St. Augustine Band Teacher of the Week

St. Augustine, FL -- Dozens of nominations were sent in by students and parents for a beloved band teacher at St. Augustine High School. Laura Beard is our Teacher of the Week.

Band students at St. Augustine High School describe their band teacher as different; not like any other teacher they've had in school. "She's definitely the teacher I'll remember 10 years or so from now, out of all the teachers in high school," said 12th grader, Austin Garb.

Beard is in her third year of teaching at St. Augustine High School. It's a job she loves and it shows.

Her band has done well in competition. The marching band made it to the state finals last year and performed in the Tropicana Dome in Tampa. "When we left the dome everyone was crying and hugging each other; and I think, none of us had ever had an experience like that before," said Beard.

The jazz band has also done well making it to the State Jazz Assessment. "That is very hard to do," said Beard.

Her students say they've learned a lot from their band director. "I've learned more in these two years than in all of the years of band ever," said 10th grader Gabby Ricci.

Dozens of her students sent in nominations wanting her to be our Teacher of the Week. "It's just overwhelming (they did this for me) I don't have the words for it. Just overwhelming," said Beard.

For now they'll keep playing and performing until the year comes to an end. Beard will not be returning as the band director next year. She says it was not her decision.

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