Dallas ISD photo
The Dallas Metroplex Musicians’ Association inducted two Oak Cliff schoolteachers into its Hall of Fame.
The nonprofit — one that aims to preserve the legacy of distinctively African American music, celebrate local African American musicians and award annual scholarships to students of music — recognized Nelda Washington of Clara Oliver Elementary School and Osley Cook Jr. of Franklin D. Roosevelt High School Of Innovation, reported Dallas ISD’s Kaylee Bowers.
Skyline High School’s Chad Lott earned the foundation’s Next Generation of Music Professionals Award, which Dallas Metroplex Musicians awards to professional musicians who have been in the field less than 10 years.
Cook, Roosevelt’s assistant band director, has taught 28 years in Dallas ISD.
His accomplishments, according to Bowers, include taking multiple all but dead band programs and bringing them back to life at the elementary, middle and high school level and seeing his students perform at the Battle of the Bands, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day parades, several universities, the African American Read-in and more.
While Cook reports being excited about this induction, he said his proudest achievement is watching his students succeed and go on to teach new generations.
“The greatest thrill for me is seeing my students take these music scholarships and go to play in the college programs,” Cook said in DISD’s newsletter. “I’m currently aware of six of my former students working as music teachers after receiving their degree in music. Plus, I have another who just graduated in December who hopes to find the right fit for the fall.”
DISD also offers a Spanish version of this story.
The district recently published an article about Roosevelt High and the school’s history of overcoming race-related violence and educational inequities to become a (recently renovated, expanded and enhanced) example of excellence in Oak Cliff.
