Band director and music Coordinator Jennifer Brooks selected by NFHS Music Committee to receive Section Award

Posted February 2021

By Jennifer Dinh

Staff Editor

Band Director and Music Coordinator Jennifer Brooks, a candidate for a NFHS Outstanding Music Educator Award, was selected by the NFHS Music Committee to receive a Section Award representing Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

Brooks was one of only seven Section Award recipients. She was unaware of her nomination, so her win was a surprise. Brooks has been teaching for 25 years, and has been a band director at David Douglas since the fall of 1998.

"I'm motivated to teach by the looks on my students’ faces when they've given a performance they were proud of, from football pep band performances, jazz contests, to state contests," she said. “There is nothing that compares to knowing you achieved your very best."

To her, the most rewarding aspect of teaching, she pointed out, is when she and her students come together to work for something bigger than themselves, by doing everything they can to contribute to an excellent performance.

Brooks has faced numerous challenges and obstacles throughout her career. A difficult part of her life was when she pursued her master's degree while parenting her daughter and running the band program. Learning how to work best with people and losing all of the big performance moments with her students last school year was hard for her too.

“Not getting the last contests, concerts, parade with my daughter and her friends was the hardest thing I have experienced personally and professionally,” she said.

She has advice for others on how achieve the level of success she has. It would be to do what one loves for the right reasons, to be involved professionally by serving as an organizer or committee member, and to do homework. She believes that luck favors the prepared, and individuals should always try to be better than they were the day before.

“It's humbling to receive this award. Though the award is truly appreciated, it is hard to receive so much attention. I generally am facing my group with my back to the audience.”