What is your name? Where do you teach? Caitlyn Lancaster, St. Tammany Junior High School

What subjects do you teach? Junior high band.

What is your favorite thing about the subject you teach? My favorite thing about teaching band is being able to share the many different styles of music with my students every day. How long have you been a teacher? I have taught in St. Tammany Parish for two years.

How has the profession of teaching changed since you started? Technology has really influenced the diversity in the music classroom. There are so many more music Web sites and programs available today that did not exist a couple of years ago.

Why did you become a teacher? Whether or not a student decides to become a serious musician past high school, playing an instrument is a skill that a student can have for the rest of their lives. Music teaches responsibility, discipline and respect and also gives students an opportunity to express themselves. Music gives students a place to belong, and I became a teacher to share the joys and benefits of music with all of my students.

What is your favorite thing about teaching? My favorite this is being able to choose my own music selections for each band. I can choose songs that are both challenging and fun for the students.

Do you do anything special in the classroom to get through to your students? I have been known to jump up and down and run around the room a few times. I haven’t had to stand on my head thus far, but if it helps I will do it.

What is the hardest part of your job? Teaching students how to march when it is 95 degrees outside.

Are you involved in any extra curricular activities at the school? The Wildcat Band is the extra curricular activity I work with one to three times a week. Each band level has their own specific practice day and time.

Do you utilize any special technology in the classroom? An electronic tuner and metronome.

Have you received any grants to aid you in the classroom? I have not received any grant since I have been at this school.

What do you do during your summer vacations? During my summers I play music professionally in addition to teaching high school band camps.

Do you aspire to become a principal one day? No, the classroom is definitely the place for me.

What’s the craziest thing that has ever happened while you were teaching? I was teaching a general music class last fall when a thunderstorm caused the power to go out. We were in one of our drum circle sessions, so we just played rhythm jams in the dark until the lights came back on.