Skip to main content

Educator Awards

2024 Recipients

Paul Kenny

Paul Kenny

Music Educator Award

About the Award: The LPS Music Educator Award was created in the 2022-2023 school year and annually recognizes an LPS teacher who demonstrates remarkable commitment to music education and students. The monetary award is restricted solely to professional learning opportunities for the recipient.

Awarded Amount: $1,000

Nominated By: Several Past Students 

Nomination - Quotes from Former Students: 

  • "He vibes with the music and makes us feel better about what we're playing by making it interesting. He engages with us and makes sure we are confident and also provides many opportunities for us during our band experiences." 

 

  • "Mr. Kenney isn't like any of the other band directors I've had. Mr. Kenney actually makes students in his band feel like they belong. The way he directs can go from goofy and fun, to serious, but right back to goofy and fun."

 

  • "Mr. Kenney always makes learning music something to look forward to, and since having him as my teacher I've improved exponentially. Band is my favorite class by far, and it's all thanks to him. He's a good teacher, but more importantly a good person. I hope to be as kind and patient as he is someday." 

 

  • "Mr. Kenney encourages creativity by being creative himself. Did you know he wrote our entire marching band show, from the music right down to the drill? And we got a Superior rating at state. He's and incredible musician, composer, and director. He should be out there selling his work, but he's here teaching us and inspiring us to work as hard as he does. They say actions speak louder than words, and holy cow do Mr. Kenney's actions speak volumes."

 

  • "One of the ways he's done a great job at simulating interest can be shown just by how vastly our band has grown in one year. People want to be under his direction! He's even helped me learn to read music as someone who's a big singer, which has helped me learn loads about understanding music and portraying it. I don't know where I'd be in my singing career without him, or where the band would be."

 

The Numbers

  • Schools Served

    60

  • Focus & Specialty Programs Served

    15

  • Students Empowered

    41,784

  • Teachers & Staff Supported

    7,500+

  • Funds Received This Year

    $3.50M

© 2024 Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools

Powered By Firespring