Mr D’Agostino is a middle school chorus teacher and loves all things music. He knew he wanted to pursue music when he was in ninth grade while attending Canandaigua Academy. 

He feels very deeply that helping students through hardships and struggles is essential in his job. He takes great pride in watching his students progress and succeed, whether it be in the classroom or on stage. 

Being a teacher isn’t something everybody can do, and there are few select teachers that go the extra mile to ensure that their students feel heard, understood, and welcome at all times. Mr. D’agostino is one of these teachers. 

One thing he does very carefully in his job is choosing music. He wants to make sure that his students are inspired by whatever they are covering.

He believes whatever is chosen should be something that students will be motivated to be engaged in. In his words: “Whatever you choose music wise will be something that they should be encouraged to do, not discouraged”. 

He is also very excited for the upcoming middle school musical that he is a part of. This musical is a big deal to him because it isn’t quite like anything the middle school has done before.

It is a very big show, but he believes that his students will “rise to the occasion”.

Despite his passion, every career field has some difficult moments and music can definitely be a challenging field of work. Mr. D’agostino believes that a little hard work can help you achieve anything. He states that, “You get out of it what you put into it. Whether it is musical theater or music education, the more you put in, the more you will be rewarded”. 

Outside of work, he is a very busy man. He enjoys all things boat life, fishing, gardening, and cooking. He also enjoys going running with his friends every week. 

A human of fundamental kindness and a joy to be around, Mr. D’Agostino is definitely a shining example of what it means to be a teacher.