With the older students, I ask them to recognize their peers by creating their own awards out of seemingly random prizes. 

This year at Reflections camp, one student received a box of crayons for adding color and kindness to the choir. Another student received swimming goggles for seeing happiness in the choir. I also put a big emphasis on recognizing students for their accomplishments throughout the year. This includes presenting certificates at concerts, making social media posts through the school’s account, and creating a “wall of fame” in my classroom where I post photos of students at various honor choirs. As my dad says, students vote with their feet. The impact of these positive rewards and recognition is that students show up to be in my class and show up to perform to their very best at concerts. Last year out of 212 students in the middle school, 54 signed up to be in the select choir, “Impressions.” The high school choir is up to 42 students this year. We started out with only nine students six years ago. 

MFF: What does “success” look like for you and your students in life? 

In music, we have lots of opportunities for competition - contests, honor choirs, ratings - and it’s easy to get wrapped up in scores and numbers, but I believe success is when I see my students sharing music in their community. I provide a launching pad for this while they are in school, but the best part is when I see them start branching out to sing in their churches, college choirs, or just with their friends. Students will send me videos singing at youth groups, with family members, or writing and recording their own songs. Music is the unifying language we all need to connect across communities regardless of our differences. 

MFF: Who are your role models in teaching? 

I have been blessed with many wonderful role models in teaching. First and foremost, my parents instilled a strong respect for education in my life. My dad was an elementary teacher and principal, and he’s still my first phone call when I feel stuck or need inspiration. My high school gifted facilitator, Linda Knoll, showed me what being an innovative educator means. My high school physical education teacher, Sunny Pierce, taught me what it looked like to truly care for students. My major collegiate professor, Dr. Julie Yu, spent extra time mentoring me one-on-one and asked me to think outside the box. My cooperating teacher, Chad Pape, provided the safe space for me to grow as a brand new educator. My colleague and friend, Julie Ann Jacobs, introduced me to cooperative learning and true engagement from students. Finally, my mentor and collaborative pianist, Pat Harry, gave me the tools to guide students from those early voice changes to preparing for college auditions, and I still get to teach side-by-side with her every day! 

MFF: How do you hope to be remembered by your students? 

I hope my students remember the relationship I built with them over our musical accomplishments together. They may forget the songs I taught them, but I hope they remember how much I care about them as a person. 

MFF: Are you working on any interesting initiatives or new projects these days? Is there anything else you want to share about your school? 

Generations: Connecting Community Through Music is a new initiative I have been working on since 2023. This brand new community choir performs during the school year alongside the students at Girard High School. All singers from the surrounding community are welcome to join the students for several rehearsals culminating in a performance at both the fall and winter concerts. So far, Generations has been a huge success. 

Singers ages 14-80 gathered together on stage for both the fall and Christmas concerts. Mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, grandparents, aunts, uncles, alumni, and teachers joined forces to create a memorable finale for two of our concerts. Many connections were made between current high school students and community members. The students were thrilled to sing beside some of their own teachers! Rehearsals were filled with hard work but also laughter and the sharing of wisdom, memories and camaraderie. Many community members reached out after the concerts hoping to participate again in the future! 

The goal of the choir “Generations” is to connect high school students to community members through music. I believe students have much to gain from working in collaboration with members of other generations. Our community members also have much to gain from the energy and enthusiasm of our young singers. Finally, the formation of this choir offers the valuable and rare occasion for adults of all ages to sing in a choir again. 

Generations continues to be a highlight for my students and provides wonderful opportunities for high school students to gain wisdom and experience from adult community members. Kansas Day Choir: Celebrating our State through Song – this year I am pioneering a new “Kansas Day Choir” in collaboration with another local middle school. We are combining forces to create a memorable and high quality musical experience for select middle school choirs on Kansas Day. Students will rehearse together all day and connect through team building games and lunch. The culminating event will be an all-school assembly celebrating Kansas Day with a performance by the combined choir. 

Other content areas will also be involved in presenting poems and short stories celebrating Kansas. I can say with complete confidence that the success of the choir program at Girard could not have happened without the support of my administration. They continue to provide resources, scheduling, and support for the growth of this program. Every single one of my administrators shows up for concerts - from the superintendent, to principal, and assistant principal. With that kind of support, the sky is the limit for the choir program at Girard!