Stephen Cox, an Early High School graduate and band director at Eastland High School for the past 10 years, was recently selected as the annual Grammy Music Educator Award.
Cox was recently interviewed by CBS This Morning, where he stated, “I love music but very much rallied against the idea of being a teacher as I was going into college. I had a professor who said get a music ed degree and I begrudgingly said yes. And then I fell in love with it. I liked the idea that whenever you sit down and you work with someone and they leave, they’re better. It’s beautiful. Teaching is beautiful.”
Regarding the choice to teach at a small school after attending one growing up, Cox told CBS, “In a small town the school is a huge part of the culture. What we offer them at this school becomes a real big piece of their lives. The mission is the kids, the mission is making sure they have what they need to choose their path. Once you’re able to choose your path, the sky’s the limit.”
CBS interviewed a pair of Cox’s student at Eastland – Joel Hernandez and Mikey Seabourn.
Hernandez, who now wants to be a teacher because of Cox, said, “He’s taught me how to be a leader. Him picking me as section leader has taught me to set the bar for other students so they can have an expectation of what they need to do.”
Seabourn, while fighting back tears, added, “Six days past my birthday by grandma passed away. I expected no one to be there, but Mr. Cox showed up. I didn’t know he cared about me as much as he did.”
In regard to his connection with his students, Cox said, “I feel a responsibility to them. I hope that what it means to them is they know that I love them unconditionally and no matter how crazy things get, as long as they want to move forward I’m always going to be right there next to them to help them do it.”
Cox is also behind the creation of the Eastland Jazz Festival, which will again take place April 9 on the square in downtown Eastland.
Cox also posted the following on his Facebook page about the Grammy honor: “I’m sure I will be writing more about this later this week, but I want to say this: I am thrilled about this honor. I hope that this is seen as a reflection of my wonderful students, community, and administration and especially the work or my fellow directors Jett Lowrance and Juan Hernandez. These men are amazing directors, friends, and human beings and this honor is very much a reflection of their work. There are a lot of people that have poured into me over the years, and most of them are teachers. There are so many teachers doing the kind of work that deserve recognition like this and I am proud to be a part of this profession.”
The 64th Annual Grammy Awards airs from Las Vegas at 7 p.m. Sunday on CBS.