Strath Haven teacher in running for music educators award

A shot at a national accolade is music to Strath Haven Middle School teacher Henry Pearlberg’s ears.

Pearlberg was named this week as a quarterfinalist for the 2018 Music Educators Award, an honor presented by The Recording Academy and The Grammy Museum to any current music teacher who has made a “significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education” and to help keep music in schools.

Of 2,300 applicants, 197 teachers were named quarterfinalists, including 11 from Pennsylvania. Pearlberg is the only Delaware County teacher to make the first cut.

“I am very honored to be named a quarterfinalist for this award,” Pearlberg wrote in an email. “There are thousands of outstanding music educators across the country who are dedicated to delivering high quality music programs to their students. It is very special to be named along with this elite group of teachers.”

Wrapping up his 35th year as a music teacher – 34 of them with the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District — Pearlberg instructs students in sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders in various capacities including concert bands, orchestra, jazz band and also serves as the assistant director for the Strath Haven High School marching band.

Educating children has provoked his involvement outside of the classroom by serving as president of the 4,000-member Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. He was previously district 12 president for the PMEA representing music teachers in the counties of Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia.

“I want to engage each student in the learning process to help them grow not only musically but also with confidence to help them succeed,” Pearlberg said. “I think my students see the excitement and joy that music brings me and that helps my students develop a deeper appreciation.”

With decades of experience, Pearlberg provided his own insight on how to be an effective educator with young learners.

“First, you need to enjoy working and engaging with kids. Students need to see that you care about them,” he said. “You also need to be able to adapt and change as circumstances present themselves. No two students are alike.

“I also think that you need not only to be a master of your subject matter, but you need to involve and engage the students in the learning process.”

For his established career of sharing with students his love of music, Pearlberg has been honored by the Philadelphia Phillies as an allstar teacher, recipient of the school district’s Excellence in Service Award in 2013 and the Council Rock School District’s Visual and Performing Arts Award Distinction in 2014.

After the support of his friends and family, Pearlberg expressed his thanks to the district that he has spent almost the whole of his career.

“I am very grateful for the support of the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District as well as their support and the value they place on music and arts education in our children’s lives,” Pearlberg said.

If named one of the 15 semifinalists this fall, Pearlberg will receive a $500 honorarium with a matching grant for the school. Ten finalists will ultimately be named, including the one recipient of the Music Educators Award. The distinguished honoree will participate in a week of events of leading up to the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 28, 2018 in New York City, where they will attend as an invited guest of the academy.