DUNEDIN, Fla. — Stanley Butts has been the choir teacher at Dunedin Highland Middle School for a year, but he’s been teaching vocal music for more than 42 years.

“At the time I started I thought I would be retired by now, but I'm still doing it; I’m still enjoying it.”

In Mr. Butt’s class, music is the motivator for students in many ways. Confidence is one of the lessons they all learn, whether they realize it or not. 

“Somewhere down the line they believed a lie. They opened their mouths to sing and someone said ‘you can't sing’ and they stop. A student who continues on and works at it, improves,” he says. 

His dedication and attitude towards his art led Mr. Butts to quickly become a favorite among students. 

“He will do whatever he can to make sure that we achieve a successful ending,” says Andrew Larsen, 8th grader. 

Mr. Butts says he’s just preparing students for the next level. 

“If I can send a high school [[music]] director students who can read music, who can perform well…the work that I put in…I can see them achieving later in high school.”