Medical Lake's Johnson honored by West Plains Chamber

Medical Lake schools band teacher Craig Johnson was concerned when he was called to high school principal Chris Spring's office, particularly when, as he entered, there sat a couple of his students.

"It was funny how he told me," Johnson said. Seeing a couple of his students sitting there as he walked in to see Spring, Johnson was thinking "Oh no, what happened?"

What followed was official word from his boss that Johnson had been singled out among dozens of teachers in the district by being named the West Plains Chamber of Commerce's "Medical Lake Public Schools Educator of the Year."

"I was blown away when they told me I received the award, I couldn't believe it," Johnson said of the honor that was voted on by members of the chamber.

The original honor was announced on Oct. 26 at the West Plains Chamber's annual "Best of the West" gala. That, however, was the same night Johnson chose to be with seniors in their final performance at a Medical Lake football game.

Johnson is a product of teachers like himself while growing up in Kent, Wash. "I had amazing teachers in junior high and high school," Johnson said. "I knew in eighth grade - my band teacher was a great saxophone player and gave me lessons on the side - I wanted to be a band teacher."

That started a journey as both a teacher and player that fostered itself at both Kentwood High School and Central Washington University where he graduated in 1996.

Johnson taught four years at Harrington, Wash. before coming to Medical Lake in 2000. Since then he has seen many students excel at the craft of playing music.

"We have had more students audition and get accepted into the All State Bands the last five years as the talent has improved among the students due to their hard work and motivation," Johnson said in an earlier interview.

Those efforts have gained Medical Lake music additional notice across the community - and the region.

Reputation appears to be pretty contagious for Johnson and his students. The band and Johnson are busy as the holiday season descends, playing Veterans' Day events.

"We've done that for about eight years now," Johnson said. "That's a fun deal for them; they like doing the Honor Flights and performing for the veterans."

Of special note, and on an impressive stage, the MLHS band will also play at the upcoming visit of the Harlem Globetrotters to the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena on Thursday, Nov. 29.

That effort began three years ago when the band was asked to come to Pullman and play at a Washington State University basketball game at Beasley Coliseum since the college band was at the Apple Cup football game in Seattle.

"We had such a blast," Johnson said, of the performance that opened the door to the Globetrotters.

His son suggested that since they had just finished playing at WSU to see if they could do the same for the Globetrotters.

He told his son, "They're not going to take a high school band to play for them, there's no way," Johnson said. Anything was possible his son said, so Johnson made the contact and lo and behold they were chosen to entertain during the pregame.

"This time, they must have remembered that because they called us about a month ago and asked if we would come play for them," Johnson said.

Asked if they would learn the Globetrotters' signature tune, "Sweet Georgia Brown," Johnson quickly said emphatically and with a laugh, "There is no way we're playing that one."

In off time, Johnson said he plays with a local big band, Tuxedo Junction and plays it on his saxophone. "It's so hard to solo, it's a hard melody," he said.

They will, instead, play a couple of their own rocking signature numbers, Johnson said.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].