Music has always been a driving force in Jennifer Davis’ life.
Growing up in a musical family, she fell in love with the art in her parents’ church, where they participated in music ministry. At 6 years old, she started piano lessons. Later, she discovered her passion for choral music specifically.
“There’s a skill to making music individually, and I think that’s important,” Davis said. “But making music cooperatively like in a group setting … is an element of music I really, really love. It’s one thing for me to sit and play the piano just for my pleasure. But to make music with a group of people is something I really encourage.”
Davis built her a career of more than 26 years on that passion. As the director of choral activities at Starkville High School since 2018, she fosters the same love of music in her students.
Davis said her high school band director suggested she pursue choral direction.
“She was the one who sparked that thought in me,” Davis said. “I think I always knew I liked teaching and liked music, but the idea of being a choir director was something – honestly in my smaller school – I didn’t realize that was an option.”
She received her bachelor’s in music education at William Carey University. From there, she and her husband, Danny, moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he attended seminary and she worked in the Crowley Independent School District.
Moving to a big city from a small town, Davis said it felt like a whole new world – one she couldn’t have navigated if it weren’t for the mentorship of music educators in her life.
“If I had not had those teachers 20 years ago, I’m not sure I would be teaching now,” she said. “I think that feeling of paying it forward matters in the field that we’re in.”
Davis has been paying it forward ever since. She directs four choirs at SHS, manages music programs throughout the district and teaches advanced placement music theory. On top of that, Davis is currently finishing her term as president of the Mississippi Music Educators Association.
As MMEA president, she works with MHSAA and the Mississippi Department of Education to make sure music programs across the state are successful by hosting student competitions and providing guidance for teachers.
The most important part of that role for Davis is making sure young music educators feel empowered. It’s necessary work in Mississippi, where the need for teachers is on the rise.
“I rarely meet an administrator that wants to cut the arts,” she said. “I do meet administrators who say, ‘Hey I can’t find a music teacher, so I’m going to have to give up and get another math teacher.’”
The solution, Davis said, is finding the right candidates to fill those positions and mentoring young teachers to stick with music education programs.
“I like investing in younger teachers and helping them succeed,” she said. “Honestly, it’s because someone took care of me, especially during my early days.”
Jordan Durham, another choral teacher at SHS, said Davis’ mentorship has been an asset for her as a younger educator. Davis’ “servant’s heart” extends beyond mentoring teachers in her district, she said.
“When Jennifer came in, I was already a third year teacher, but I’ve learned so much more working alongside her and seeing her teach,” Durham said. “… She’s always been someone who you could call and ask questions. She’s always willing to take time out of her day to help new directors … just because she knows how hard it is to start a program.”
Davis has also found success herself. She was named Mississippi High School Activities Association’s Music Educator of the Year last fall before going on to receive the award for Outstanding Music Educator of the Year for the Southeast region from the National Federation of State High School Associations in January.
But Davis’ top priority as an educator has always been the students. Her goal, she said, is to ensure each student feels supported while they’re in her classroom and successful when they walk out the door.
“You can get all the contests, win all the awards, but if your kids don’t enjoy the rehearsal or the classroom setting or don’t feel safe and comfortable, you’ve kind of missed the point,” she said. “So there’s this delicate balance of wanting to win, but … the point is to encourage students and build students.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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