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With Them Every Step

Scott Iskowitz/The Tampa Tribune

Jeremy Klein goes over music with his band students Thursday morning. Jeremy Klein, band director at Robinson High School was given the Tom Bishop Award by the Florida Band Masters Association-

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

Updated: 01/21/2008 08:56 pm

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SUN BAY SOUTH - At 27, Robinson High band director Jeremy Klein isn't that far removed from his students. He jokes with them, uses their analogies and vernacular while teaching and has enough energy for the program's 100 students, and then some.

Klein's relative youth might help him relate to students, but colleagues say he has more than age going for him. His rapport, dedication and enthusiasm are unparalleled.

"He truly is in teaching because it's his passion. I see it," said Martha Scott, president of the band boosters and a Mabry Elementary kindergarten teacher. "He's driven. It's incredible the things he does and brings into the classroom."

His contributions to the band program in his four years at Robinson earned Klein the Tom Bishop Award at the Florida State Music Educators Association convention Jan. 10. He was one of five winners statewide.

"His leadership, passion and enthusiasm are so infectious," Principal Laura Zavatkay said. "His kids absolutely adore him."

Walking through the school, 6311 S. Lois Ave., it's not unusual to hear students call out to Klein. They say hello, congratulate him on the award or offer a friendly rib. He keeps an eye on vulnerable students and tries to be a mentor.

Klein said he spends so much time with students that he can gauge their mood by their expression when they walk into his music room. Parents ask him to talk about issues with their children and come to him for advice, he said.

"It's still very weird for me; I'm just the band director. But you get to know them," Klein said. "This is so much bigger than me. And it's cool."

Brittany Taggett graduated from Robinson in May. She and Klein talk about their difficult beginning - the swear words, the attitude and the walking out in the middle of a performance.

"I was one of the horrible kids," said Taggett, who comes from a single-parent family. "He was always there outside of band. I knew I could come to him and I wouldn't be judged. If I was wrong, he wouldn't sugarcoat it. He was very caring."

She considers Klein to be like a father.

"He'll walk me down the aisle when I get married. That shows you how he impacted my life," she said. "He isn't just doing it for himself - he is in it for the kids."

Taggett played percussion and finds herself beating out rhythms on her desk at Hillsborough Community College, where she's studying criminal psychology.

Klein doesn't like to take credit for success with students. He said they make it happen.

"When I decided to go into education, I wanted to make an impact on kids, to get them to think differently," he said. "It's just giving them opportunities."

Every student gets a good luck card before competitions. Klein shaved his head once and painted himself blue - the color of superior band ratings - to rally his students. Before marching competitions, he hands out new pennies and tells students to place them face up in their left shoe, right under their heel.

"When they take a step and feel the penny, they know I'm there with them every other step of the way," he said.

Klein grew up in Carrollwood, graduated from Leto High and then the University of South Florida with a music education degree. In 2004, he started teaching at Robinson.

He is the All-County Honor Band chairman, secretary of the District 7 Florida Bandmasters Association and teaches one period a day at Monroe Middle, also in South Tampa. He is working on his National Board Certification -Scott is his mentor - and hopes to start his master's degree in the fall.

Klein said his social life is not as full as he might like. Zavatkay worries about him burning out, and Klein acknowledges that he's tired. He said it's a struggle to get to the gym to burn off the 40 pounds four years of teaching have added to his frame.

But then he thinks about students like Taggett.

"It's worth everything," Klein said.

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 835-2114 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com. Go to TBO.com, Keyword: Klein, to view a multimedia presentation on Robinson High band director Jeremy Klein.

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