SOUTH MIAMI, Fla. — Cheers erupted inside a classroom at South Miami Senior High School when students learned their band director, Jennifer Jimenez, had been named the 2026 Grammy Music Educator of the Year.
Video from the moment shows students jumping to their feet, shouting and applauding as the announcement was made just weeks ago.
“Personally, I cried,” said Allison Martinez, one of Jimenez’s students. “That just makes me so happy because I know how hard she worked for that.”
Band member Izabella Tapanes said the excitement was immediate.
“We were all so excited and so happy for her,” she said.
Jimenez received the honor during a national awards ceremony, where she was recognized as the winner of the Grammy Music Educator Award — given annually to one teacher across the country.
On Friday, it was the students’ turn to celebrate her.
Band members, cheerleaders, staff and students lined the school entrance on Tuesday, creating a hero’s welcome as Jimenez returned to campus. The celebration was loud, energetic and heartfelt — a tribute organizers said matched her impact in the classroom.
“Today we are welcoming her back to our routine, which, you know, it’s not L.A.,” Tapanes joked, as students cheered.
Jimenez proudly showed students the Grammy trophy, a gold award presented to just one educator nationwide, selected from more than 2,000 entries across all 50 states.
The Grammy, students said, represents more than musical excellence. They described it as a symbol of dedication, perseverance and compassion — values Jimenez emphasizes daily.
“My goal is to use the arts as the tool to get them to wherever they want to be and whatever that means for their careers,” Jimenez said.
Students credit her with helping them grow both musically and personally.
“I came into this program being very shy and not thinking that I could accomplish everything that I have,” Tapanes said. “She’s really pushed me and encouraged me in a way that I don’t think I ever had before.”
Jimenez has spent nearly two decades teaching, and students say she creates a supportive environment where they feel comfortable sharing personal challenges as well as musical goals.
“We talk to her about our personal stuff as well, and she knows how to talk to us about it,” Martinez said.
“She’s very good about asking us when something’s wrong,” Tapanes added. “It’s not just the musical thing — it’s a personal thing — and that’s what makes her such a great teacher.”
In addition to the Grammy, Jimenez also received a $10,000 award for the school’s music program. She said the funds will be used to support students and expand opportunities within the program.
Jimenez is also a member of the Miami Symphony and continues to perform professionally while teaching.
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