Release
Durant High School Choral director Aprill Raines will be awarded the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) Exemplary Teacher Award on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. The ceremony is a part of the OkMEA Winter Conference and will be held at the DoubleTree in downtown Tulsa in the International Ballroom beginning at 6 p.m.
Exemplary teachers must have completed at least 15 years of active service as a music teacher and/or music administrator and been a member of OkMEA/NAfME for a minimum of 10 years. Recipients have also demonstrated excellence in the teaching of music, as evidenced by competitions, awards, and peer or administrator statements. Exemplary teachers are nominated by their peers, recommended by the OkMEA Awards committee, and confirmed by the OkMEA Executive Board.
Mrs. Raines is in her 17th year of teaching. For the last 15 years, she has been a vocal music director for Durant Middle School. During her tenure, DMS earned many superiors at contest on stage and in sight-reading with the Treble, Mixed, and Men’s choirs. They also repeatedly earned the OSSAA Outstanding Achievement Award. Mrs. Raines consistently had students audition and chosen for the OCDA Honor Choir and OkMEA children’s all state. In 2013, the middle school choir was chosen as an OkMEA honor group for the state convention, which is one of the highest honors for a choir program. In addition to her regular day at the middle school, she accompanied for the HS choirs at solo/ensemble and State choir contests.
In August 2019, Mrs. Raines moved to Durant High School as the Director of Choral Activities and serves as the district’s vocal music coordinator.
“I’m so honored to be receiving this award and recognition,” Raines said. “When I see the list of my esteemed colleagues and mentors who have received the award before me, it is quite humbling to be considered among them. I’m thankful for the support I’ve received through the years from my family, friends, coworkers, and administrators.”
Mrs. Raines served as the OkMEA Region G CTSWS coordinator for four years as well as being an OCDA Quad Chair for five years. Aprill is involved in many professional organizations and civic organizations; Oklahoma Music Adjudicators Association, Daughters of the American Revolution, American Choral Directors Association, Oklahoma Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, Oklahoma Music Educators Association, National Educators Association, Oklahoma Educators Association, Durant Educators Association, Southeast Region Choral Directors Association, Oklahoma Shakespearean Festival Board of Directors, Oklahoma State University Alumni Association, and Taylor Music Group, Founding Member.
Mrs. Raines currently directs St John’s Episcopal Choir in Durant, where she has served for the last seven years. Aprill is married to William Raines and has three children, Braden, 17, Lydia, 15, and Sophie, 9.