Dover band director named county’s Art Educator of the Year
DOVER – The Dover Middle School band concert was interrupted last week for a surprise announcement honoring its director.
As music teacher Micah Carrick helped set up percussion instruments, School Board member John Maxwell announced that the Tuscarawas Arts Partnership had selected Carrick as the 2026 Tuscarawas County Arts Educator of the Year. He said Carrick received an overwhelming number of nominations from students, parents, colleagues, administrators and community members.
“At Dover, Mr Carrick has built a brand program where students feel supported from the very beginning,” Maxwell said. “Students with little to no experience are give the structure, patience and encouragement they need to grow into competent musicians.”
TAP presented the award at a banquet Monday, but Carrick could not attend because of the middle school band concert.
Carrick, who has been a music educator in Dover for 25 years, accepted the award humbly and celebrated by sharing a fist-bump with Dover High School Band Director Chris Redd, who won the award last year.