NH Music Teacher Finalist

Congratulations to Heidi Welch finalist for National Teacher of the Year

This information is taken from the National Teacher of the Year site. Heidi is one of 4 finalists for NTOY. The one selected will be announced in April. The last time there was an arts teacher who was selected was music teacher Andrea Peterson in 2007 from  NTOY Washington state. Andrea gave the keynote at our 2009 statewide arts education conference held at Point Lookout. More information on the NTOY program is available at http://www.ccsso.org/ntoy/News.html

Heidi Welch – 2013 New Hampshire Teacher of the Year

Heidi Welch is a 9-12 grade music teacher at Hillsboro-Deeing High School in Hillsboro, New Hampshire. With 16 years of teaching experience, Heidi Welch is a music teacher at Hillsboro-Deeing High School. She has been in her present position for 14 years. Heidi received a Bachelor of Music Vocal and French Horn focus from Keene College and a Master in Education Instruction and Curriculum from New England College. She is a member of various professional associations and activities, including chairperson and band manager of the Monadnock Valley Music Festival. In 2011, Heidi participated as Choral Guest Conductor for the Tri-town Music Festival in Milford, NH. That same year, Clear Channel Radio named her “Music Teacher of the Year” to conduct the Boston Pops. At a young age faced with personal challenges of her own, Heidi shares that many of her teachers offered compassion and direction – a path that ultimately led to a love for music. She said, “I knew that if music education allowed me to find myself as a student, instilled in me a passion for the arts and for learning, and gave me a chance to push myself in ways that I never thought possible, that it would surely do the same for the other young people trying to find there they fit.” Heidi now shares that passion with her chorus and band programs, which have grown steadily in her tenure  at Hillsboro- Deering. All of her groups perform and participate in workshops at Disney World and has taken home first place trophies from several competitions throughout the country. However, Heidi says her greatest accomplishments are seen in the students’ every day successes.

The National Teacher of the Year Program is run by the Council of Chief State School Officers. Every year states each select a teacher of the year to participate in the National Teacher of the Year Program. A panel representing 15 national education organizations, convened by CCSSO, chose the four finalists from the 2013 state teachers of the year. The selection committee then personally interviews each finalist and selects the National Teacher of the Year. In April the National Teacher will be announced by CCSSO. The President of the United States recognizes the National Teacher each year in a White House ceremony.