RESERVE — Praising music teachers, community support and the St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District’s commitment to providing music education to its students, representatives from the VH1 Save the Music Foundation and the Country Music Association Foundation called the parish a model for other school systems to follow after touring music classrooms this month.

“The St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District has become our model example when we look at putting music back in schools,” said Chiho Feindler, VH1 Save the Music Foundation grantee and compliance director who has worked with the district for more than two years to help it expand its music program.

Both organizations played a key part in aiding the district’s efforts to expand music education, providing more than $100,000 in grants for musical instruments, professional development for music teachers and continued support as the district continues to grow its music program.

The district now employs eight fulltime music teachers in its elementary schools and one at each of its high schools for a total of 10.

“We toured six different schools today and those teachers were some of the best I’ve met across the country,” Feindler said.

General music is now offered at the elementary school level and this year the middle school band program was expanded to three more schools for a total of five. By next year, every middle school will have a band.

Tiffany Kearns, CMA Foundation community outreach manager, said the benefits of music education go far beyond music class to academics, social interaction and even sports.

“Every child should have access to music education,” she said. “It is a right.”

Kearns said she was impressed by the support from the community, the superintendent, the School Board and the schools themselves.

“You should be telling anyone and everyone what is going on here. You are setting the model. You should tell New Orleans because they could learn from you,” she told board members during their meeting. “I’ve been truly amazed by the community support you have and I just cannot tell you enough how proud you should be, because you are changing this community.”

As part of the visit, St. John music teachers and Superintendent Kevin George went behind the scenes at the CMA Songwriters Series at House of Blues in New Orleans to meet with songwriter Rob Hatch, recording artist Eric Paslay, CMA Foundation Board member Victoria Shaw and pop singer/songwriter Wrabel.