Cathy Crispino, choral director at Lawrence High School, is the 2007-2008 Northeast Kansas Music Educator Association’s high school choir teacher of the year.

Crispino was honored Saturday during a district convention at Shawnee Mission South High School.

Her love of music started young.

“I would have to say that my favorite teachers growing up were my music teachers,” Crispino said. “They encouraged me in so many ways.”

Crispino, who is in her 10th year at LHS, said she feels honored just to be part of the tradition of the Lawrence schools music program. She is now nominated for a state award.

“The teachers are very hard-working,” she said. “We not only are teaching skills and the craft of making music but we’re also working with students and trying to inspire them to be creative and to find a life-long joy, which is singing.”