Homecoming: Springfield grad returns to teach music

Attracting and retaining young people is a big topic in the state of Vermont. Helen Bearse as one such retained Vermonter.

www.eagletimes.com    

2017-09-19 / Front Page Homecoming: Springfield grad returns to teach music By KELSEY CHRISTENSEN kchristensen@eagletimes.com Helen Bearse, a Springfield graduate, in the music room at Elm Hill, where she’s in her first year of teaching. — KELSEY CHRISTENSENHelen Bearse, a Springfield graduate, in the music room at Elm Hill, where she’s in her first year of teaching. — KELSEY CHRISTENSENSPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Attracting and retaining young people is a big topic in the state of Vermont. Gov. Phil Scott announced the Sept. 9 Young Professionals Summit in Rutland back in August with hopes that the summit could address barriers, such as housing and jobs, to young people who want to relocate or return to Vermont. The Vermont Council on Rural Development has said that Vermont’s status as a net-exporter of adults between the ages of 20 and 35 signals a devastating loss of energy, innovation, and initiative. Meanwhile, murmurs about how to get young people into Vermont communities abound in meetings of local governing bodies. However, Springfield can now count Helen Bearse as one such retained Vermonter. After graduating from Springfield High School in 2012, Bearse has returned home, with a degree in music education from Castleton University in tow, to teach music to the next generation. “This is everything I could hope to be doing right now,” Bearse said. Bearse herself benefited from Springfield School District music education, having played flute in school band. Bearse says that by her senior year of high school, she knew only that she wanted a career in music. “I knew I wanted to do something with music, but I didn’t know how to apply myself,” Bearse said. “Then I realized I wanted to teach.” Bearse says that, as soon as she knew she wanted to teach, she knew she wanted to do it in Springfield. “The first thing I wanted to do was come back to Springfield,” she said. She went directly from high school graduation into her bachelor’s program, with the express goal of earning the credentials to teach music. “Knowing how much joy music can bring people, being able to share that with people of all ages, and getting that experience in school, when they might not get it elsewhere, is vital,” Bearse said. “Music is in everyone’s lives, every day.” During Bearse’s studies at Castleton, where she practiced voice and french horn along with training to become a teacher, Bearse decided she could settle for a teaching position elsewhere if the opportunity didn’t present itself in Springfield. But, in the summer of 2017, the music teacher position at Elm Hill Primary School. Bearse graduated from Castleton in December of 2016 and stayed on to complete coursework toward her master’s degree. By June, however, she was hired in the Springfield School District. “Part of the way to improve life in town is to influence the lives of students in the most positive way possible,” Bearse said. Bearse may have long known her desire to return to her hometown, but many of her peers may not share the impulse. “Part of the reason people don’t come back is they don’t see behind the scenes, the strides that are being made,” Bearse said, citing plans within the town to bring industry back to Springfield and to make use of buildings that have long been vacant. Bearse is in the midst of her first year teaching. Though she did do a teaching practicum as part of her studies at Castleton, she predominantly worked with grades 4-6 and high schoolers. At Elm Hill, she’s working with students in kindergarten through second grade. “I’m learning how to connect with them on a personal level,” Bearse said. “I really like working with this age group because they learn so fast.” Her students won’t pick their own instruments and play in an orchestra until they get to Union Street School, but Bearse teaches the foundations of music through singing, dancing, games, and technology. Bearse will even be introducing the youngsters to group percussion, as well as beginning to teach them about notes. “Even if they don’t retain it, it will be there subconsciously,” Bearse said.