Frankie Lancaster speaks at a Watauga High School choir concert. Photo Creds: Charlie Stumb, Watauga Yearbook.
Frankie Lancaster, an experienced singer, stepped into the role of the Watauga High School choir teacher for the 2023- 24 school year. Lancaster has had many professions and musical hobbies before bringing success to the high school choir classes. Singing had always been a big part of Lancaster's life, but through his many different careers, he wouldn’t have considered himself on the path to teaching choir.
“I originally went to school as an Education major, and, after all these years and all my careers, I decided, ‘why not give it a try?’” Lancaster said.
Before becoming a choir teacher, Lancaster took on a wide range of jobs, proving he can do just about any task given to him.
“I’ve done so many things before this job,” Lancaster said. “I have been a real estate agent. For the last decade, I was in telecommunications, I was a mechanic, and I did construction while doing it all.”
While it may appear that Lancaster isn’t an obvious choice for a high school choir teacher, he couldn’t have come more prepared and willing, as he’s been singing his entire life.
“I do voice lessons and I do recording for a lot of my friends in LA and Nashville while doing my own music as well,” Lancaster said. “ I have been part of auditioning choirs nationally since 3rd grade and I have been student directing choirs since high school.”
With all of Lancaster's background, teaching choir classes was a welcome and enjoyable challenge.
“I have been teaching in some capacity for over 20 years,” said Lancaster. “My wife is a teacher and all of my family are teachers.”
Even though Lancaster can ‘do it all’ and was extremely prepared for his teaching career, there were still some things he had to get used to that all teachers deal with.
“Really what was difficult to get used to was the backend stuff: taking attendance, knowing the policies and procedures. Those have been the hardest to get used to,” Lancaster said.
This teacher has proved that he is talented in the musical sphere, but Lancaster has also found his true joy in teaching the students in Watauga High School’s choir to be the best they can possibly be.
“I really enjoy everything about teaching, but mostly the students,” Lancaster said. “They are what make this thing work.”
Comments