Growing up, Norman Public Schools presented Dr. Rob Bradshaw with “so many opportunities.” Now, he’s a part of facilitating some of those opportunities for current students.
Norman is “a very special place,” according to Bradshaw, and his family has been part of the community since his mom’s family moved here in 1960. One of the opportunities he had as a Norman kid that many other Oklahoma districts don’t offer is orchestra, an extracurricular activity that turned into Bradshaw’s future career.
Bradshaw joined Norman Public Schools in the 2017-18 school year as an itinerant fifth grade orchestra teacher for five elementary schools - Jackson, Lakeview, Madison, Roosevelt and Wilson. Currently, he’s the orchestra teacher at Longfellow Middle School and Jefferson Elementary.
The students and the energy they bring to what they do, even on the most challenging days, is what motivates Bradshaw in his job. Although he had been involved in the All-City program as a student, Bradshaw said the first time he conducted at the event as a teacher sticks out to him.
“Seeing the impact of the string program here in Norman, and seeing all of those people working together at the same time to play a concert, and watching my colleagues around the room doing the same things I'm doing as we conduct the final combined piece together was amazing,” Bradshaw reflected. “It takes your breath away when you see just what we're doing and why we're doing it and the impact on kids and on families.”
For years, Bradshaw has taught in a number of ways at different places. Bradshaw teaches private cello lessons and said that is where he caught the bug for teaching, adding that he loves “the look of wonder in a kid’s eyes when they realize that they’ve done something that they didn’t think they could do when they started.”
Originally, Bradshaw planned to teach at the college level and did that for several years as an adjunct and later an assistant professor for a university. When that position changed, a friend and mentor, Jean Statham, encouraged him to apply to Norman Public Schools. Bradshaw had previously never thought about teaching at a public school, but as soon as he started, he realized it was where he needed to be.
“I think I affect more change in a day than many teachers at the university level do in a year, or perhaps even a career, because I see more students. I see a broader spectrum of the population,” Bradshaw explained. “I know that there are kids that if it weren't for the opportunities we give them might not get them elsewhere.”
Bradshaw earned his bachelor’s degree in cello performance from the University of Oklahoma before attending graduate school at the Longy School of Music in Boston. After he moved back to Norman, he returned to OU and obtained a Doctorate of Musical Arts.
With parents who are both percussionists, it was natural that Bradshaw picked up an instrument, too. Originally, he thought he was going to be a band kid like his parents, but after the orchestra teachers visited Kennedy Elementary when he was in the fifth grade, Bradshaw was drawn to the orchestra. Bradshaw also attended Whittier Middle School and was in the first eighth grade class at Alcott Middle School before graduating from Norman High School.
Outside of the classroom, Bradshaw works as a professional musician, including as the principal cellist for the Fort Smith Symphony. He also performs with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and is active with the organization’s outreach program, teaching adult beginners how to play string instruments. Additionally, Bradshaw is the artistic director for Scissortail Productions, a chamber music series in Norman, and has played with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra in the past when it would come to town. Outside of music, Bradshaw loves to travel, read and spend time with his friends, family and pug, Winston.
When it comes to his approach to teaching, his philosophy is based on providing students with skills and the tools they need for success. These start with technical skills in the classroom, but Bradshaw said orchestra also teaches students determination, diligence, work ethic and perseverance, skills that benefit them not only in his class, but reach beyond the classroom into all aspects of their lives.
Bradshaw shared that he is “overwhelmed and extremely humbled” to be a finalist for District Teacher of the Year, especially since there are so many wonderful teachers at Longfellow and across NPS.
“I see teachers around me every day going far above and beyond what is expected of them to care for the students that they serve, and the families that they work with,” Bradshaw stated. “To be a part of this profession is to give everything you have to help other families have a better life, and I think it's very important that we understand that and that we value that in our community.”