Joseph Klapatch Email & Phone Number

Lewiston/Auburn, Maine Area

I returned to the State of Maine in an acting capacity position and was subsequently hired into a permanent position. I currently supervise a team that supports the State's Human Resource/Payroll System.

I taught sixth grade general music/drama in two newly formed middle schools. Each week I saw over 400 students as I moved from room to room. I also taught social studies to two classrooms. I taught all of the sixth graders in both schools (that shared a building-different floors-different principals) including special education students. Unfortunately, the challenges of this job greatly outweighed the benefits. When an opportunity with the State of Maine materialized, I tendered my resignation with the NYC Board of Education and moved back to Augusta, Maine.

I was the director of the 6th, 7th, 8th, and high school bands. I gave no lessons. All classes were taught in the context of the rehearsal. In the middle school, the smallest group I taught was half of a band (the middle school grade level bands ranged in size from 60 to 80). In the high school I did have 4 sectionals. It should be noted that in the middle school, all students were required to take band, orchestra, or chorus. Their choice was made in the fourth grade and in most cases they had no option to change. My greatest challenge was teaching to students, especially in the 7th and 8th grade, who no longer wanted to play a band instrument, but were essentially forced to through the eighth grade.

After taking a few basic programming courses at the local community college, I was hired by the State as a computer programmer trainee. Over the years I advanced to my current title of Systems Analyst. I was a part of the project team that implemented the State's current Human Resource/Payroll System in 1988-90. In 1997 I was asked to become the leader of the team that supported the State's accounting system.

Music Education

I completed two thirds of a masters degree in music education (two out of three summers) before moving back to Maine and re-entering.

B.S., Music Education-Instrumental & Vocal

Activities and Societies: For three years I also directed an adult church choir at St. Bernard's Catholic Church.I majored in both.