By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK — The NAMM Foundation is singing the praises of the North Brunswick School District.
North Brunswick Township High School (NBTHS) was one of 118 schools across the nation to receive the Support Music Merit Award by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM), which honors schools that have demonstrated strong support for and commitment to music education.
In addition, the entire district has been included as one of the 2016 Best Communities for Music Education Districts. The NAMM Foundation recognized 476 school districts across the United States as the best among the nation’s 13,515 school districts, recognizing outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who work together to ensure access to music learning for all students as part of the school curriculum, according to a press release from NAMM.
“My colleagues and I have worked very hard here in the North Brunswick Township School District to build a quality music program for the children and community. Our high school music program has grown by leaps and bounds over the last 15 years with the support of our elementary, middle and high school teachers along with the district administration. I’m very proud of NBTHS for their inclusion in the NAMM Foundation’s 2016 Support Music Merit Award,” said Jamie Egan, supervisor of music for grades K-12 in North Brunswick.
Previously having served as band director for the high school, Egan decided to apply for consideration by the NAMM Foundation earlier this year, which required the completion of an extensive report that compares the school to a national standard.
“We are very interested in ensuring our students are being offered meaningful opportunities in fine arts that will help them become well-rounded productive citizens and happy adults,” Egan said.