Elementary Fine Arts
Debbie Beninati named Elementary Music Teacher of the Year by the Utah Music Educators Association
Debbie Beninati, Music Specialist at Sandy Elementary School, accepted the award as Elementary Music Teacher of the Year for the 2015-16 school year at the recent Utah Music Educators Association Annual Professional Development Conference held Feb. 3 & 4, 2017. Debbie Beninati was born and raised in Colorado Springs, CO, and earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Colorado in 1987 (Go Buffs!) During her 22-year tenure as a career Air Force spouse, (living in exotic locations like Honolulu, HI and not-so-exotic locations like Biloxi MS), she taught K-6th general music, private piano lessons, substituted in regular elementary education classrooms and autism unit classrooms, and taught
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early childhood music—where her youngest students were 18 months old. During her hiatus from teaching to be a stay at home mom, Debbie remained active in public education by serving on PTA Boards and School Community Councils. Upon her husband’s retirement from the Air Force in 2009, the Beninati family relocated for the last time to Sandy, UT. Since arriving in Sandy, Debbie has substituted in the regular education classroom, taught elementary orchestra, K-6 general music, K-6 choir, and she has written an original musical for grades 2nd-5th (which was deemed “better than Hamilton”*). She earned her Level 1 Orff certification through USU and is an active member of the Utah American Orff Schulwerk Association. In 2013, she received the Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education for Utah Volunteer of the Year for her work with the Lone Peak Elementary Orchestra. She is currently a BTS music specialist at Sandy Elementary in Canyons School District. Debbie is committed to making those that hold the purse strings understand the importance of comprehensive elementary music education in public schools. She can’t imagine doing anything else for a living, mostly because her maturity level would severely limit other career choices. When not teaching, Debbie enjoys alpine skiing, hearty red wines, and dark chocolate—but not necessarily at the same time.
*By Debbie’s immediate family members who haven’t seen Hamilton.
*By Debbie’s immediate family members who haven’t seen Hamilton.
Canyons District is proud to offer the arts in all elementary schools. Students learn general music, dance, theatre, and/or visual art. Click on the links below for information and to see work from our amazing students and teachers.
music_brain_booster_guide_16-17.pdf | |
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visual_art_brain_booster_guide_16-17-2.pdf | |
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