She's Got The Beat

by:  Kelly Brethorst, sophomore

Mrs. Ketha Bounds is a music teacher at Hermann Elementary School. She works with students from kindergarten to fourth grade. She received her bachelor's degree in Music Education, Kindergarten through 12th grade, Vocal and Instrumental at Central Methodist College in Fayette, Mo. She's taught at the Morgan County R-1 School District in Stover, Mo., for one year, and has been teaching in Hermann for the past 30
years. Over all she's been a teacher for thirty one years.

As a child, she admired her teachers tremendously. Music really influenced her; as a kid it had positively impacted her life so she chose teaching as a career. "Music can enrich the lives of students, and can provide wonderful experiences for those who choose to participate in it," said Bounds.

When she's teaching she enjoys seeing the students' faces when they get excited about what they're studying, or even when they're performing. Although they put a lot of hard work into a performance, the excitement and enthusiasm from the students make it all worthwhile. When she's not teaching, she's playing her piano, reading or just being with her family.

The strengths at both the elementary school and middle school are the very dedicated, caring, compassionate teachers and staff members she gets to work with day in and day out. There are parent volunteers that help out with their programs, "We have some incredible parents and community members," said Bounds. She also said that she appreciates the support and generosity of her staff members, members of the community, and the parents. "It's been wonderful getting to know them!"

Mrs. Bounds has a family who's also dedicated to music and says it's an important part of their family. Her husband, Carl, teaches Spanish and is the band director in the New Haven School District "Go Marching Shamrocks!" he said. Their son Aaron is the band director at East Central College. He teaches concert band, jazz band and music
theory/history classes. Aaron's wife, Emily, teaches middle school choir and general music at Owensville Middle School.  Ketha and Carl's daughter, Kara, is currently student teaching at Branson High School; she's going to school and studying to be a vocal music teacher.

A fun fact Bounds would like to share with the community is that she grew up on a farm near Clark, Mo. As a kid she spent a lot of time riding horses, driving tractors, and building fences with her father. She says that part of the farm has been in her family for more than 100 years!

At the end of the day, Bounds is very blessed, she enjoys teaching and she loves what she teaches.