West Virginian Stephen Lytle named Salem-Keizer's new music, drama coordinator

Stephen Lytle will become the next coordinator of music and drama for Salem-Keizer Public Schools, following the retirement of longtime leader Mary Lou Boderman.

Lytle has been the associate director of bands for West Virginia University. He held a similar position at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he also served as music director for the Department of Theater.

His first day will be July 1.

Lytle began his teaching career in North Carolina where he inaugurated the band and orchestra program at East Chapel Hill High School.  

He's been teaching for about 26 years and holds degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mary Lou Boderman: Salem-Keizer music programs, future rely on community support

But Lytle isn't just a person who's arranged more than 300 titles — though he has — he's also a scratch cook and lover of outdoor exploration.

Moving to Oregon, Lytle hopes, in whatever spare time he has, to stay connected as a performer, either as a conductor or trumpet player in the performing community.

The Statesman Journal spoke with Lytle to learn more about why he wanted to join Salem-Keizer and his vision for the district's band, choir and theater programs.

Questions and answers have been editing for length and clarity: 

Why did you take on this role?

For the past fifteen years, I've devoted my career to "applied music" or performance, but advocacy for arts education has been at the center.

I've been lucky to have had several memorable and high-profile performances with my groups over the years. I've lived the life of a band director, an orchestra director and music director in theater.

However, I've also taught many students to prepare for a life as a music teacher. I've been a colleague and resource for public school teachers (and they to me as well) in my life as a college professor.

What I see in the Salem-Keizer position is an opportunity to draw upon these various identities, as well as partner with this incredible faculty and community to continue to strengthen and grow the performing arts.

It is an opportunity to coalesce and focus, while also serving a greater purpose.

What are you most looking forward to?

To start, I'm looking forward to meeting the teachers and building administrators and getting to know the environment in which I'll work.

Throughout the interview process, I've gotten to hear from many and see just how devoted they are to their students and to their programs. I look forward to getting an even more complete picture.

Things you're looking to change, add?

Mary Lou Boderman has clearly led with heart and devotion to the students and our colleagues. The success the district continues to enjoy owes much to her guidance.

I believe that equity-related initiatives, such as the Music Lessons Project, are important to ensuring all of our students have a balance of opportunity to position themselves for further, in-depth study — both as current Salem-Keizer students and beyond graduation.

The excellence that is clearly evident in our performing ensembles is something that we'll want to continue to support and showcase.

There is much for me to learn about the landscape here, so my first priority will be to capture the current sense of the "what," "how" and "why" of our work before making any firm decisions on the "what next?"

Projects you're hoping to introduce?

It's too soon to announce any new initiatives, but the study of music and drama represent an integral dimension to the larger school curriculum — one that shouldn't be exclusive of those who, for whatever reason, do not pursue membership in a large performing ensemble at the secondary level.

Including a diversity of music and drama offerings and creating additional pathways to become involved for those who miss the window at an earlier age, are important to the idea that all students are deserving of the opportunity to engage with these subjects.

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How are you navigating the virus?

I moved my instruction online (several weeks) ago along with nearly everyone else.

I think teachers have done incredible work to adapt as best as possible under unbelievable circumstances. Parents have also stepped up in so many ways to truly partner in instruction.

There are still many unknowns, but institutions around the country are developing road maps for resocialization based upon the best practices outlined by scientists and medical professionals.

I'm an ensemble director and, believe me, the type of learning and real-time experience of students in the rehearsal process, is not something that can be adequately reproduced in a split-screen environment.

That said, we are a district of resourceful and determined educators. This is the time where we can think critically about what it means to be a comprehensive learner and practitioner in our discipline, and how we may structure our work to build that in our students.

There is real work to be done here and we will have these conversations as we move into the summer. It is critical to develop practices that put people's safety at the center and adapt our content and practice to maintain that safety, while delivering instruction.

For more information, go to salkeiz.k12.or.us or call 503-399-3000

Contact education reporter Natalie Pate at npate@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6745, Twitter @Nataliempate or Facebook at www.Facebook.com/nataliepatejournalist.