In honor of National Arts in Education Week, we’re excited to highlight the work of Kasey Burt, who has been teaching music at Whitehall City Schools for an incredible 24 years. As a music teacher at Beechwood Elementary, Kasey brings the joy of music to life for her students daily. She sees five groups of students daily, leading 45-minute lessons filled with energy, creativity, and sound. 

Kasey believes music is an essential part of being human. "Music is a part of every culture and every student's life," she shares. "Music makes us better people." This philosophy shines through in her classroom, where she ensures that every grade has the opportunity to hold a performance during the school year. Her lessons cover everything from learning about composers to exploring world music. Each grade level also gets to learn specific instruments, creating a hands-on musical experience.

This summer, Kasey attended a week-long World Drumming Workshop, where she learned to incorporate African Drumming into her curriculum. Now, she leads her students in dynamic drumming ensembles, teaching them about the instruments and how to care for them. With a full class set of drums this year, Kasey is excited to share this vibrant musical tradition with her students.

For Kasey, the best part of her job is watching her students perform and seeing their confidence grow. She loves being surrounded by music all day and providing a space where her students are encouraged to express themselves, even if it means being loud! "For kids that struggle, this is a space where they can be successful," Kasey says.

We are grateful for Kasey's dedication to making music an essential and enriching part of her students' education. Her passion for teaching and her commitment to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment truly embody the spirit of National Arts in Education Week.

Thank you, Kasey, for bringing the power of music to our students every day!