Lovorn named outstanding educator

Philadelphia nativve Sam Lovorn, who teaches at Warren Central High School, received the Outstanding Young Music Educator of the Year award at the annual MMEA conference held in Hattiesburg. 

Each year, the Mississippi Music Educators Association honors an outstanding music educator who has taught for five years or less. Recipients are nominated by their fellow teachers who are members of MMEA. 

Receiving this award was both a surprise and honor for Mr. Lovorn.  To nominate someone, you have to submit letters of recommendation from principals, co-workers and students. Lovorn was overcome with emotion as the letters received were read in front of the state’s body of music educators before being presented the award. He became aware of the Educator of the Year award his first year and aspired to its ideals in his teaching career.

“I set the goal of pushing myself to being the very best teacher I could and constantly striving to be better the next day than I was the one before,” Lovorn said. “The award makes me want to continue being a better teacher and getting more involved in the organizations in the state.  I not only want to help the school that I am currently at, but I also want to be an advocate for music education across the state in order to build Mississippi’s music education and arts programs to aid other young teachers in their journey.”

Nancy Robertson, who is the Fine Arts Coordinator of the Vicksburg Warren School District, as quoted in the Vicksburg Post, said there was no question in her mind that Lovorn will continue to excel in his teaching skills while also promoting music and the arts in whatever capacity he is called to do.  

“I have known Sam Lovorn for five years, but it only took me five minutes to see the drive, determination and passion he has for his art, his profession and his students,” she said.  “In my 40 year teaching career, I have never met his equal.”  

One of the philosophies Lovorn implements and shares with his students on a daily basis is one his kids can recite by heart, “Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.”

Sam Lovorn is the son of Reggie and Tywonna Lovorn of Philadelphia.  He is a 2012 graduate of Neshoba Central High School and a 2017 graduate of Mississippi College, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education.