TeachRock founder and E Street Band member Stevie Van Zandt spent the day visiting with students and teachers at Asbury Park’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School.
The education resource TeachRock was launched in 2006 by Stevie Van Zandt with the Founders Board of Bono, Jackson Browne, Martin Scorsese, and Bruce Springsteen. TeachRock.org has provided free, standards-aligned resources to over 60,000 educators and 30,000 schools globally to help teachers, students, and families succeed for more than a decade.
This school visit marked a pivotal moment in the launch of TeachRock’s brand new Harmony Student Wellness Program, which uses popular music of all eras and genres as an access point to important wellness topics. The program seeks to provide a proactive approach towards helping young people acquire and apply skills that will help them achieve success in school and beyond.
During his school visit, Van Zandt observed the new program in action in three classrooms and met with teachers during a lunch period to discuss their experiences using the Harmony Student Wellness Program.
Van Zandt said: “Whenever I visit a school using our curriculum, the first thing I’m always struck by is the enthusiasm of the teachers and students. I don’t remember anything like that during my school years. It’s wonderful seeing how the teachers’ creativity comes to life as they adapt each lesson plan in their own unique way, while achieving the necessary lessons outcomes. At the same time, the students’ ability to assimilate, comprehend, and contribute to the discussions consistently blows my mind. They are truly smarter and faster than we ever were, and it’s so rewarding to witness the revelation that dawns on them as they discover school can be fun!”
MLK Middle School principal Perry Medina said: “We are honored to have welcomed Steven Van Zandt to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. His passion for education and commitment to empowering young minds perfectly aligns with our mission to foster a sense of community where each student is embraced, honored, and emboldened to achieve their utmost capabilities. His visit will leave a lasting impact on our school community.”
This partnership with the Asbury Park Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School is part of a collaboration between TeachRock and Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music. The Bruce Springsteen Archives serves as the official repository for the music and legacy of Bruce Springsteen, plus photographs, periodicals, oral histories, rare recordings, films, and artifacts related to Springsteen and the E Street Band.
The Center preserves and promotes the legacy of Bruce Springsteen and his role in American music, while honoring and celebrating icons of American music like Woody Guthrie, Robert Johnson, Frank Sinatra, Gaslight Anthem, The Killers, and others. The collection serves the research and informational needs of music fans, scholars, authors, and others with a serious interest in the life and career of Bruce Springsteen.