Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Sulphur, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2020-02-14

Duration: 00:08:25

Subjects: Music | Education

Contributors:

• Williams, Natasha Host
• Crews, Keith Photographer
• Smith, Mickey, Jr. Interviewee
• Jernigan, Mikana Interviewee
• Stanley, Trey Interviewee
• Shelton, Julian Interviewee

This segment from the February 14, 2020, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Natasha Williams’ profile of Mickey Smith, Jr., the band director at Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur and the winner of the 2020 Grammy Music Educator Award. He discusses: growing up in the community of Mossville; the power of perseverance; the growth of the band during his tenure; music as an essential element of the human experience; his love of teaching; and his hope to teach best practices to other music educators. Williams also interviews three of Smith’s seventh grade students, Mikana Jernigan, Trey Stanley, and Julian Shelton.