Batavia School District Is 1 Of 29 Illinois Districts Honored With Music Education Award

BATAVIA, IL — The Batavia Public School District 101 music program has been nationally recognized again for its "outstanding commitment to music education."

District 101 was honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation. It's the 11th time it received the award in the last 12 years and one of 29 districts in Illinois to be honored this year.

"This recognition continuously highlights the passion our students, staff, and community share for the profound power and impact of music," The unwavering commitment to excellence we see is truly inspiring and continues to enrich our students' lives," Superintendent Tom Kim said in a statement. "My sincere appreciation goes out to our dedicated music educators and everyone involved in making this happen."

In its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education award is given to districts that demonstrate "outstanding achievement in providing music access and education to all students," district officials wrote in a news release.

To quality, District 101 answered questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities and support for music programs. Responses were then verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Researchers have found that everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children, as listening skills are closely tied to perceiving speech in noisy backgrounds, paying attention and remembering sounds, district officials said.

"In Batavia, music isn’t just an elective, it’s the heartbeat of our schools and community," said Lisa Hatfield, the fifth-grade band and orchestra teacher. "Music education gives students a voice, a place to belong, and a powerful outlet for creativity and self-expression. Behind it all is a wonderful team of dedicated music educators who bring passion, expertise, and heart to their classrooms every single day. We are so fortunate to be part of a district that truly understands the vital role music plays in our students' lives, and we're thrilled to have that commitment recognized once again."