Spence Evans Honored

By Kathy Hanson

The Iowa Bandmasters Association has selected Ames High Principal Spence Evans among its Outstanding Administrators for 2012. Each year the IBA honors administrators who support their instrumental music programs by investing in time, budget resources, staff and and professional development to promote excellence in instrumental music education.

Ames High Band directors Chris Ewan and Andrew Buttermore nominated Evans.

“We have never seen an administrator possess such a passion for his role as Evans does,” Buttermore said.

Ewan said, “Evans understands the needs and concerns of music educators. He gives us professional development time to meet as a music staff and discuss strategies to help our students and programs flourish.”

Evans credits his mother, a music educator for more than 40 years, for helping him understand the value of arts education and its benefit to students.

“We hold ourselves accountable as Ames High’s faculty and administrators for educating the whole student and building a culture where every student is connected,” Evans said. “It’s humbling to receive this award and know that our band instructors feel so supported in those efforts.”

The IBA also recognized Jefferson-Scranton Middle School Principal Karen Younie and Denison Community Schools Superintendent Mike Pardun. The honorees will receive their awards at a banquet during the IBA Conference in Des Moines on Friday evening, May 11.