Indianapolis Public Schools marked Teacher Appreciation Week by highlighting the experiences and perspectives of its educators, according to a May 4 statement. The district featured Noah Leininger, elementary general music teacher at Charles Warren Fairbanks School 105, who shared his journey and insights about teaching.
The recognition comes as Indianapolis Public Schools continues to emphasize the role of teachers in shaping students’ lives. The district serves over 30,000 students and focuses on fostering academic excellence through tailored, relationship-driven education in a dynamic setting, according to the official website.
Leininger described how he first imagined himself as a teacher in fourth grade and later pursued music education after being inspired by his own band experiences. “The first time I pictured myself as a teacher was in fourth grade: Mr. Gerlach was the first male teacher I had, and he was such a fun teacher to learn from. Later on, I loved band, so I decided to major in music education,” Leininger said.
He currently teaches instrumental and general music for pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade students at School 105. “I love how much variety there is in a day at this level. It’s impossible to be bored with all the different ways we make music!” Leininger said.
Leininger’s teaching style emphasizes fast-paced lessons that keep young students engaged through activities like singing, playing instruments, dancing, and composing music. He connects classroom material with students’ backgrounds by asking about their families’ countries of origin and musical preferences.
Reflecting on meaningful moments from his career, Leininger recalled using music to help students process emotions during a challenging class observed by school staff: “Even though there were no words [in Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings], after a few minutes there wasn’t a single dry eye in the classroom—even the toughest adults in the room were tearing up.” He explained that learning an instrument teaches patience and perseverance: “Learning music helps them understand how improving a skill is a long and slow process where success isn’t always seen immediately…I won’t give up on them and won’t let them give up on themselves either.”
For those considering entering education today, Leininger encouraged joining schools and advocating for public education: “Do it! Come work in schools…We need workers in education who will fight for the best for our students especially when public schools are under attack.”
Indianapolis Public Schools provides services to families across central Indianapolis through its network of schools and programs while emphasizing racial equity as one of its core strategic priorities; Aleesia Johnson serves as superintendent according to the official website.