Forty-three years of music and education come to a finale
By Allen Hamrick
Every town has landmarks that tell the story of its past – the buildings, the old growth trees that have stood the test of time, the legacies that people leave behind. For the last 43 years, Doug and Tracy Wayne have dedicated their lives to educating the youth of this county. They are one of our community’s most enduring landmarks not made of stone or wood but made of rhythm and melody. They are two extraordinary educators who are responsible for instilling the art of music in the thousands of students who have entered their classrooms.
Tracy Wayne, who semi-retired last year, concluded her career back where it started – Clay County Middle School, the school on the hill. This must have been a bittersweet moment for her knowing that she would be entering the next phase of her life with so many young voices waiting to be nurtured. She was an exemplary choral music teacher and always brought her best to the table. Now, at the conclusion of this school year Mr. Wayne has followed her footsteps. Doug Wayne has spent over four decades behind the conductor’s baton and his stepping down marks the end of an era.
These two giants of the music education world spent a lifetime shaping the soundtrack of this community. To measure a combined career of over 80 years in music education is to look far beyond the awards on the wall or the precision of the concerts. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne’s success is measured by the thousands of students who first learned how to breathe, listen, and play and sing under their watchful eyes. They did not just teach students how to read notes on a page but to feel music and turn their music into art. Students came to understand how a collection of instruments and voices could come together and communicate as one.
These two dedicated teachers did more for the CCMS and CES music departments than any article could ever capture. They took many clumsy beginnings and turned them into great music. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne were dedicated to their students and their music, and to spend over forty years helping children discover the joy of music stood in harmony with their dreams.
Their combined career will be considered a legendary run that should never be forgotten. The CCMS music department was a synchronized unit. Mrs. Wayne taught choir just next door to Mr. Wayne, and she did not just help students find their voices but integrated instruments into the mix allowing students to broaden their talents. This created a multi-layered experience for their students. They turned the music department into a sanctuary for students, a place where generations of students found a home, a purpose, and a passion. They are a rare and beautiful couple who shared the blending of their talents to uplift a community of students and help them realize their talent.
The band and choir rooms are now silent, and the future of the CCMS music department will be in the hands of someone new. As interviews are held to replace the music education position, candidates will have a definite high expectation of shoes to fill. Doug and Tracy’s poetic sense of responsibility to enhance music through the hearts of students will never fade with the bells of their retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Wayne, your music will play on through the alumni who will pass their music down to their own children and thus continue your legacy.
Looking back at the trail they blazed over time is to see a landscape changed because they were part of it. The thousands of students they taught are now scattered across this USA and the world. These people now carry the music within them, and it will always be a quiet reminder to them of the couple who made that possible. The Wayne baton may be permanently lowered and the final chords sung, but the song they started will be sung for generations to come. Thank you for the music and the dedication of your many years of service to the youth of this county. We hope that the next chapter in your life will be full of the best music you have ever created.
