Anderson selected as Teacher of the Year at James Clemens
Keith Anderson is Teacher of the Year at James Clemens High School. (CONTRIBUTED)
MADISON – Among other accomplishments, Keith Anderson organized the band program at James Clemens High School to earn Teacher of the Year honors.
“Working with the students to establish the James Clemens Band as an exemplary music program has been an extremely humbling and rewarding experience,” Anderson said. “The first year of existence for the band, as well as the school, was a very exciting time for me in my career.”
Anderson teaches marching and symphonic band students, percussion and advanced-placement music theory.
Seeing students realize their potential is rewarding for Anderson. “When they look back over a year of hard work and realize how far they’ve come, it’s a great feeling,” he said.
In his job, the most challenging element is “balancing a student’s desire and love for band with the demand for advanced academic classes,” Anderson said. “Many times, students in band are also the ones who excel academically. Keeping students involved in band while they pursue advanced classes can be difficult.”
After considering his teachers over the years, Anderson best remembers Pat Stegall, his high school band director who retired from Muscle Shoals High School. “He was and still is a teacher whom I will always strive to emulate. His passion for his job, but even more for his students, is a quality that I hope to share with my students,” Anderson said.
Anderson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education at the University of North Alabama. He has held National Board Certified Teacher status since November 2011.
“I began my teaching career at Bob Jones High School in 2001 as assistant band director,” Anderson said. “I was hired as head band director at James Clemens in December 2011 and began there after finishing the year at Bob Jones.”
He and wife Emily are parents of seven-year-old twins Noah and Benjamin and one-year-old Isaac.
In May, Anderson started serving as chairman of music educators in Alabama District One.
