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Michelle Morgan, a music teacher at Nichols Elementary and Village of Barboursville Elementary, earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s November 2024 Above and Beyond Award, which honors the excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.
The award was presented by WVPB’s Education team during a surprise assembly, where Morgan’s students and colleagues gathered to celebrate her incredible contributions. As part of the recognition, Morgan received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program, proudly sponsors this award in the Mountain State.
Tonia Gray, an art teacher who works closely with Morgan, described her as “a shining example of what it means to go above and beyond. She’s not just teaching music; she’s teaching resilience, creativity and the value of hard work.” Morgan’s passion for music education is evident in her commitment to creating a meaningful, engaging experience for each student. She creates an environment where students not only learn the fundamentals of music but also discover their own voices and talents. Her classes are filled with the sounds of students singing, playing instruments, and engaging with the joy of making music together.
Beyond her regular lessons, Morgan leads a variety of extracurricular programs, such as choir and drama club. She also helps students participate in all-county and all-state choirs.
Morgan seamlessly integrates music and character education to help students develop social and emotional skills. She uses music to instill values such as teamwork, perseverance, responsibility and effective communication. “Music is about more than just notes and rhythms,” she explained. “It’s about working together, overcoming challenges, and expressing ourselves in meaningful ways.” Her students learn to support one another, celebrate their successes, and grow from their mistakes.
In addition to her work in the classroom, Morgan is deeply invested in her community. Morgan plays the flute in local theater companies and regularly attends student events to show her support. As faculty senate president and an active PTO member, she works diligently to advocate for her students and colleagues. “She has a strong relationship with parent and community involvement,” said Gray, Morgan’s nominator. “She works with them to plan countless shows, extracurricular choir and drama clubs. The parents and community truly admire her and are grateful for her role in building the music program they have today.”
For Morgan, music is a way to connect, communicate and grow. “Music has the power to connect us, to express what words cannot. I want my students to carry that with them, no matter where life takes them,” she explained. This philosophy drives her commitment to making music an accessible and enriching experience for every student.
Each month, WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia. If you know of a deserving teacher who goes “Above and Beyond,” please click here to nominate them.
