Nyssa Duffield to Student Teach in Milbank Band Program

Milbank High School band director, Susan Karels, is pleased to announce that Miss Nyssa Duffield will begin her student teaching assignment with the Milbank 6-12 grade band department on Monday, January 22.

“I have waited 26 years for a student teacher to come into our program,” expressed Susan Karels. “So I am very excited. Please join me in welcoming her to Milbank.”

Nyssa is a senior at Northern State University in Aberdeen. She is majoring in Instrumental Music Education and plans to graduate this spring following the completion of her student teaching.

She is originally from Browns Valley, MN, where she attended school until the eighth grade. She then moved to Sisseton and graduated from Sisseton High School. “Growing up I was fortunate enough to be able to take piano lessons from a private instructor,” said Nyssa. “I have studied all areas of percussion for seven years, but admit I favor mallet percussion.”

Nyssa says she is excited to begin her student teaching in Milbank. “I know Mrs. Karels has a busy schedule full of amazing opportunities for her students,” Nyssa added. “That is one of the many reasons I chose to teach under her. Words cannot describe how excited I am to learn from her everything this music program has to offer.”

Through her student teaching assignment, Nyssa hopes to gain insight of what it really means to be a music teacher and expand her knowledge in preparing for her teaching career. “I have a real passion to share the love of music with not only the students themselves, but the people they bring that music to,” she expressed. “Music itself has a place for everyone and has a way of bringing people together. I hope I will be able to bring that into the classroom in Milbank.”

“I am so thankful to Mrs. Karels and the Milbank School District for allowing me to have my student teaching experience in Milbank,” Nyssa stated. “I hope to be an asset to the program as well.”

To learn more about Nyssa, her personal philosophy of Music Education, and additional information, you may visit her website at http://percussionysst.weebly.com.

“I will keep an updated tab of my current student teaching activities and a calendar of events happening in the Milbank program on this website. I will be attending all things music, so feel free to come and introduce yourself and learn more about me in person,” Nyssa commented.