Dedicated alumna honored with inaugural award

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Elizabeth (Fox) Barkan ’03 was recently honored with the inaugural installment of the prestigious award, the 2017 Music Educator of the Year for Stark County. Granted by the Canton Symphony Orchestra, Barkan, director of bands and instrumental music at Fairless Local Schools, was selected from a group of 10 finalists for her dedication to her students and the contributions she made to the music education team for the district.

“When she was hired, she joined a team of six music educators grades K-12,” an administrator wrote in her nomination. “As major budgetary issues forced tough choices… the music team dropped to three educators, and more specifically our instrumental music team dropped from three educators to one. Through all of this, Liz maintained a positive attitude and managed to fight not to lose a single aspect of the Fairless music program.”

One of her students added in a nomination letter that Barkan convinced the school board to allow high school groups to continue solo and ensemble work, “setting aside an entire night every week to individually work with every single student.”

The purpose of the Music Educator of the Year Award is to acknowledge those who make a real difference in the community through their dedication to music education, and to promote a greater understanding of the impact music education can make on the lives of students.

Honored during the intermission of a spring performance of the Orchestra, Music Director Gerhardt Zimmerman recognized the finalists for the award and thanked them for dedication to their good work, for the life lessons —beyond music—that they teach their students.

Barkan says that her Malone education equipped her to pour into her students in ways that will benefit them as they move toward their next steps in life.

“Malone taught me how to foster meaningful relationships,” Barkan said. “Relationships built on a foundation of trust, compassion, and integrity allow me to serve Fairness Schools and their students to the best of my ability. I learned how to integrate my faith into everyday life and occurrences, and for this I am so grateful.”