Winnemucca News

Winnemucca News

Two Lowry staff members honored for excellence on the job - 06-03-2010

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WINNEMUCCA— Two members of Lowry High School’s staff have been honored for being tops in the State of Nevada.

In April, Lowry High School Music Director Paul Criddle was named the Nevada Music Educator of the Year, and Student Council/Leadership Advisor Tanya Grady was named the Nevada Association of Student Councils Advisor of the Year. The two were respectively honored during award banquets: Criddle at the Nevada Music Educator’s Convention in Las Vegas on April 15, and Grady at the Nevada Association of Students Councils State Conference in Spring Creek on April 23.

For Criddle, being named the state’s top music educator was a sweet, albeit surprising moment.

He relates that he was attending the convention’s teachers’ luncheon when Karen Rogers, a colleague from Elko, got up to present the Educator of the Year award. “I wondered who she would be nominating from our area because she and I are about the only two teachers that have been teaching in our zone for any length of time,” he said.

Criddle continued, “About halfway through her speech I realized she was talking about me. Then I had a moment of panic realizing that I was going to have to give some kind of speech. I accepted the award, received a plaque, and thanked everyone and said a few other things that I don't really remember.”

Criddle added, “I was really shocked and had no idea that I was going to receive the award; my wife did a good job of keeping it secret, as well as some of my students who knew.”

For the longtime music educator, though, the whole experience proved to be exceptional. “The winner of the award is selected by the state music educators’ executive board,” he explained. “I felt very honored to be recognized by my colleagues from around the state for the work I have been doing in music. It was very rewarding.”

For Tanya Grady, being honored as the Nevada Student Council Advisor of the Year also came as something of a shock—and an honor. “I was nominated a few years ago, but did not receive the honor,” said Grady, “so it was a huge surprise.”

Grady was awarded a certificate and plaque, along with copies of the letters written for her nomination by Lowry High School Principal Debbie Watts and Student Body President Andrea Vaca.

“I am not one who expects gratitude for my actions,” said Grady, “but it is very nice to know that my principal and especially the Lowry Leadership class think highly of me and appreciate what I do at LHS.”

Grady, the Foreign Language Department Chair at Lowry, has been teaching for the Humboldt County School District for 14 years. Before that, she taught at the University of Nevada Reno and completed her student teaching at Sparks High School.

In addition to teaching Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish IV, SFSS I, SFSS II, U.S. History, American Government and Leadership, she has been a Student Council advisor for 13 years—a position she says requires a lot of work, but provides a lot of satisfaction.

“I love interacting with the students in a different environment (not an academic subject) and watching them grow as individuals and leaders,” said Grady. “It is a very rewarding experience!”

As a Leadership/Student Council advisor, Grady wears many hats.  “Luckily I am blessed to have the best co-advisor in the state, Mrs. Marie-Jeanne Dawson to work with.”

She said the two do everything from advise students on their officer positions and duties to organize numerous activities such as Homecoming, Winterfest, pep assemblies, the Academic Assembly of Excellence, community service projects, and the list goes on.

Additionally, Grady and Dawson have hosted three regional and one state conference for Nevada’s young school leaders. Next year, Lowry will once again host the Northern Regional Conference.

All those activities are very gratifying, but Grady said her favorite, by far, is the Academic Assembly of Excellence, which was implemented three years ago.  “It is a ton of work, but so rewarding to be able to honor over 500 students each year, and include the parents and public in our awards ceremony,” she said.

Grady thanked Dawson for “convincing me to join her as a Leadership teacher and Student Council advisor 13 years ago.”

She said, “My experiences with students have been enriched because of my involvement with students outside of the regular classroom, and I don't know if I would have stayed in education for this long had I not gotten involved as an advisor.”

Grady also thanked her husband and children for “being patient with me during our busy activities.” She said without that family support, it would be difficult for her to carry out her duties at Lowry High School.

Without family support, Paul Criddle also would not have been chosen as the Nevada Music Educator of the Year.

Criddle’s colleague, Karen Rogers, nominated him for the award but it was Criddle’s wife, Sandra, who gathered the letters of recommendation. The award required at least two.

“My wife got on the net and put the word out and she received 42 letters from past and present

students and people that I have worked with,” said Criddle.

Criddle hopes to get his hands on those letters soon. That’s the real reward, he said.

Criddle has been teaching music for 29 years. He spent six years in Idaho and two in Wyoming before coming to Lowry High School 21 years ago.

Over the past three decades, he has taught Concert Choir, Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus (Horizon), Swing Choir, Band I, Band II, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion.  He also taught a music appreciation class for a year or so. 

The Lowry High School Swing Choir, perhaps Criddle’s most well-known musical group, began as an after-school project; the following year it transitioned into a class and all these years later, it’s a Winnemucca tradition.

Criddle has stored many wonderful memories over the past three decades, but he most enjoys the great diversity of students with whom he works.

“My favorite thing about my job, besides seeing the progress students make, is that it is never the same. There are always different challenges and students to work with that are always interesting.”

Criddle noted that it’s personally satisfying to be in a position where he can make a difference for students. It’s a tradition he would like to carry on from his own days as a music student.

“When I was in high school I had two music teachers that helped me want to go into the profession.  My band teacher was Roxanne Bates and my choir teacher was Gaylyn Harris.  I had really wonderful experiences with both of those teachers.”

Criddle also played in a rock and roll band throughout his high school years, “which gave me a lot of practical experience in performing and creating music.”

He continued, “I have always enjoyed playing on my own but it's also rewarding and fulfilling to play or sing with other people and share musical moments that you can't get from a recording.”

He added, “Music is such an important part of all of our lives.  I hope we can keep it in our school systems.  I think it makes us a little more human to connect with feelings and emotions that are awakened by good music.”

Written by Press Release - 6/3/10

• Winnemucca News