Music teachers travel to Washington to advocate for students

Wilson native and former Wilson County Schools teacher Jeremy Tucker was one of more than 300 music education leaders and advocates who convened in Washington, D.C., last month to share the importance of music education with their legislators.

Tucker, director of arts education for Wake County Public School System and artistic director of the Raleigh Youth Choir, attended the annual National Association for Music Education Hill Day with several other North Carolinians.

When meeting with members of Congress, attendees shared their personal experiences of music education's positive impact on their students and communities.

These anecdotes helped facilitate conversation focused on how legislators can support federal programs and legislation ensuring all students have access to a well-rounded education that includes music, according to a news release from N.C. Music Educators Association. Tucker is advocacy chair for the association.

NAfME advocates for federal programs that support a well-rounded education such as Titles I, II and IV-A of the Every Student Succeeds Act.