Cody Weavil, originally from High Point, North Carolina, graduated in 2013 with a dual bachelor’s in instrumental music education and saxophone performance.
I chose Appalachian because Dr. Kallestad is an amazing saxophone professor, and I knew he was going to be able to make me the best musician I could be. Between that and the amazing schools of music and education, it was a no brainer!
Cody was working as a music teacher for pre-K through fifth graders at Archdale, Trindale and Trinity Elementary Schools in Randolph County, North Carolina. Currently, he is following a dream: traveling the globe and bringing the world to his students.
“A teacher’s first job is to be a student - to constantly learn and grow in order to be a better educator,” notes Cody.
“A teacher’s first job is to be a student - to constantly learn and grow in order to be a better educator.”
Impacting Education in His Community
Cody is making an impact on education in his community.
For the past four and half years, Cody taught his students about the world through music and art. Now, he’s out there living it. On his travels, he hopes to:
- learn first-hand about the cultures he visits to help him grow into a more accepting and understanding teacher;
- record and document local music and instruments to one day bring back into his classroom;
- demonstrate to his students that they, in fact, can go and follow any dream if they work hard.
Through his blog, Weavils Wander, Cody is “on a mission to bring the world to young adventurers everywhere.” He documents locations visited, languages spoken and words learned.
Cody Weavil visits the Netherlands on his travels. Photo source: weavilswander.com/2018/08/14/nether-leaving-the-netherlands
His teacher colleagues back home are incorporating Cody’s adventures into their daily curriculum - to supplement their lesson plans, while helping their students experience the world beyond North Carolina in fun and interesting ways.
Follow Cody on his adventures through his blog, Weavils Wander, and on Instagram (@weavils_wander).
Contributed by Rebekah Saylors
Cody Weavil plays a Chinese Erhu. Photo submitted
