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Posted: Thursday, 14 May 2009 12:25PM
Principal Leads School of Rock for Pleasanton Kids
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Pleasanton (CBS 5) ― Long before actor Jack Black made "The School of Rock," middle school principal John Whitney was rocking at Pleasanton Middle School with the Rock 'n Roll Club he started eight years ago.
"The kids need a little bit of music in their lives -- some more than others," John explains. "Some are struggling and the opportunity that we all have to make those connections and get to know kids and to personalize their experience. That's what it's all about."
John, along with other staff members who like to play, meet Friday mornings at 7:30 in the school's multi-purpose room. It's changed the way some kids think about school, and for 8th grader Connor Carroll, how he thinks about himself.
"It changed me from like a nerdy self, to more of a rock star ego type person," Connor says with slight smile. "It set me on a permanent path. I plan on playing guitar the rest of my life."
John says for some kids, the club has become what school is all about.
"This one enrichment activity has somehow put them on the map, giving them an identity," he says.
The student musicians perform at talent shows and school functions. In between gigs, Principal Whitney teaches them chord progressions, technique, and a little music history. What he says carries a lot of weight with the kids -- after all, he has a gold record hanging in his office!
"I played with Etta James for a long time, worked with Eddie Money, Marty Balin from Jefferson Airplane," he says.
But he says playing with this band is even more rewarding.
"It's just a lot more meaningful, it truly is."
It also means a lot to parents. Connor's dad says his son has made new friends, does more school work, and is committed to his music.
"He doesn't do video games anymore," Brian Carroll says. "Why play a plastic guitar with buttons when you can play a real guitar?"
Connor adds of his principal, "He's probably the coolest principal or maybe the coolest person I've ever met."
So for using a "cool" way to engage middle schoolers with education and their own hidden talents, this week's Jefferson Award in the Bay Area goes to John Whitney.
By Kate Kelly
Related Link:
* Pleasanton Middle School
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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