MFM Volunteer Spotlight

Michele Haussler

Three years ago, the kindergartners and first graders at Adelante Spanish-English Immersion School had no music. Then along came Michelle Haussler who has had an impact beyond anything she ever imagined. After a teacher suggested she look into MFM, Michele launched a process that has culminated in an ongoing music program for hundreds of children. Although she did not fully understand its importance at that time, Michele has truly become an impassioned music teacher, fundraiser, and activist.

When Michele was first learning about MFM, she was the busy mother of two young children, simultaneously nurturing the growth of her own business.  She did not have time to attend an information meeting, much less participate in training.  Meanwhile she did approach the principal and came away discouraged about how a music program could be funded.  As she continued to reflect, she happened to learn about SMART* grants from the Redwood City Education Foundation, and then successfully obtained a grant. Having overcome that obstacle, Michele faced the next one… where to find the music teachers?

Michele, who professes to have no prior musical training, was able to take the MFM training in 2009.  She then jumped in with a whopping teaching load of five classes. Jean Tyan, MFM Programs Director, placed several other volunteers at Adelante to enable full coverage for the kindergarten and first grades.  And they love it!

Michele never anticipated the gratitude she would receive… from the children (often in the form of hugs) and from their parents.  What she has given, she says, has come back to her three-fold. A favorite moment came when she was teaching the Conga to a kindergarten class.  The children had carefully practiced the steps and were ready for the music.  After one round of spirited dancing, a student flashed her an enormous grin and said, “I love this!  I can feel the music in my body!"  As a person who has always been energized by music, it is fulfilling for Michele to play such a role in children’s self-discovery.  She is also gratified when she can help kids step beyond their boundaries.  Michele has enjoyed seeing students who were initially too shy to sing in front of others be able to step up and perform before large audiences by the year-end concert.

The year-end performance is the only way that many parents find out music is part of their children’s school experience.  Michele makes use of this performance to pass a donation box and has found that parents give generously.  “Everybody gives something," Michele says, “parents understand that—if they don’t have music—their kids are losing out."  Nobody wants to see that happen.  And what a difference one person can make!  We salute Michele as she prepares to begin her 3rd year of volunteering, and join the chorus of heartfelt gratitude for the rich gift of music she brings. 

*Redwood City Education Foundation has partnered with Oracle and the Westly Foundation to make funding available to bring innovation in teaching in the areas of the arts, science, math, and technology into the classroom.