“From the Beginning to Mastery”: Jeremy Wells Named Ridgeline High School’s Teacher of the Year

Jeremy Wells’ nine-year tenure at Ridgeline High School is punctuated by great success. Under his baton, the Riverhawks’ music program hasn't just grown; it is practically bursting at the seams! While Wells is celebrated for sweeping concertos and commanding marching routines, his path to the band room started with a fundamental love for human development rather than just the musical scale.

“I chose to be a teacher first,” Wells explained. “I just love seeing people grow. I am fascinated by the whole process of learning from beginning to mastery. As a teacher, I get to push myself to learn and encourage students to do the same.”

Because high school music programs allow educators to retain the same students across multiple terms, Wells has enjoyed a vantage point few other teachers get. He gets to witness the profound evolution of a student from a nervous freshman to a confident senior leader.

“I am lucky enough to work with the same students for up to four years,” Wells shared. “Many of the students go through such a transformation during that time. It is a privilege to be a small part of that.”

That long-term commitment has built a powerhouse program. Principal Bagley noted that under Wells' leadership, the marching band has steadily increased in size and number of competitive accolades each year, and the jazz band has become an indispensable fixture at home sporting events.

The program's growth this year was so explosive that it quite literally outgrew its own inventory.

“Our band program has grown every single year," Bagley beamed. "In fact, this year, we actually had to buy more band uniforms because we completely ran out! He just keeps growing and growing the program.”

But the true measure of Wells' success isn't found in trophy cases or uniform counts. It's found in the sanctuary he created within the school walls.

“Jeremy gives students a place to belong,” Bagley said. “Many spend their time in the band room and around him because they love what they do, and they love him. That is a huge credit to his character.”