Kyle Cook champions the positive academic, social, and emotional experience Maplewood Middle School students receive every day. As director of bands, he ignites a love of music in new and advanced band students alike: Nearly half of the student body chooses to participate in band each year. His motivational personality and strong classroom management allow students to build their musical skills while connecting to core class curriculum — like learning how beat-counting, rhythmic patterns and time signature identification relate to fractions and patterns in math. Cook holds students to high expectations and promotes accountability through utilizing Student Learning Target assessment data on rhythm counting, music terminology and symbol identification. Incoming sixth graders partake in instrument “try-ons” with Cook, where they are matched with their future band instrument similarly to how wizards at Hogwarts are paired with their wands.
Cook’s influence extends beyond the community through his membership in several professional music organizations such as: District V Band and Orchestra Association, Louisiana Music Educators Association, Louisiana Bandmasters Association, MusicMakers2U, and the National Association of Music Educators. His professional and instructional leadership is elevated through the district’s partnership with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, where he has had the opportunity to leverage his talents and spread best practices through his role on the school’s Instructional Leadership Team. He mentors new teachers, presents at state music education conferences, and hosts clinics for other area band directors. Cook contributes to district music curriculum through his role on the fine arts committee and has served on the discipline committee and multiple interview committees.
Many of Cook’s students go on to perform in district, all-city, and all-state bands. Cook initiated the All-City Jazz band, founded the Calcasieu British Brass Band, performs in the Lake Charles Community Band, directs Sulphur’s All-City Middle School Jazz Band, and assists with Sulphur High School’s marching band. Cook collaborates with other educators and local performing arts groups to organize an “Arts in the Park” event, where the Maplewood band proudly performs each year. He’s also stayed connected to his alma-mater, McNeese University, by mentoring music program residents and allowing college students to observe and train in his first hour beginning band class.
Cook earned his Bachelor of Music in music education from McNeese State University in 2016 with a concentration in instrumental education.
Press Release: Drumroll, Please: Lowell Milken Surprises Sulphur Band Director Kyle Cook with $25,000 Milken Educator Award
