Lee’s Summit’s top teacher turns a COVID-19 survival message into an ’80s music video
In a normal year, Lee’s Summit’s teacher of the year gets to speak during the district’s annual employee convocation to kick off the start of school.
But these are not normal times, and with COVID-19 pandemic protocols prohibiting large gatherings, the district convocation — known as the staff pep rally — couldn’t happen.
That didn’t stop this year’s honoree, Matt Ketteman, from getting his message out. The Longview Farms Elementary School music teacher figured, if he couldn’t shout it from a podium, why not have a little fun singing it in a video, and share it online. After all, because of COVID-19, so much of education these days is online anyway.
“He is a very passionate music teacher, so it is not surprising to me that he chose to incorporate music into his message,” said Katy Bergen, district spokeswoman. With the help of other district music instructors, he “created a Teacher of the Year message that was completely out-of-the-box.”
Ketteman was named teacher of the year in the spring, and last month Missouri educators named him one of seven finalists for the state title. Last week, that honor went to Darrion Cockrell, a physical education teacher in Lindbergh Schools, in St. Louis County.
But judging by the fun Ketteman seems to have in his music video remake of Matthew Wilder’s 1983 hit, “Break My Stride,” he still celebrated.
“I have the distinct pleasure of witnessing joy on a daily basis through helping my students make music together,” Ketteman told The Star on Wednesday. “I wanted my message to be an uplifting one that reflected this joy back to our community, and naturally it should use music to bring that energy to life. The message of Matthew Wilder’s original song jumped out to me while driving and contemplating the year ahead. ‘Ain’t nothin’ gonna break my stride. Ain’t nothing gonna hold me down. I’ve got to keep on movin’. “
In the video, Ketteman first appears sitting at a computer and wearing a suit jacket, button-down shirt and tie. Then the camera pulls back to reveal the common attire in the virtual workplace: shorts and flip-flops. Soon, in a dream sequence, he’s decked out in a retro tracksuit and sunglasses, strutting around with a microphone beneath flashing lights, singing some updated lyrics, like: “I’m ready to get this started, so pass me that mask …”
He shot the video with Shawn Harrel, a digital media instructor at Summit Technology Academy who did the editing. All the music was played and shot separately, so social distancing rules were obeyed. Also in the video: David Tourtellot, a district elementary school music teacher; Brandon Johnson, Lee’s Summit West band director; and Ketteman’s wife, Kim. They call themselves the LSR5 Band.
“As educators, we have been asked to reinvent ourselves and our classrooms to best serve the needs of our students during these strange times,” Ketteman said. “I wanted to offer encouragement for anyone feeling stressed with all the change and remind them to keep on moving. Even if you’re improving just one aspect of your teaching, each day will bring new joy to the students around you.”
