After two years teaching junior high band, orchestra, and choir in the Napa Valley Unified School District, Caitlin Cooper is more committed than ever to becoming the best educator she can be. With the help of the Edward W. Solomon Scholarship — offered by the California Retired Teachers Association and administered by Napa Valley Community Foundation — she’s earning her Master’s degree in Music Education at San Jose State University (SJSU) with less stress about tuition costs.
Born to Be a Teacher
Caitlin’s dream of becoming a teacher started as early as she can remember, guided by a role model close to home. “My mom’s a teacher, so I grew up playing school in her classroom,” Caitlin said. “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher.”
She didn’t know what subject she’d like to teach until later. Caitlin picked up the trombone in seventh grade, and that’s when music became her focus. “I had a really positive experience in my own middle school and high school band programs, so in my junior year of high school I realized that I wanted to teach music.” Now she’s sharing that same passion with students the same age as she was when she started — something that has felt, for Caitlin, like coming full circle.
Community drives both her love of music and her approach to teaching. “I love that what I do individually is amplified by everyone else on my team,” she shared. “I love that we get to create beautiful artwork and share it with our community.” She brings that same philosophy into her classroom, shaping lessons around what her students need rather than what she wants to teach — a perspective that led her to SJSU’s Master’s program.
A Scholarship, and a Sense of Belonging
Caitlin learned about the Edward W. Solomon Scholarship from a fellow teacher in the district who encouraged her to apply. Beyond easing the financial strain of graduate school, the scholarship connected her to a community of like-minded educators.
“As the Scholarship recipient, I got to go to the California Retired Teachers Association luncheon…and it was really, really validating to see how many people have walked the path that I’m walking now, and how many people were there and wanted to support me,” Caitlin reflected.
That sense of belonging affirmed something she’d already put into words in her application: “I believe a music teacher must be a lifelong learner by consistently striving to better their own musicianship and pedagogy.”
Building Community, One Classroom at a Time
Now in the last year of her Master’s program, Caitlin’s graduate research is focused on student-centered learning — a framework that gives students more control over what, how, and at what pace they learn. “I’m hoping to become a better teacher (through this Master’s program) by focusing more on my students and their thinking, as opposed to running a more teacher-centric classroom.”
More than musical skill, she wants to teach her students how to be a part of something bigger. “I hope they leave my classroom loving music…knowing how to work as a team and as a teammate who knows how to take risks and be vulnerable and support their teammates who are taking risks and being vulnerable,” Caitlin explained. “I hope that my students know how to be part of a community of learners.”
As a junior high teacher, Caitlin spends a lot of time helping her students look ahead to high school and beyond — and she hopes to pass along the same encouragement she’s received from the Edward W. Solomon Scholarship. “It’s really fun to get to talk to my kids about the future: ‘here’s what you need to do to make it happen, I believe in you, and here’s all the other people who believe in you too.’”
About the Edward W. Solomon Scholarship
The Edward W. Solomon Scholarship, offered by CalRTA Napa Valley and administered by Napa Valley Community Foundation, is awarded in memory of Dr. Edward W. Solomon. It is given to support current Napa County teachers/educators who are continuing their education. Previous recipients of the scholarship are eligible to reapply.