A Band Teacher’s Journey Home
In August 2024, Riley Carter began his new role as band teacher at Geneva High School, Harrison Street School, and Fabyan Elementary School. This journey was particularly meaningful as he graduated from Geneva High School in 2014. Mr. Carter said that returning to the place that first ignited his passion for music education feels like coming home.
“Walking the halls of Geneva High School every week is a surreal experience for me,” he said. “Being able to follow in the footsteps of Mr. Frederick has literally been a dream of mine since I was 14.” Now, he has the privilege of giving back to the community that shaped him.
Mr. Carter said that one of the most rewarding aspects of his job is investing in the amazing band students. He said they work incredibly hard every day, and it is a joy to see their musical progress and personal development, and there is nothing better than witnessing a band student overcome a difficult concept. He said, “You can spot the exact moment in their eyes when a certain passage of music finally clicks and I can’t get enough of it!” His goal is to give the students of Geneva the same incredible experience he had as a kid.
Outside of teaching, Mr. Carter is an avid baker and loves to cook. Over the past year and a half, he has been making gourmet scones with cinnamon chip, lemon blueberry, and cranberry orange being his favorites. Additionally, he enjoys playing video games, practicing his saxophone, and going antiquing with his girlfriend.
“Geneva is a place filled with teachers who genuinely care about their students as individuals,” he added. “I’m confident that the children are in great hands with the dedicated educators at Geneva #304.”
Mr. Carter received both of his undergraduate degrees in music education and saxophone performance from Illinois State University in 2018. After teaching for a few years, he went back for his master's degree in music education at VanderCook College of Music and graduated in the summer of 2023.