The Nebraska State Bandmasters Association presented its annual Outstanding
Administrator Award to Mr. Jim Landwehr, Activities Director of Adams Central
Junior-Senior High School, in Hastings, NE. The presentation was made
at the awards banquet during the Bandmasters annual convention in Lincoln on
March 2nd. This award is intended to honor an administrator in the state
of Nebraska, for demonstrating support, interest, and encouragement of the
school’s instrumental music program. Band directors from across
the state nominate administrators for this award.
Mr. Landwehr holds a B.S. Degree in Physical Education, Geography and Drivers
Education from Peru State, a Masters Degree from UNK. Mr. Landwehr
has taught social studies and physical education for 28 years. Mr. Landwehr
is in his 5th year, serving as Activities Director at Adams Central High School.
Tom Jaworski, band director at Adams Central High School, states in his nomination
letter, “Mr. Landwehr is an important part in many aspects of our
school band program. He is involved in scheduling events in a manner
that they do not conflict with marching band competitions in the fall and goes
to great lengths to make sure that students who are “double-booked” participate
in the band events. He has never refused a request for any item
that I have needed to order, and encouraged an early aggressive purchasing
plan to fully equip the band this year as we start to grow in enrollment, which
ultimately resulted in the purchasing of new uniforms this year.
Always there to lend a helping hand and moral support, he also has recognized
that music is important in his family life. Even before his daughter
became old enough to participate in our band program, Mr. Landwehr was active
as a sponsor on band trips to California and Florida. He also drives
our equipment van to band events and manages moving percussion equipment and
any other items needed along the sidelines.
When assigning seating for our new gymnasium, the first group approached
to determine their location was the band. Mr. Landwehr assigns extra
teachers in the fall to supervise the crowd around the band in the football
bleachers so the band director and students can concentrate on their performances.”
Mr. Landwehr was awarded the Nebraska State Interscholastic Athletic
Administrator of the Year for District IV in 2005, and is an active member
of Adams Central Education Association, Nebraska State Education Association,
Nebraska Coaches Association, and Nebraska State Interscholastic Athletic Administrators
Association.
Mr. Landwehr’s wife, Elayne, is the 8th grade Linguistics teacher at
Hastings Middle School. They have 1 daughter – Ashley, a member
of the District Championship Golf Team and an All-State Violinist.