Candidate Information

Current Teaching Assignmen
Steve Cook is currently Director of Bands at Perry High School, a position he has held since 1986.  In addition, he is Fine Arts Department Head and is responsible for all aspects of the high school Instrumental Music program, including Concert Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Music Theory, and Music Technology courses.

Past Teaching Experience
Prior to his position in Perry, Steve spent five years as Junior High and Elementary Band Director at North Fayette Community Schools in West Union, Iowa.

Educational Background
A native of Webster City, Iowa, Steve was a junior high band student of Richard Goettsch and high school band student of Jay Nugent.  During high school, he studied trumpet privately with Joe Christensen at Iowa State University and began playing trumpet with the Al Welsh Orchestra, a position he continues to this day.  He also marched in drum corps during both high school and college. While in college, he participated in ensembles including Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz I, was a student director for the U.N.I. Panther Marching Band, and taught private lessons.  Steve graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 1981, a student of Keith Johnson. He has completed additional graduate work at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Drake University, and Northeast Missouri State University.

Family Information
Steve’s wife, Jill, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music from the University of Northern Iowa and has completed graduate work at both U.N.I. and the University of Iowa.  She is currently a librarian at the Perry Public Library.  Steve and Jill are the parents of two daughters.  April, 22, holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Music (following in her father’s footsteps as a trumpet major) and English from the University of Northern Iowa, and is currently a graduate assistant in the English Department at U.N.I.  She was recently married to Craig Olson, a computer programmer for Pioneer Hi-Bred International.  Elizabeth, 18, is currently a freshman at the University of Northern Iowa, majoring in both English and Theatre.  She also plays Alto Saxophone in the U.N.I. Concert Band.  In his spare time, Steve freelances as a computer consultant, designs web sites, performs regularly with local dance bands, and enjoys collecting and operating Lionel trains.

Organizations
Steve is a member of the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors as State Secretary for the Iowa Bandmasters Association.  He is past president of the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association, past president and past chief negotiator for the Perry Education Association, and a member of the American School Band Directors Association, the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, the Iowa Technology & Education Connection, and the Iowa Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.  Steve is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Honors
Ensembles under Steve’s direction have consistently earned high ratings at local, district, and state contests.  Steve and two Perry High School colleagues were the recipients of a nationwide U.S. West “Connecting Teachers with Technology” grant.

Candidate Campaign Statement

It is an honor and a privilege to be nominated by my S.C.I.B.A. colleagues for the Karl King Distinguished Service Award - Active.  As I reflect on my past twenty-six years of teaching, I am thankful for the friends and acquaintances I have made through the Iowa Bandmasters Association.  Without a doubt, I.B.A. is the “World’s Finest Bandmasters Organization”.