March 29, 2024

Orchestra Teacher Wins Award

USD 457

Haley Rotenberger, orchestra teacher at Kenneth Henderson Middle School, Charles Stones Intermediate Center, Bernadine Sitts Intermediate Center, Abe Hubert Elementary School, Jennie Barker Elementary School, and Plymel Elementary School, has won the Outstanding Young Teacher award from the KASTA (Kansas chapter-American String Teacher’s Association). She is currently the Middle School Orchestra chairperson for SW Kansas. She regularly attends KASTA summer sessions and Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) conferences. She also makes time to perform in community orchestral events as they become available.

“She has raised the standard of the district’s orchestra program,” said Summer Miller, Garden City High School and Horace Good Middle School Orchestra director.  “The level of the entire program has been improved under her systematic way of teaching the beginning students. In addition, the enrollment in orchestra at her middle school has increased the last couple of years,” noted Miller.