Oct. 15, 2018 - Math. Science. Social Studies. Reading. Name a subject, and Seabreeze Elementary’s Darellee Naccarato can find a connection with music.
"Music crosses into all academic areas in some way or the other," said the veteran educator in a recent interview with Team Duval News.
Naccarato's dedication to the craft has not only earned the respect of countless students, it's also led to recognition. Naccarato became a recipient of the distinguished Gladys Prior Award for Career Teaching Excellence in 2018.
In her twenty-plus years with Duval County Public Schools, she's been everything from a classroom teacher to a reading specialist, but music always remained a constant passion.
"When the elementary schools got full-time music again, I decided this was the time to come back to music," she said. "Now that I'm full-time as a music teacher, I can see the benefit throughout the school."
For Naccarato, music not only serves as a vehicle to connect to students, but it also provides a path in which students can discover more confidence.
“I just can’t tell you how important a strong music program is for kids,” she said. “That confidence and how you feel when you’re doing something that you love to do is going to translate into all aspects of your life, including the academic part.”
The Team Duval Video News crew recently spent time in one of Naccarato's classes. The video shows a glimpse of how the award-winning educator is impacting the lives of her students every day.