Teacher Appreciation Week – Mr. Downing

This is Teacher Appreciation Week. I want to tell you about my fifth grade teacher, Mr. Downing.

I can remember walking into Mr Downing's classroom at Carl Sandburg School and thinking, this is going to be different.

Above the chalkboards around the room, album covers. From AC/DC to Prince, to Michael Jackson and Led Zeppelin.

Mr Gary Downing was and still is a musician and lived for music. He sang in a 50's style Motown group, and still to this day jams with a few friends at events around the Freeport area.

We would listen to music all the time in class, opening my eyes and ears to artists I had never heard before. Occasionally he would sing, dance, and always make us laugh.

Mr. Downing was a guy that had a passion for teaching and wanted to make a difference in kids lives. Through music he enhanced the learning experience and made everyday fun.

We also had the largest movie screen in the entire school. Mr Downing was pretty proud of the fact that he stole the screen meant for the schools auditorium and put it in his class room.

So as we show appreciation for all teachers this week, I say thank you to Mr Gary Downing for everything you did for me. Enjoy retirement, and never lose the beat.