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Justin has
served as our music teacher at Truman Elementary School and on the band staff in Nevada for the last
year. I can tell you as a colleague and
as a parent of one of his music students that he has done a wonderful job in
that position. His students love him! In his time here he has taken a class that
had previously been known as “movie time” by the teachers in the building
and turned it into a class that the kids
love and also learn a lot. I was very
happy with the level of musicianship his students have shown. The quality of music education in Truman has
really changed for the better since he has been teaching there. He is committed to teaching kids the
fundamentals they need to succeed in music.
Over the course of 2011-12 Justin has been involved with our band program
in many ways. He has helped with the
high school marching band, assisted with district band tryouts, judged at our Nevada music festival
and helped with the jazz program. We
have had a strong year here at Nevada and Justin has
been a big part of equation. I have no
doubt that his marching and performing expertise helped us accomplish our first
Ozarko championship in 7 years. He is a
very knowledgeable in instrument pedagogy which gives him a good understanding
of what is needed to be a successful musician.
Justin is very punctual and has a drive that keeps him on time and on
schedule. He also has very developed
ears and is excellent at finding musical problems and providing excellent
incite in ways to solve those problems for students. Justin is a team player and has worked well
inside our instrumental music staff.
Tom Meyer
Nevada Bands
Music City Drum Corp
I have had the pleasure of working with Justin Ormsby for the past year. Since Justin has come to work in Nevada, the band
program has utilized his talents frequently.
Justin has been hired as a member of the band staff and been regularly
involved with the High School Marching Band, Jazz Band, Middle School Honor
Band, and both middle school and high school solo and ensemble competitions. His skills as a brass player and educator
have proven to be a great asset to our program.
In addition to his teaching duties Justin has developed a large private lesson
studio. He gives private lessons to
nearly twenty of our brass, woodwind, percussion and piano students. His
successes with these students have been remarkable! Many students have moved from the bottom or
middle of their section all the way to the top and have become much more active
in extra curricular band activities such as solo and ensemble competitions and
district band auditions.
Justin has also shown a great commitment to his own professional
development both as a player and a teacher.
I have always found him to be a reflective practitioner always looking
for ways to strengthen his own teaching.
Justin has been both an elementary music teacher and a band director and
has excelled in both fields. He is a
dedicated and passionate teacher and a hard worker. He never settles for mediocrity and has a
unique way of bringing out the best in all students. He always demands excellence, and since his
students respect him he receives it. I
would highly recommend Justin to any music education position. I think he would
be a great addition to your staff, and I know he would work very hard to help
your students become wonderful musicians.
Sincerely,
Amanda Meyer
Nevada Bands
I became acquainted with Justin Ormsby
when he was the Band Director at Mansfield High School, just a few miles down the road from
where I teach in Seymour, MO.
The quality
of the band program in Mansfield during his time there spoke volumes
in regard to his ability and talent as a band director. The Mansfield band looked great every time I got
to see them perform, and they did very well at contest and at marching
competitions. In fact, Justin gave the students valuable experience in field
marching and took them to a competition (where they did quite well), even
though Mansfield doesn’t have a football program. We also talked many times
about how we might combine our students in order to have instrumentation for a
jazz band. This shows his willingness to go above and beyond the expected in
order to give his students the best possible, well-rounded music education.
Justin sat in
with our Seymour High School pep band on several occasions and
with a jazz band I play with. He impressed me with his talent and his desire to
keep leaning and improving as a performer as well as a teacher. He also
impressed me as someone who is very intelligent and knowledgeable, and someone
who always has his students’ best interests at heart.
Cathy Coonis,
Assistant Band Director
Seymour High School
When Mr. Ormsby
taught [at Mansfield], I was very impressed with his
content area knowledge and work ethic. Before he came to Mansfield, we had a band program that we could
be proud of, but we were not a marching school. Within one year, our marching
band was winning award after award. Additionally, he worked with me to start a
club for students interested in careers in education.
I have
tremendous respect for Mr. Ormsby. He is a dedicated professional with
excellent qualifications. Hiring him to teach in your school would give your
students high quality instruction and give your faculty a great teacher.
Scott Lawson,
English Teacher
Mansfield High School
I have known
Mr. Ormsby for several years now initially as an undergraduate in our
professional education program and currently as chair of his Masters thesis
committee here at Missouri State University.
The two
character traits that make Justin stand out, and that are essential to the
success of any teacher, are thoughtfulness and concern. These two traits, particularly as manifested
in Justin, are intimately connected to each other. Justin has a depth of concern for educational
policy and practice, the study of music, and his students. On the other hand, his concern for each is
reflected through a very thoughtful lens rather than in immediate
“reaction.” He has clearly learned that
successful problem solving coming out of his emotional attachment to teaching
music to young people can only happen with careful consideration—the hallmarks
of a truly reflective teacher.
His
thoughtful concern for educational policy and practice, the study of music, and
his students will make him an asset to any school’s music program.
Dr. Eric
Sheffield, Professor of Education
Missouri State University
I have known
Mr. Ormsby both as a musician in college and as an educator. I had the
opportunity to hire Mr. Ormsby as a Low Brass Tech for the Branson Band during
the summer camps. He did a wonderful job with the Low Brass section and the
students had a positive connection with Mr. Ormsby.
Mr. Ormsby is
very organized, driven and dedicated to the teaching profession and to music
education. He has a great connection with students while still maintaining the
teacher/student level of professionalism. My observation of Mr. Ormsby with
student made me realize that he is good for kids.
Mr. Ormsby
has a genuine concern, care and interest in his students along with that same
level to staff members he works along side.
I have
confidence in Mr. Ormsby’s work ethic, abilities and his high level of
educational knowledge. I feel he will be a wonderful and positive addition to
your district and music program.
Mr. John Kerley,
Director of Bands
Eminece Missouri
I have had
the privilege of working, performing, and teaching with Mr. Ormsby for over
fifteen years throughout our high school, collegiate, and professional careers.
Over the
course of the multiple years I have known Mr. Ormsby, I have personally
witnessed his high level of personal musicianship in performance, his
commitment to excellence regarding the groups he works with, and his ability to
take a group of musicians and help them achieve their goals while having a fun,
educational experience.
Mr. Ormsby’s
experiences in teaching K-12 music, teaching at the high school level, teaching
at the collegiate level, and specialization in multiple instruments allows for
a flexibility of teaching that is hard to find in today’s era of “high school
band specialists” or “middle school band specialists” that are frequently found
in our field today. His ability to start new programs, maintain them, and bring
all students to a high level of musical and personal achievement is evident
through his work with past groups, and I feel confident that if given the
chance, he has the ability to do so with the students in your district or
school.
During his
time at the Summit Preparatory School, Missouri State University, Parkview High
School, and Mansfield Schools, I have been able to work with and observe Mr. Ormsby,
and it seems that I always have something to learn from his teaching techniques
or performance style that helps me become a better musician and teacher.
Mr. Josh Garoutte,
Director of Bands
Spokane, MO
I first met
Justin Ormsby when he came to Parkview High School in 2006 as the Assistant Director of
Bands. His easy-going nature and
knowledge of music and marching immediately earned him the respect of the
students and parents alike.
Justin works
hard at developing relationships with his students, teaching them to not only
play music, but to appreciate it as well.
His passion for music is contagious and he brings out the best in his
kids. He can be the silly band teacher
one minute, and have the entire group back on task the next. My son calls Mr. O the best band teacher he’s
ever had – quite a compliment from a teenager.
As a band
parent, I enjoyed working with Justin.
Taking five busloads of students to competition can present some
interesting situations. Justin was
always up to the task and able to handle anything that came up. When the booster club needed information or a
decision from a director, he was always available. He was patient when we had dozens of
questions and always took teasing from the crazy band moms in stride! He obviously loves what he does and our kids
were lucky to have had him as a teacher.
Terry A Stufflebeam,
Band Parent
Parkview High School
As a former
student of Mr. Ormsby’s I find that I may have more insight into the impact he
had on his students than even he can express. While Mr. Ormsby was my band
director I found that his policies were strict but fair, his standards were
high, and his methods made us stronger musicians everyday, while building in us
a love and dedication for band. His passion and dedication extended outside the
classroom and he made of his students excited to come to band.
Mr. Ormsby
brought an excitement to the classroom and made it more than band. He created
an atmosphere that made students want to succeed. In the time that he taught
the class, I saw those students that had once been unmotivated begin to really
care about the band program. His
patience and determination to help these students made them more confident in
themselves not only in band, but in other classes as well.
On a personal
note, Mr. Ormsby inspired me to become a music educator. Before Mr. Ormsby came
to Mansfield I never thought that I would be
capable of becoming a good musician. It was his dedication and encouragement in
helping me improve my skills that made me decide to become a middle school band
director. I saw in him what I wanted to be to my own students; a patient,
dedicated, and understanding teacher.
Chelsea
Jones, Student
Mansfield High School
To know Mr. Ormsby
and to be taught by him is an absolute honor. Since day one of him beginning at
Mansfield High School he has taught me many musical
lessons, as well as life lessons. By teaching my to be confident while playing
the trumpet, he has taught me to be confident in life. He always had a smile on
his face too, which is probably my favorite thing about him. He would always
come in the band room with a goofy grin and a funny joke. He always got my
morning going with a smile.
My 8th grade year he had me and a couple other fellow 8th graders come up and play with the high shool. It taught me so much and made me realize that hard work and perseverance truly pays off. I felt like a star that year. During that time he also taught the entire MHS band how to field march, which most of us had never even heard of before. Not only did he teach how to field march, but he told us how to do it right, and how to do it remarkably well for never. He took joy and pride in this, and was always patient with his students. He is a strict teacher and always let's you know what he wants and expects from you, but he is also fair and understanding. He has made our band program an excellent one to be a part of and we are respected now more than we ever have been before. He has permanently changed our band program for the better and I'm highly thankful for this. All of these things show that he is a genuine and hardworking teacher and person.
My 8th grade year he had me and a couple other fellow 8th graders come up and play with the high shool. It taught me so much and made me realize that hard work and perseverance truly pays off. I felt like a star that year. During that time he also taught the entire MHS band how to field march, which most of us had never even heard of before. Not only did he teach how to field march, but he told us how to do it right, and how to do it remarkably well for never. He took joy and pride in this, and was always patient with his students. He is a strict teacher and always let's you know what he wants and expects from you, but he is also fair and understanding. He has made our band program an excellent one to be a part of and we are respected now more than we ever have been before. He has permanently changed our band program for the better and I'm highly thankful for this. All of these things show that he is a genuine and hardworking teacher and person.
Amanda Davis,
Student
Mansfield High School
