Frank Halferty of Einstein to be honored as 2013 Shoreline Teacher of the Year

2013 Shoreline Teacher of the Year Frank Halferty, left,
with Superintendent Sue Walker and Einstein Principal Stephanie Clark
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

Frank Halferty, band director and music department head at Einstein Middle School, has been selected as the 2013 Shoreline Teacher of the Year. 

Halferty will be honored at a reception at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 13 in the Shoreline Center lobby. The community is invited. The District will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week May 13 to 17.

“Frank has the universal respect of peers, students, parents and administrators, and shows the highest degree of professionalism,” a parent wrote in nominating Halferty for the award. “He provides a teaching environment that fosters vast musical and personal growth in his students.”

In 2012, Halferty was elected to the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) Hall of Fame. The Washington Music Educators Association is the largest arts organization in the state, and represents more than 2,000 music teachers in the state of Washington.

“Frank exemplifies everything that defines a great teacher,” said his colleague Dan Wing, Einstein and Shorewood orchestral music director, WMEA president and the 2008 Shoreline Teacher of the Year. “Every aspect of his classroom work and community presence shows his commitment to excellence, caring for others, patience, persistence and the complete sharing of his passion for teaching.”

Halferty, a graduate of Shoreline High School, has taught at Einstein since 1993 and serves as the District Music Coordinator. He holds two Bachelor of Arts Degrees from Seattle Pacific University in Music Education and Music Theory and Literature. He received a Master of Music in Composition from New Mexico State University.

Currently Halferty has more than 200 compositions and arrangements in print, including the Folk Song Trilogy performed by the Shoreline School District Honor Choir in its concert with the Cascade Youth Symphony at Benaroya Hall in 2011. Halferty has 38 years of experience teaching instrumental music at all levels, and has held numerous positions as director of choirs and community groups. He is the recipient of 14 ASCAP awards, Outstanding Educator Awards in both the Shoreline and Lake Washington School Districts, and the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Sno-King Music Educators Association. Halferty has also served as a board member on the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Arts Council. He maintains a busy schedule composing, fulfilling music administration and teaching duties, guest conducting, and adjudicating music festivals.

The Teacher of the Year is selected by a committee from nominations solicited from around the District. Halferty will be the District's nominee for 2014 Washington State Teacher of the Year.