Keep the Dream of Creativity Alive!

As you may know, our fine arts department has been deteriorating over the past couple years due to lack of funding. Nevertheless, we as creative innovators have shown initiative and have performed with maximum effort and passion. Though we lacked in funds, we made up for it in spontaneous artistic expression. However, events are currently becoming rather bleak. Word has gotten out that many teachers have been given pink slips, including our own Mr. (Byron) Teater and Ms. (Jordan) Riddell. We as a unit, have decided to unite on their behalf in order for both to continue doing what they thrive on: making music and teaching the ways of music. Over the years, Mr. Teater has done a tremendous job as both a history teacher and a percussion director in band. Ms. Riddell has done exceptional work by training her students diligently in order to win a distinguished rating at KMEA and has moved mountains within the choir room on several occasions. Both are heard, respected, and beloved by our students. Because of the atmosphere that they provide us in the classroom daily, we enjoy our work increasingly more. From that we thrive in our passion and carry that wherever we go, possibly influencing others along the way. In this sense, we are not just a unit. We are a family. We accept each other and try to see new ideas at different perspectives. This family was built on hard work, passion, drive, energy, creativity, and perseverance. But, most of all, this family was built on Mr. Teater and Ms. Riddell. Without them, we have no motivation to move forward. Why? It is because they are the ones who instilled these ideas in us. Sign this petition for any teacher (getting a pink slip) who has made you feel significant and loved. We are the voices that must advocate for our own cause. If we do not speak, who will?