Meet your neighbor: Sherri Lindsey

Published 12:00 pm Thursday, May 8, 2014

As a music teacher, Sherri Lindsey finds it frustrating when public school fine arts programs fall victim to budget cuts.

“There are so many skills learned from fine arts in general that can’t be duplicated in any other subject,” she said.  “I don’t feel that it’s fair that those areas are often the first to be affected when cuts have to be made, but I don’t see the full picture.  The best thing I can do is put the best music program out there and hope that it’s visible when hard decisions have to be made.”

Lindsey has taught music for seven years and currently divides her time between Walter M. Kennedy Elementary School and Coosa Valley Elementary School in Pell City.  

“It’s challenging trying to spread myself to so many students at two different schools, but I just want to give them the best possible music experience,” she said before explaining why she enjoys teaching music and recalling her own beginnings as a music lover.

Did she always want to be a music teacher?  “Oh, yes.  From the time I was little.  I grew up in a musical family, so that’s all I know.”

The most rewarding part of her work:  “For the little kids, I enjoy seeing how excited they get when they have an ‘aha’ moment and realize they can play an instrument.”

Lindsey’s instruments: Clarinet and piano.  “Clarinet was the instrument I played in college.  It felt natural from day one.”

At college:  Lindsey attended Jacksonville State University, where she was a member of the Marching Southerners.  “By far, it was the best experience with music I’ve ever had.  And I loved Jax State.  That’s how I ended up here, being originally from Georgia.”  She was also a member of her high school band, the Marching Raider Brigade from East Paulding High.

How do students benefit from music education classes?  “One way is that they learn to work as a team.  One person being behind could affect what the entire class is working on, so they have to be teammates and help each other out.  Music also teaches them to self-evaluate.  They learn to listen and know when they’re doing something wrong and are able to fix it.  That’s a huge skill.”

The biggest misconception people have about teachers:  “That we just go in, get in front of a class, and teach students lessons all day.  There is so much paperwork that has to be done and a lot of other roles we have to take on besides just teaching.”

The best part of being a mom:  “I don’t know that you can identify the one best part.  It’s such a blessing to be able to pass your values and the things you love on to your little mini-me.  I’m pleased to see my one-year-old being a little music lover.  It’s all she knew for nine months before she got here.”

How she describes herself:  “Perky, happy, and outgoing.”

Sherri Lindsey style:  “Trendy but comfortable.”

Her favorite indulgence:  “Happy hour at Sonic.”

The food she could eat every day:  “Anything Mexican.  Actually, strike that.  Ice cream.  It could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner any day of the week.”

Her favorite ice cream:  “I love some fudge bars.”

The food she hopes to never eat again:  “That’s difficult.  I love food.  Actually, I can’t think of anything I absolutely hate.  Unless it’s those square school pizzas.”

If stranded on a desert island with one meal, one book, and one CD:  “For the meal, we’ll take the Mexican food now.  The book would be something like ‘How to Survive on a Desert Island.’  As for the music, that’s hard because I like a little of everything, although rap drives me nuts.  I’d probably go with Casting Crowns, which is an awesome Christian group.”