Hart District Choir Director Honored On NBC’s ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’

Posted by: Michael Ayoubkhan in Santa Clarita Latest News, William S. Hart Union School District September 13, 2019 - 3:07 pm 0 1,391 Views

A Hart District choir director was honored on NBC’s “The Kelly Clarkson Show” this week.

Molly Peters, choir director at Rancho Pico Junior High and West Ranch High, was amongst a group of carefully selected music educators from Southern California to be celebrated on the program and receive new resources for their classrooms, as well as a paid cruise vacation.

Peters was preparing her curriculum for the upcoming school year in August when she received a phone call from a colleague who serves on the California Choral Directors Association Board with her.

The colleague explained that producers from “The Kelly Clarkson Show” were looking for Los Angeles-based music teachers to honor on an upcoming episode of the new program, which led to Peters’ name being mentioned.

Peters then had a phone interview with one of the producers, and was later selected for the show. She was given directions to a Universal Studios Hollywood backlot location, where representatives would be waiting for her, alongside one of their iconic trams, to film the first segment for the show.

“We were just kind of like, ‘What’s going on?’” Peters said. “We were all a little confused and excited.”

Their vehicle, proclaimed the “Tram of Dreams” by Clarkson, began their journey towards the set of the NBC show “Superstore,” where the group was greeted with members of the cast.

“Everybody was so kind. They (said), ‘Oh, my son is in music classes,’ and ‘My 4 year-old takes mommy-and-me classes.’ They were all just really generous,” Peters recalls.

The teachers were then led to the electronics aisle of the fictional “Cloud 9” store from the show, where they were given LUMI devices for their classrooms, which are light-up electronic keyboards that teach users how to play the piano.

It wouldn’t be until September when the group of teachers would return to finish their episode. Through some creative editing, they were given the appearance that they had just stepped off the tram, arriving at the taping of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” through open doors besides the host’s seat.

Peters and her fellow educators discovered that their chairs were placed on the stage besides the episode’s guests: John Legend and Clarkson’s mom, Jeanne Clarkson, who was a music educator and the inspiration behind the episode.

As the program continued, Peters recalled how she was able to recognize that the generosity shown towards the teachers went beyond celebration on a surface-level appreciation, and instead dug deep into the cycle of influence that teachers have on their students.

Peters emphasizes that arts classes — which are often overlooked or thought of as “not really part of the curriculum” — can serve as necessary outlets and a safe space for students that are trying to take a mental break from the pressures of their regular school grind, focusing on the “long-distance” goal instead, as she puts it.

“We talk a lot about failure, and that it’s ok to fail. The musical process is a tiny example of failing, then succeeding,” Peters said. “It’s about not giving up. And we talk about it being a marathon, not a sprint. The goal is that there is a lot of growth in literacy and in performance.”

On the importance of inclusion and growth, Peters noted, “For a majority of students, I think what it does (is), it gives them a home, a sense of belonging, and it gives them this lifelong skill… It sets you apart from other students because it shows longevity, it shows you’re goal-oriented, it shows you’re committed and part of something bigger than you.”

Peters said she watched the episode with her students, adding that they were “really excited” for her and laughed and giggled together throughout.

Peters is hoping the newfound recognition from “The Kelly Clarkson Show” can potentially ripple to a newly-garnered appreciation for educators across the country.

“(Clarkson’s) mom was a teacher, so she really understands and appreciates (educators),” Peters said. “Every high school (in Santa Clarita) has an amazing choir and band program… I hope that it’s really good publicity, not just for our music department, but for all the hardworking teachers in Santa Clarita.”