January Staff Spotlight: Patty Pniewski marches to a winning drumbeat

Patty Pniewski teaches students to recover from making mistakes. “Patience and skill development take time and sometimes tedious practice,” she said. “Its worth it. Making music is a true gift. Don’t give up on  it!”

by Amy Haggerty

Being a solid band director with organized and excellent time management skills is what Patty Pniewski does best. In assessing the strengths and weaknesses of her student musicians and setting attainable goals, she builds a successful band program from grades 6 through 12—and has done so for 20 years in Stockbridge Community Schools. At the high school, Pniewsi directs the marching band and the concert and jazz bands. She also teaches “History of Rock ’n Roll” to  8th graders and provides academic support for junior high students.

According to Sarah Bentley, Heritage School Principal, “Patty does a fantastic job with our 6th grade band students. Kids are excited, want to learn new instruments, and look forward to the opportunity to be in band. I really appreciate all that Patty does for our students.”

Pniewski especially enjoys working with beginner band students. She loves watching their excitement getting their instruments and learning the first few songs. “Their excitement and delight is rewarding,” she said. ”I can’t believe I’ve taught an entire generation of Stockbridge students how to make music and am now starting to teach children of my former students.”

Pniewski grew up in a large family in Fowlerville, Mich., “so I relate to the Stockbridge students and community,” she said. For her first job, she worked at the Fowerville McDonald’s.

She attended Michigan State University, majoring in Instrumental Music Education with a minor in Music History and Music Theory. In 2003 she received her master’s degree from Southern Oregon University via a program called American Band College (ABC).

Pniewski’s goal was to stay in Michigan and in this area. Then Superintendent Bruce Brown decided to take a chance on the young teacher and offered her the position.

In 2013, she married Rick Pniewski, and together they have one four-year-old daughter, Juliana Phyllis.

Currently, Pniewski’s high school students are rehearsing and fundraising for a trip to Disney World. The application process involved sending an audition of the band performance to the park. Stockbridge was accepted, so now she and her students are busy perfecting their skills and scrambling to raise funds. After winning the Stockbridge light pole decorating competition, the band is performing in various competitions and local parades.

One important lifeskill that Pniewski teaches is how to recover from making a mistake. “Patience and skill development take time and sometimes tedious practice,” she said. “Its worth it. Making music is a true gift. Don’t give up on  it!”

She expressed gratitude to the community for its generous support of the band program.

Patty Pniewski and SHS band at McDonald’s grand re-opening.