A longtime music educator has decided to step aside. John Hall, music teacher at the Allen County Intermediate Center for the past nine-and-a-half years and a music educator in Allen County since 1997, is retiring.
“People have always told me that you would know when it was time to retire and I just felt like it was time,” Hall explained.
Hall’s 27 years as a music teacher was the fulfillment of a dream cultivated by his high school music teacher, Sam Kent.
“I decided when I was in the eighth grade,” Hall said. “Mr. Kent took me to Morehead State University for the Daniel Boone summer camp. I had a very successful week. So I decided I wanted to be a music teacher.”
Following his graduation from Allen County-Scottsville High School in 1976, Hall attended Morehead State University to earn his certification and receive a Bachelor’s Degree in 1981. After doing missionary work for his church and engaged in outside educational interests, Hall started his work as a music educator in 1987.
Hall worked at two elementarily schools in Lincoln County and was assistant band director at Lincoln County High School. In 1997, Hall had an opportunity to return to Allen County. Since, he has served as assistant band director at high school, chorus director, taught general music at White Plains Elementary and taught at Intermediate Center since the school opened in 2004.
“I talked head start all the way through 12th grade,” Hall said, adding that teaching music varies based on the age of the students. “The way that you deliver the material is different. With the younger kids you got down in the middle of the floor and set criss-cross apple-sauce with them and did a lot of moving and dancing and hopping and skipping. Of course that would not be acceptable with the older kids.”
The years have brought many highlights with the most memorable being the school achievements and personal accomplishments of his students.
“One of the highlights was the Axis Winter Guard here in Allen County,” Hall noted. “We won a gold medal in Tri-State competition. It was pretty exciting. When you have students who achieve is memorable. I have had All-State choir students and All-State Children’s Choir students. Also, when you see students you have taught succeed, is memorable---former students like Cory Bonds who is the band director at Glasgow and Meagan Puckett who is the choir director at Greenwood. Jessica Mayes is a music teacher and Anna Bogash. It is pretty cool to have your former students go on and achieve.”
Hall’s career has included watching the face of education change. Even though music education is not a core content subject area, the music teacher was affected by various acts of educational reform in the state.
“Education has changed,” Hall noted. “I have gone through KERA (Kentucky Education Reform Act) and No Child Left behind. I used to grade math portfolios and I was a music teacher. Then they did away with math portfolios and I started having to grade writing portfolios. Almost every day you were doing something different and learning something new.”
Hall is quick to offer his successor or any music educator entering the field some advise to remember.
“Make sure you have fun,” Hall said. “Education is not something you go in to because of the money. You go in to it because you want to see kids achieve and find success. So, have fun as you teach because it will make your days a lot smoother.”
In addition to his retirement being “the right time”, Hall adds that several other factors were in play.
“There were a lot of things that factored into this,” Hall explained. “I have my time and I have had some health issues. Then, my parents (John and Dell Hall) will both be 80 this year so the opportunity to spend more time with them. I have really enjoyed working in the educational field. The two school systems I have worked in, the arts were very important. I have enjoyed it and would like to continue supporting the program in Allen County.”
Hall’s last day with students was June 5.