Head band director Jamie Weaver recently made the announcement to his students that he would be retiring at the end of the school year. With his Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Administration, Weaver plans to move to Denver on June 1 to help those in need.
“Teaching is a noble cause. The world needs good teachers who truly care about the subject they teach and [are] committed to the growth of students in their care, but there are times when we are called to do more with what we have,” Weaver said. “We are only worth what we give away. If we have the capacity to give all we can to help others, then the universe demands that we do so.”
In his 30 years of teaching, Weaver has worked with approximately 25,000 students with his goal being to help students be the best versions of themselves.
“I can only hope I have had any impact,” Weaver said. “I think teaching is more archaeology and less gardening: we only help students discover what’s already buried somewhere inside themselves, most of the planting and nurturing comes from home and upbringing.”
In her 10 years of working with Weaver, head orchestra director Julie Blackstock knew instantly, they would have a good partnership.
“From the first moment we started working together ten years ago, he made it known that he would support my dreams and efforts with the orchestra program, and with the full orchestra program as well,” Blackstock said. “He leads as a servant, always demonstrating how one should act or behave through his actions and interactions with others. He is kind and thoughtful—and also sarcastic. But he always leads with love for his students.”
Cherishing the moments he has spent in his 12 years of teaching on campus, and his more than 30 years in the profession, Weaver remember these years fondly.
“While there have certainly been stressful times at Liberty and moments and interactions that have quite literally made me want to pull my hair out, these past 12 years have equally been full of laughter, good times, with great students, and wonderful friends,” Weaver said. “I think all of our lives are made up like that – equally good and bad times, but the difference between happiness and misery is which times you focus on and think about most often. I will always choose to think of the fun times.”
During his 12 years of teaching on campus, Weaver wants to look back at his time here as one good memory.
“There isn’t really a memory from Liberty… Liberty is the memory,” Weaver said. “I guess it’s like all the memories are just chapters that make a book and it’s the entire book that becomes the favorite part. It all pieces together to create one incredibly amazing and humbling picture of a wonderful time here.”
Junior drum major Angie Fei said she will miss Weaver but believes there are ways that the changes could be good for the band.
“I’m really sad to see him go,” Fei said. “But I think the band will be able to use this in a positive way. I think there’s going to be a lot of changes. The new director is going to implement new rules and different ways of how we run. Ultimately, I don’t think those changes are bad for us.”
Weaver taught his students how to grow as people, work together, and how the life lessons they learn in band can be applied to real life.
“I remember when I first came to be a part of the band, he sat us down and he started talking about how important time management was and how important working as a team was,” Fei said. “[He said that] even though this is an extracurricular activity, there [are] so many things you take away from band that [aren’t] about music and learning your instrument. It’s more about the people you meet, the people you work with, and how you grow as a person because of band. That is something I will take with me for the rest of my life.”
For sophomore Jude Buck, Weaver took time to get to know all of his students to make them feel seen and heard.
“With previous directors I’ve had, they didn’t really take the time to know me [and] they saw me as a number,” Buck said. “With Mr. Weaver, it seems like he actually sees the people in the band.”
It’s a feeling shared by Blackstock who recalls memories of working with him and his acts of kindness, selflessness, and compassion.
“One of my first memories was my first year here: orchestra and band traveled together to Corpus Christi for our spring trip. On the way home, we stopped for lunch. I happened to be with him in McDonald’s, and after all our students left and went back to the bus, Mr. Weaver went to the counter and asked for a wet cleaning rag,” Blackstock said. “He then proceeded to wipe down every single table top and seat in McDonald’s so that the workers wouldn’t have to. If I didn’t know before, that’s when I realized the caliber of human I was working with. To say I will miss him is woefully inaccurate. It will feel like a part of me is gone. I am so incredibly thankful for the time we’ve had together. I think we’ve been just what the other needed in a work colleague and dear friend.”
Weaver believes that the road ahead looks promising for the band, and his students will continue to prevail and persist even after he leaves.
“I think the future looks bright for the Liberty Band,” Weaver said. “We have worked hard over 12 years to create a culture of excellence here and we know the difference between a cult and a culture is that the mission of a culture continues long after the leader changes. You will all be in great hands because they are your hands. You control the future!”
