The Buzz

North Reading High School has a plethora of teachers, teaching assistants, and staff that deserve appreciation for their hard work and dedication. The teacher of the month poll has been used to highlight some teachers that most students might not know. Case in point, October’s Teacher of the Month was Mr. Owens, the high school and middle school band director. The title does not live up to the countless duties Mr. Owens carries out throughout the school under the radar. When asked what he wants the school to know about his work, he humorously replied, “That I do it, cause we hide down here”. He wants people to understand that the arts program is just as important to students’ daily schedules as people who participate in athletics and those who do clubs. Most of all, he is “glad to be a part of” his students’ learning experience.

Background

Mr. Owens works in the performing arts department alongside Mrs. Allison Kane, who directs the high school Chorus, Masquers, and Notetorious. His partner in crime is Mr. Dan Muse, who works with the percussionists, assists with the Marching Band, and works with the 6th band. Mr. Owens works with Ms. Lister at the middle school, and recognizes the elementary school music education team as well, which consists of Mr. Tatro at the Little School, Ms. Kamo at the Hood, and Mrs. Morgan at the Batch. He explains, “I get the future” of what they teach.

He shared some of his own experience with music, and described the wide variety of instruments he has played and taught over the years. He started out with the trombone in 6th grade–unless he counts the recorder experience that we all know and love–and quickly grew his scope by learning the drums. He explains how he broadened his abilities after entering college and discovering the French horn, which he describes as a “beautiful instrument”. When asked about which instrument is the hardest to learn or play, he had no definitive answer and explained that it depends on the person, that one person may grasp one instrument easier than another. That’s just life, he says, “They all have their own challenges… there are ones that are harder to start out with, some that are harder overall to learn”.

What is your favorite NRHS event?

He immediately was at a loss for words, wondering if we could narrow it down to “band-related” events, proclaiming confidently: “I love all our concerts… anytime we get to perform.” His favorite “not music related event” would be the Student Faculty Basketball Game because it is an interactive experience between students and teachers, in an environment where anyone can participate as a player, or as a fan. Mr. Owens thoroughly enjoys the cooperative and competitive atmosphere it creates.

What is your Halloween costume going to be this year?

Mr. Owens explained that Mr. Muse was in the process of convincing him to be Ted Lasso (although that would mean shaving his beard, which he said was a big no).  But in all, Owens admitted that he’s not a huge Halloween person and prefers the simpler things in life. Plain chocolate is his favorite candy. He remarked “I’ll wear a funny hat or find an inflatable sumo wrestler suit online” and show up. 

What’s a unique fact about yourself that not many people know? 

As a baseline, this question is used to better get an idea of a teacher’s “secret” or some things that they don’t share personally. Mr. Owens’s “secret” was that he has a twin sister that lives in New York city, a former actress who performed in several off-Broadway productions and even Shakespearean plays and who now works in the mental health sector. He spoke of how his sister and his careers prove that they live in a very musical family so music has been a passion of his from a young age, one that he’s honored to translate into his work and through his students. 

As a final note, Mr. Owens once again showed his appreciation for “the honor of being the first Teacher of the Month of the 2023-2024 school year”.