ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Students at William J. Clark Middle School in Orangeburg are ready for the main stage.
In piano class, you can find Maurice Middleton, who’s passion for piano isn’t black and white.
“From seven years old, I wanted to do law. And when I got to high school, I just found a great interest in music,” Middleton said. “The impressions that music and just the experience as a whole made me decide in my 11th grade that I wanted to pursue music education, and I have not felt like I've worked a day since.”
An Orangeburg native, Middleton graduated from South Carolina State as a Music Education Major and kept his talents in his home state.
“I worked in Allendale County Schools for a while. I did some things with the South Carolina Arts Commission. I did artists residency around the state and then I started working here in Orangeburg County," Middleton said. "It was Orangeburg 5 at the time, but now it's Orangeburg County. The rest is history.”
For 17 of his 21 years as an educator, you could find Middleton teaching middle school piano classes to 112 students.
“When I was younger, I couldn't really sight read. So he helped me with my sight reading. Now, I do advanced pieces that are above my grade level," Clark Middle School student Kaori told us. "So usually, he gives me 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade pieces. It's been a challenge, but he always tells me that I can do it.”
“He was a nice teacher. He helped us understand things. He explained things so wonderfully. And overall he's very helpful,” said Jahaziel, another student at Clark Middle School.
“I tell them all the time, if you just try, it's unbelievable what you can do. And I think that's a life lesson to anyone," Middleton said. "It doesn't matter your outcome, or it doesn't matter what you think your outcome may be. If you just give it the effort, you'd be surprised to know what the outcome could be.”
Middleton also takes his talents outside the classroom as the Director of Music at Edisto Fork United Methodist Church.
“I knew it was a gift. And I think that I really honed in on the gift," Middleton said. "And now I don't doubt that it was a gift sent directly from God.”
And his gift is already inspiring the next generation.
“Just to see them come out and do greater and do even more than I have done. It's a full circle moment. It's just so rewarding to see kids grow,” Middleton said.
“He's been teaching in the music industry for a long time. And I know there's other students that have been encouraged by Mr. Middleton, like I have been encouraged by him. He's just a great teacher,” Kaori said.
“It's really amazing to still be here and to see this wonderful day, and to receive this wonderful award," Middleton said.
If you know a teacher like Mr. Middleton who deserves to be recognized for their hard work in the classroom you can nominate them by emailing us at TOW@WLTX.COM. Tell us what that educator is doing every day to go above and beyond in the classroom.