The National Federation of State High School Association’s (NFHS) Outstanding Music Educator Award recognizes high school or college band, choral or orchestral directors, supervisors, and adjudicators. It is awarded to individuals whose contributions have impacted high school activities programs. Nominees must exemplify the highest standards of ethical conduct and carry the endorsement of their respective state high school association. Significant and/or long-term contributions to interscholastic high school music activities are important criterion in evaluating candidates.
The Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) is pleased to announce that Chad Coughlin, Olathe South High School Director of Bands since 1995, has been selected as the 2017-18, Kansas NFHS “Outstanding Music Educator Award” recipient.
Mr. Coughlin has fostered a culture of service through band in his program. He encourages students to form small ensembles to play at local nursing homes and other special events. Olathe South has a robust all-volunteer pep band group that plays at assemblies, “send offs” for the school athletic groups, and has performed at the KSHSAA State Basketball Tournament for 15 of the last 18 years. These types of performances provide exposure to the community and exhibit the strength of the music programs in our schools and creates a much richer experience for the participants and audience at the events.
Mr. Coughlin has been very active in both the state level of the Kansas Music Educators Association and the Northeast District of KMEA. Serving as the High School Band Chair of NE KMEA, he proposed and spearheaded a revision of the district’s honor band audition process both in format and incorporation of technology to substantially reduce the length of time auditions required. This correlated to an increase in the number of students that chose to go through the audition process in subsequent years. As the President of NE KMEA and member of the state Board of KMEA, he presented a motion to split the Northeast District into two new districts, with the intent that it would create more opportunities for and encourage more participation by both teachers and students in state and district sponsored activities. That motion was passed and Mr. Coughlin has served as the Split Committee Chair to guide that process to its completion for the start of the 2018-19 school year.
Mr. Coughlin has served as the Festival Manager for the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival on alternating years for the past five years, and will be serving in that capacity annually starting in the spring of 2018. This is the largest regional festival of its type in the state of Kansas with an average of 1100 events. This festival provides an outstanding means for students to grow through playing solo and chamber ensemble literature and receive feedback and evaluation from expert adjudicators.
The NFHS Music Association Outstanding Music Educator Award was first given in 1989 when seven individuals received sectional awards. Since that time, 163 sectional and 293 state awards have been presented. Added to those totals for 2016-2017 are seven sectional awards and twelve state awards. Also, 1989 marked the beginning of an annual selection of a NFHS Citation recipient. The Citation is one of the highest awards presented by the NFHS in the fine arts.
