Valarie Milligan is the Academic Coordinator for Music in the Fine and Performing Arts Department at Dayton Public Schools. She has been with the district for three years, and is a veteran music educator with 40 years of teaching experience. She has been trained in Kodaly and Orff-Schulwerk music philosophies. Orff-Schulwerk is a philosophy incorporated into all DPS elementary music classes that involves speaking, singing, moving and playing instruments. Students speak poems, sing songs and move to music while accompanying themselves on Orff instruments, which include pitched and unpitched percussion. 

What does your day-to-day role in the Dayton Public Schools look like?

I am responsible for coaching and evaluating the elementary music teachers. I provide professional development to help them create engaging lesson plans. I also attend their music classrooms and model effective strategies to support the concepts being taught. Each music teacher has a set of Orff instruments in his/her classroom for the students to use. 

I really enjoy being in the classroom and teaching students. I love seeing the enjoyment on their faces. I also love sharing ideas with music teachers and seeing them take a song, book, poem or puppet suggestion and use it in their own classrooms.

The Fine and Performing Arts Department has received many grants and donations over the last several years. Can you share more about these grants and how they are benefiting students?

The district has many partnerships that have benefited students. We are partners with Dayton Performing Arts Alliance, Winter Guard International, Yamaha Corporation, Save the Music Foundation, Dayton Art Institute, Cultureworks and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.

Yamaha donated a set of timpani to each band program in 2019, which totalled more than $250,000. Additionally, eight elementary schools received $22,000-worth of Orff instruments and materials last year from the Save the Music Foundation. This year, five additional elementary schools will receive these grants. Next year, we expect that the last two elementary schools will also receive the grants. Dayton Public Schools have received more of these grants than any other district in the region.

How is our Visual Arts program working to improve and provide the best education for students?

Our Visual Arts teachers actually partnered with local artist Bing Davis last year for several professional development sessions to help create fun and effective lessons for students. Teachers are now incorporating his strategies into their classrooms. Teachers in visual arts and music are always learning more to improve the experience for students. 

How will music and arts classes continue while students are learning virtually?

All students will continue to receive quality music and art education while learning from home. Classes will be offered virtually for middle and high school students, and elementary students will have enrichment videos created by our certified music and art teachers. Students will be able to view these lessons during their scheduled times each week. 

In your opinion, why is it so important for students to participate in art and music programs?

Art and music actually help educate the whole child, which is a big focus within the Dayton Public Schools. These content areas help develop the skills needed for math and reading, and many studies have shown that children who participate in fine arts programs become more successful students overall. 

What are you most looking forward to this school year?

The Academic Coordinator for Fine and Performing Arts, Dr. Justen Seay, and I have developed a professional development center for the fine arts team to collaborate with colleagues and further develop their craft. This center is equipped with all of the tools they will need to be more successful teachers. Additionally, we are looking forward to our music teachers being certified in level 1 Orff-Schulwerk, sponsored by the Save the Music Foundation. We are also looking forward to quickly returning to our classrooms to engage DPS students in person!