In the public eye: JSMS teacher impacts students’ love of music

Editor’s note: This is another in an ongoing series of Windham and Raymond town employee profiles.

By Ed Pierce

Rose Underkofler is the kind of teacher that students will never forget because of the impact that she makes on their lives in her music classes at Jordan-Small Middle School.

Rose Underkofler has taught music at Jordan-Small Middle
School in Raymond for the past six years and leads the
school's orchestra and chorus programs. She is a positive
influence on students and helps them to develop an
appreciation for music. SUBMITTED PHOTO

For many students, Underkofler is their guide to a greater understanding of music and leads them to a better appreciation of what it takes to perform before an audience and for their peers.

Underkofler is the Orchestra and Chorus Teacher for students at Jordan-Small, teaching beginning strings for fifth graders, along with leading the school orchestra for Grades 6 to 8, and the chorus for Grades 5 to 8.

She has worked at the school for six years and says that the best thing about her job is inspiring kids to cherish music.

“I love being the beginning teacher for young musicians,” Underkofler said. “The foundation of musical technique is so important, and I love making sure that students have that.”

According to Underkofler the most challenging part of her work is trying to give every student access to musical opportunity at the school.

“For those families that need it, we have a small cache of instruments owned by the school to loan out for free,” she said. “And when that cache runs out, I have to tell those families no. Music education should be available to everyone, and it's so important that we have the resources available to make that happen.”

Originally from Saco, Underkofler’s came to value music at an early age.

“I feel especially grateful to the music teachers in Saco, and my violin teacher from Scarborough for instilling such a love for music and a want to share that with future students,” she said. “I attended college at the University of Southern Maine School of Music and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Music Education.”

While still in college, Underkofler did her student teaching at Jordan-Small under the direction of JSMS music educator Hanna Flewelling.

“I really loved the environment up here at JSMS, so when Hanna accepted a full-time position at Windham High School, I knew I had to apply for this position,” she said. “My family is happy that I'm in a position where I feel like I'm making a difference, and where I'm supported in my program. They love coming to our concerts and seeing the students make progress every year.”

Underkofler said that community support for the music program at Jordan-Small Middle School is highly important.

“In order for our programs to be really successful, we need support from the community at all levels,” she said. “I sometimes feel like it's easier for the upper programs to be visible, but our middle schoolers are working incredibly hard, and their work deserves to be seen.”

The misconception may be that all middle school students do is play and sing boring music, but Underkofler dispels that notion.

“Our students actually have a say in what we perform,” she said. “They get really into the music selection process.”

Her most memorable moment of working at the school took place in the past year when students returned to in-person instruction following the pandemic and she was able to hear them play and sing again.

“The pandemic was such a lonely time, but to be able to come back from being separated and have kids be excited to be with their peers and play music was really beautiful,” Underkofler said. “Last year we had our first in-person concert in almost two years at our December Orchestra concert. The eighth-grade students that were performing had stuck with their instruments through virtual and hybrid learning, and they were really responsible for the majority of their progress. To be able to conduct them through their concert with the knowledge that their personal perseverance had gotten them there, and it was a really special moment.”

For Underkofler, the opportunity to teach students at JSMS has been an exceptional experience.

“I've learned what it means to be a great educator. I've been able to watch so many amazing educators at Jordan-Small MS, and every single one of them has taught me something new about being a teacher,” she said. “I’ve learned how to put students first, how to build connections with students, and most importantly how to make sure that everything I'm doing is for the students. I'm so thankful to have been a part of this staff for six years.” <