Northwood Spotlight: Austin Ward
Music Teacher

Where are you originally from and what brought you to Mercer Island schools?

I moved here from Tennessee, near Nashville. I attended Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN for both my Bachelors and Masters then stayed in town a few years to teach. My wife has family here and we love the area.

What grade/area do you teach/support and how long have you been in education?

I have the great joy of teaching music to our students. This will be my first year at Northwood but my fifth year teaching.

What is your favorite sport or hobby to do when you are not at school?

We have been rollerblading a lot for the past couple of years. We enjoy getting out on nice days and doing that.

What is your favorite band or artist to listen to?

I have so many so I will give a variety to give a picture of what I most often listen to. I love hard and classic rock, including bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. I have recently been listening to a lot of David Bowie. As a saxophonist, I always have a soft spot for jazz. Herbie Hancock is a favorite jazz composer of mine. I also frequently listen to stuff like Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson.

Is there a skill you would like to master?

I go through periods of liking to draw a lot and I have always wanted to get really good at it. I’m a bit of a comic book fan and that plays a big part. I think illustrations like that and concept art are super cool.

If money were no object, what is something you would buy or somewhere you would go?

I would most likely travel around the world more. I have been to Trinidad and Tobego as well as Ireland, but I would love to see even more countries around the world.

September 2021