USD235 Music Teacher Inducted into KS Music Educator Hall of Fame

Loretta George

3 years ago

Rhonda Allen was announced as a Kansas Music Educator Association Hall of Fame Inductee last week at West Bourbon Elementary School, Uniontown. Taken from the school’s Facebook page. Allen, left, is being introduced by former colleague Andrea Dinkel, middle, who nominated her for the award. At right is fellow USD235 Music Teacher Neva Rowland.

Uniontown Music Teacher Rhonda Allen was informed during a school assembly last week that she is being inducted into the Kansas Music Educator Association Hall of Fame.

Allen was told of her induction in a school assembly last week at West Bourbon Elementary School. Photo taken from the school’s Facebook page.

“Andrea Dinkel nominated me for the award last fall,” Rhonda Allen said. Dinkel is a former colleague of Allen’s in the USD235 School District.

“Though I was nominated, I didn’t expect to be inducted and feel very humbled by the whole thing,” Allen said. “I did not know what the assembly was about going in.”

Allen is in her 40th year teaching music, with 31 of those at Uniontown. She taught in Arma for nine years.

Rhonda Allen. Taken from the school district’s staff directory.

Currently, she teaches Pre-K through 6th-grade general music at West Bourbon Elementary School, Uniontown Junior High Choir, and accompanies on the piano for the high school.

“I am deeply honored by this award and am grateful for the wonderful colleagues and students I’ve worked with over the years,” Allen said. “I’ve learned so much from them and have enjoyed sharing the language of music with them.”

“The Uniontown administration and staff support music opportunities for our students and work to keep those options available for our students,” she said.

“I owe a lot to the Kansas Music Educator’s Association,” she added. “Our annual in-service conferences and other workshops have been a source of knowledge and inspiration.”

The official induction ceremony will take place at KMEA In-Service Workshop on Saturday, February 26.

From the KMEA website:

Induction to the KMEA Hall of Fame is the highest honor bestowed by the Kansas Music Educators Association. KMEA established the Hall of Fame to honor those career members of the Kansas music education community who have made a significant contribution to the growth of music in the state. Any music educator exceptionally affecting music education may be considered. Formal induction and recognition takes place at the In-Service Workshop each February.

In addition to having their name, photo, and teaching bio placed on permanent display, inductees receive a plaque inscribed as follows:

“The Kansas Music Educators Association is proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of the above-mentioned educator for exceptional contributions to the children and youth of Kansas. This annual award honors musicianship of the highest order and recognizes exemplary musical and teaching accomplishments.”