CROWNING A `JEWEL' CACTUS MUSIC INSTRUCTOR HONORED WITH TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD.

Byline: Marci Wormser Staff Writer

PALMDALE - Music teacher Jim Rosenquist is known for taking time outside class to help struggling youngsters, for making a point of checking with other teachers about how his students are doing.

The 44-year-old Nebraska native, who has taught at Palmdale School District schools for 17 years, said he does not shy away from challenges, or challenging students.

``Some teachers go, 'Oh, no. Not that kid' when they get a kid with a bad reputation,'' said Rosenquist, who last week was named the district's Teacher of the Year. ``But I've had enough positive experiences where I welcome that kid ... I've learned you never give up on a student.''

Rosenquist ``just brings out the best in a kid,'' said district spokesman Isaac Barcelona, who knows from personnel experience: Barcelona's son played trombone for Rosenquist at Cactus School.

``My son wanted to be a drummer, but Mr. Rosenquist found a way to make him excited (about playing the trombone). He ended up being a first chair trombonist ... which was the highest in his grade. (Rosenquist) is just a jewel to our district.''

Rosenquist is admired for his willingness to give youngsters individual attention before and after school when he is ``off the clock,'' a principal said.

``Jim is the consummate teacher's teacher,'' said Cactus Principal Phil Rosell. ``He is here late. He comes early. He'll do just about anything to help a kid succeed. He takes his kids on field trips. He organizes fund-raisers. He'll do anything to let the kids learn. He'll do anything to keep the program going.''

Said Rosenquist: ``Students sometimes need extra attention. During the classroom situation, that's hard to do. The kids just sometimes need an encouraging word.''

Rosenquist, who is band instructor at Cactus, Juniper, Yucca and Ocotillo schools and was Cactus' Teacher of the Year in 1994 and 2002, said his decision to become a music teacher was influenced by the example of his own elementary school band instructors.

``I had an innate interest in music, but I'm grateful to them for bringing it out,'' said Rosenquist. ``They put in some extra hours that they didn't need to. They were willing to go the extra mile.''

Although Rosenquist knew he wanted to follow a career in music from an early age, he decided to become a teacher during his freshman year in high school.

``I thought, what a wonderful way to give back to what was given to me,'' he said.

The music teacher said he has seen struggling students flourish as the result of the school's music program.

Music, Rosenquist said, gives children an outlet to express themselves and stimulates learning.

He was relieved when district officials last week, after an outcry from parents, dropped consideration of plans to eliminate the elementary school music program.

``I think without music, (students') lives would have been emptier,'' he said.

Rosenquist said some students who have discipline problems are simply begging for attention. That need often goes away when students enter band because they gain positive attention from their peers and the community when they perform, he said.

Rosenquist said he takes the time to show a personal interest in his students, which includes meeting with their other teachers to find out how they're doing in other classes.

``Kids sense if a teacher cares about them,'' he said. ``If they sense that, you can reach them.''

Rosenquist, who has been a musician and a construction worker in the past, said he considers teaching to be his calling.

``There's not a job I've done that I have found remotely as rewarding as teaching,'' he said. ``When I get up to go to work, it's a job I want to go to. You're shaping the future leaders of tomorrow.''

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Cactus School music teacher Jim Rosenquist, who last week was named the Palmdale School District teacher of the year, ``just brings out the best in a kid,'' said a district spokesman with personal experience.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) - Jim Rosenquist

Music teacher at Cactus School