Graduate Receives Recognition As Music Educator

Former Class of 2000 Jackson Memorial High School graduate Jenn (Weiss) Bock was recently honored by Yamaha’s “40 Under 40” music education advocacy program. (Photo courtesy The Yamaha Suite)

  JACKSON – A township graduate is celebrating her excellence in music education thanks to the Yamaha “40 Under 40” music education advocacy program.

  “We would like to congratulate Jackson Memorial High School Bands Alumnus, Jenn (Weiss) Bock Class of 2000, for being chosen as one of Yamaha’s ‘40 under 40.’ Bock has been recognized in the inaugural class of top young music educators in the nation. This is an amazing honor and we are extremely proud of her accomplishments,” Jackson Memorial High School Band Director Jason M. Diaz said.

  Bock was overjoyed to be recognized as an outstanding music educator and as someone who is making a difference by growing and strengthening music programs.

  She is an assistant band director/marching band director at Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona.

  When Bock moved to Highland High School, the color guard consisted of just nine students. So she recruited junior high students to join the winter guard.

  “The excitement spread, and our winter program had two guard teams with 35 members in 2019,” Bock said.

  Bock focused on another area that needed updating – the movement program for the marching band.

  “I try to surround myself with people who are smarter than me in areas where I’m lacking,” Bock said. “I never marched drum corps or even college marching band, so when it was time to modernize the movement program, I hired people who I felt had the knowledge and skills to take us there.”

  She credits the marching staff for teaching the new marching and dance program to the students – which was done virtually during the pandemic. When in-person school shut down in the spring of 2020, Bock went into overdrive and coordinated with the booster organization to sew instrumental music masks for the entire 150-student marching band.

  This effort enabled Highland to have summer rehearsals that followed social-distancing guidelines. According to one of her “40 Under 40” nomination letters, “since the beginning of the pandemic, Jenn has been relentless in her pursuit of making this a meaningful year for her students.”

  Bock has held multiple positions on the boards of music education organizations and is a strong role model for all music directors, but especially for young women who are considering a career in music education. Her message to them is straightforward: “Work hard and have confidence in the work you’re doing. Believe that you’re good enough to be there and then make it so.”

  Last autumn, nominations were called for from music educators under the age of 40 who showcased the following characteristics: action (anticipate what needs to be done and proactively take the necessary steps that lead to a stronger music program), courage (propose and implement new or bold ideas), creativity (show innovation and imagination in achieving plans and objectives) and growth (establish, grow or improve music education in their schools and communities).

  The program received hundreds of nominations from students, parents, other teachers and administrators, local instrument dealers and mentors.