FACULTY FAREWELL Three retiring West High faculty reflect on their time at West and share their retirement plans. BY LILLY GRAHAM & MRUDANI RAMKUMAR Scan this QR code to learn more about all the teachers retiring this year.
08 PROFILE
MAY 31, 2023
ROB MEDD (BAND DIRECTOR, 30 YEARS) WSS: What are your best memories at West? Medd: There have been some amazing, tremendous performance opportunities, but I think that [the best] memories are working with the students, whether it’s sometimes a performance, sometimes in a rehearsal. I have to remind myself just how fortunate I am to have been able to make music with students every day. It’s not something we just do at the concert. We are performing and playing music every single day. WSS: What is unique about West? Medd: Iowa City Schools are very fortunate to have support in the community for music and the arts, whether it’s the band, choir, orchestra or visual arts. For the students and the faculty, and the community of West High, [they are] not known for one thing. There are students succeeding in whatever their interests are and successful programs with a lot of people involved. WSS: How has West stayed the same during your time here? Medd: One of the things I really like about West is the diversity and then the appreciation for that diversity. You don’t just have to be one kind of person or one thing to be popular. You can have friends from all across the student body. WSS: What will you miss most about teaching? Medd: I will definitely miss seeing students every day and working with them and watching their growth, their successes and failures. WSS: What do you want your students to know? Medd: One of the goals that I had was to have a really strong, quality program, but also that every student felt like there was a place for them in the band program at West High. I want kids to feel comfortable and at home here in the band program at West because I feel that music is a really important part of people’s lives.