Liberty JHS

Kathryn Knueven (7th/8th Co-Director)

Email: Kathryn.Knueven@lakotaonline.com
777-4420 Voice Mail: 16924 … co-directs the concert bands and jazz ensembles for Liberty and Hopewell Junior Schools. Mrs. Knueven started teaching at Lakota Local Schools in the Fall of 2001 and has been at Liberty Junior School since the Fall of 2003. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and she received a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Cincinnati. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. Knueven is an active member of Ohio Music Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, Jazz Education Network and Jazz Education Connection of Ohio. Prior to coming to Lakota, Mrs. Knueven taught middle school band at Fairfield City Schools; elementary, junior high and high school band at Mt. Healthy City Schools and Covington Exempted Village Schools; and junior high and high school band at Covington Independent Schools. Mrs. Knueven served as District Music Department Coordinator, Grades 5 – 8, while teaching in the Fairfield City Schools and District Music Department Chair while teaching in the Mt. Healthy City Schools. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Knueven has worked in private industry. She resides in Liberty Township with her husband, Tom, also a band director, and their children, Rob, a sophomore at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Marie, a junior at Lakota East High School. Mrs. Knueven and her family are active members of St. John Church in West Chester.

Alan Nordyke (7th/8th Co-Director)

Email: Alan.Nordyke@lakotaonline.com
777-4420 Ext: 16860

Mr. Nordyke has been a teacher at Liberty Junior School since 1990, after graduating Summa Cum Laude from The Ohio State University in 1989.

    A graduate of Wilmington High School, where he received the John Philip Sousa Award, Mr. Nordyke was greatly influenced by his junior high/high school band director and private trumpet teacher, Mr. Charles Carothers.  It was Mr. Carothers’s enthusiasm and positive approach to teaching that gave Mr. Nordyke the desire to want to pursue a career in music education.  In addition to Mr. Carothers, Mr. Raymond Wolford and Mr. Dennis Ling were very important influences in Mr. Nordyke’s high school band career.

    While a student at The Ohio State University, Mr. Nordyke furthered his musical skills under the baton of Professor Craig Kirchoff, and during his sophomore year, he performed on a two-week tour of Japan with The Ohio State University Concert Band (that ensemble is now known as The Ohio State University Wind Symphony).  Professor Kirchoff’s respectful, non-threatening rehearsal style was a very important influence on Mr. Nordyke’s teaching style. During Mr. Nordyke’s senior year, he enjoyed the experience of being principal euphonium in The Ohio State University Concert Band.

    During his time at The Ohio State University, Mr. Nordyke was privileged to study euphonium with Dr. Paul Droste, former director of The Ohio State University Marching Band.  Dr. Droste’s expertise in teaching musicianship is something for which Mr. Nordyke will be forever grateful, and Dr. Droste’s ability to build lifelong connections with his students made a lasting impression on Mr. Nordyke.  As well, Mr. Nordyke is greatly appreciative for all he learned from Dr. Judith Delzell.  Dr. Delzell’s excitement about band at the middle school level was a huge factor in Mr. Nordyke choosing to teach junior high school musicians.

    Mr. Nordyke is also very thankful for his Lakota mentors, Mr. William Biven (retired Lakota band director of 29 years) and Mr. Michael Peters.  These two gentlemen continue to be an inspiration to Mr. Nordyke.  Mr. Nordyke feels that their confidence and faith in him helped him to become the teacher that he is today, and he continues to learn from both of these outstanding educators.

    Mr. Nordyke’s biography is published in the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth editions of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. 

    Mr. Nordyke has continued his education through courses at Xavier University, College of Mount St. Joseph, Drake University, University of Miami, Andrews University, and University of Dayton. 

    Mr. Nordyke’s professional affiliations include the Ohio Music Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, Lakota Education Association, Ohio Education Association, National Education Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

    At Liberty Junior School, Mr. Nordyke serves on the Student Incentive Committee, a group of teachers that develops programs to reward the positive efforts of the Liberty Junior School students.  This is a cause very dear to Mr. Nordyke, as he wholeheartedly believes in the incredible, unstoppable power of positive students.

    Mr. Nordyke resides in Mason, Ohio, where he enjoys running, walking, spending time at Kings Island, and watching Ohio State football and basketball games.