Senior Dan Mills would like to thank his choir teacher, Mrs. Danner, for all the work she puts into the choir and special performance groups, her positivity, the meaningful relationships she builds with her students, and the influence that she has had on his future.

Mills was a member of WMMHS’ choir for two years, and a member of multiple after school groups for 3 years, performing in Men in Black and Unaccompanied Minors. He experienced first hand the difficulty of coordinating the after-school programs. Mills explains, “she organizes all these after school things, which I have a leading role in, so I can see that it’s a lot of work and she’s not thanked to the degree that she should be.”

Mrs. Danner’s attention to detail brings the performances to the next level. Mills says, “the way that she bases the sound, the mics, all those little things that don’t seem like very much all have all require huge effort and have a huge impact on our sound. She is directly involved in everything.”

Beyond her musical expertise and dedication, Mrs. Danner’s warm personality made the music program welcoming to Mills. He remarks, “there’s never a rainy day with Mrs. Danner, she has bad days, but she makes an effort every single day to really be the person that brightens your day.”

Mrs. Danner also takes the time to get to know her students individually. Mills feels that “she genuinely cares about all of us, which is hard to find.” Mills continues, saying, “we’re lucky to have her for multiple years. Whether it’s a four-year senior or a first-year freshman, she makes an intentional effort to care and get to know each individual student, no matter if they’re going to be a music student in college, or are doing it just to fill a graduation requirement.”

Mills’ experience with Mrs. Danner has shaped his plans for the future in more ways than one. Mills plans to major in music education in college. Of his plans, he says, “I attribute that to what Mrs. Danner has done for me. She helped me understand that music is more than about the notes on the page, that it’s about making connections with other people.” Mills hopes to continue “expressing [his] music through the community.”

On behalf of Dan Mills, The Patriot thanks Mrs. Danner for her tireless dedication to the music program and for the positive relationships she builds with her students.

As the school year comes to a close, it is becoming time to say goodbye to the Class of 2019. The Patriot is asking seniors to thank their favorite teachers for making their high school career more enjoyable. If you’re a senior looking to thank one of your teachers, email [email protected].

Photo Courtesy of Dan Mills