Becoming great doesn’t happen in an instant. Rather, it’s the small, consistent actions rooted in integrity and excellence that culminate in change. For Eric Thornbury, director of bands and music department chair at Noblesville High School in Noblesville, IN, that philosophy has guided a 34-year career in music education.
The Indiana Wesleyan University National & Global alumnus was recently named Outstanding High School Music Educator of the Year by the Indiana Music Educators Association (IMEA), one of the highest honors given to music educators in the state.
An Unexpected Honor
For Thornbury, awards have never been the goal. He views teaching as a calling and a way to steward the gifts God has given him for the good of his students and community.
“I got the nomination email but didn’t think much of it and didn’t really get my hopes up,” reflects Thornbury. “But, a few weeks later, I received another email congratulating me on winning Outstanding High School Music Educator of the Year!”
IMEA presents awards annually to outstanding elementary, middle school, high school, and collegiate music educators across Indiana. For Thornbury, this recognition is the icing on the cake, not only for his personal career but also for the Noblesville community, which has been recognized as one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation for 11 consecutive years
“Education is often a thankless job, and teachers don’t pursue this field to be recognized,” said Thornbury. “However, after 34 years of education, it’s nice to be recognized for the work I’ve done.”
Teaching Excellence
In his 14th year at Noblesville, Thornbury leads one of the nation’s most comprehensive high school music programs as Director of Bands and Music Department Chair. He and his staff are dedicated to imparting the life changing power of music and excellence to their students.
“In our program, it’s about the pursuit of excellence. I believe that when you teach excellence in one area of life, you learn what excellence is in everything. If you can understand what it means to be good playing your instrument or marching, then you’ll understand what it means to be good and the hard work it takes to be good as an employee, as a spouse, as a child.”
Because students often remain in the program for four or more years, Thornbury has the rare opportunity to witness that transformation firsthand.
“I get to watch them grow, mature, and go on to do great things, and that’s incredibly special.”
Mastering Music Through Online Learning
As an IWU National & Global alumnus, Thornbury credits the university’s online Master of Education program for meeting him where he was as a full-time educator.
“What’s special about IWU’s online program is that you join a cohort and stay with those people until graduation, which builds a sense of supportive community. Additionally, the flexible schedule fit perfectly into my working teacher schedule.”
Initially, Thornbury was unsure how a general education program would translate to the specialized world of music education. That concern quickly faded.
“The research project I conducted in the IWU program was and still is applicable to the teaching I was doing. I learned so much through that process, and I don’t think I would implement the specific teaching skills that I do today without the IWU master’s program.”
Despite the individual recognition, Thornbury is quick to emphasize that success doesn’t happen in isolation. Thanking his wife, administrative staff, and students, Thornbury serves as an exemplary model of a true world changer: bound to excellence, rooted in integrity, and dedicated to solving real-world problems.
Discover Indiana Wesleyan University’s online master’s in education programs. Through a flexible, Christ-centered learning environment, you’ll earn the advanced knowledge and instructional skills, you need to make a greater impact in all types of education settings. Plus, we lock in the rate of your tuition as soon as you start the program, eliminating the stress of cost increases.
Learn more today: https://www.indwes.edu/find-your-program
