When North Slope Borough EA member Ronnie Stanford was 15 years old, he knew he wanted to be a band director. Growing up in Texas, he attended East Texas State University, then taught music for 11 years in Texas before moving north, way north. Today he is band director in Barrow, for both Barrow High School and Hopson Middle School.

Ronnie’s nine years teaching at the top of the world have put Barrow on the map in the highly competitive national field of high school bands. Each year his band raises $30,000-$40,000 to travel to compete at the highest levels in some of the country’s biggest cities. Most recently, his students received the 1st place Superior Rating at the Chicago Music Festival and the Spirit of Chicago award for best representing their community and state.

“My greatest contributions are giving my students opportunities to experience and prepare for the world after high school, and my greatest accomplishments are the achievements of my students,” Ronnie says. “Whether they are making the all-state band, receiving a 1st place trophy at a national contest, performing at home, or writing their own music, I am always so proud of the accomplishments of my students.”

But the musical excellence he teaches and inspires in his students is only part of the story. As one admirer wrote, “Ronnie not only inspires students; he also inspires community members, parents and his colleagues….Ronnie has genuinely become part of this community.”

Under Ronnie’s guidance, his band students learn the importance of giving back to the community. Volunteering for Rotary Club and Lions Club carnivals, delivering food to elders for Thanksgiving, sponsoring food drives for the women’s shelter, performing at the senior center, churches, community vigils – these are just a few of the service activities of his students.

For two key fund raisers, students play chamber music at dinner, as well as wait tables, prepare food, and organize and run the entire events. These are always much anticipated and well attended. As another admirer wrote, “He has unified the community through his love of education and the arts.”

Ronnie has served as NSBEA vice-president and has ably headed several bargaining teams. A passionate -proponent for public schools and the arts, he is perhaps most admired for his ability to reach out and build bridges. As he says:

“We are all stakeholders in the future of our children….We must go to the communities and create the -partnerships. If we truly believe that every child can learn and are given the tools and the resources to make it happen, with our community as part of the team, there is nothing that can stand in our way.”