The Wayland Public Schools have received the Best Communities for Music Education Award from the NAMM Foundation for their outstanding support and commitment to music education.
Now in its 27th year, the program continues to spotlight and celebrate school districts and individual schools across the United States for their exemplary dedication to music education and their ongoing efforts to ensure equitable access to music learning as part of a well-rounded education. Wayland has been a recipient for 17 years running.
The award reaches K-12 communities nationwide, offering both recognition and momentum to strengthen and expand music education programs. In 2026, more than 1,000 school districts and schools — including public, private, charter, and parochial institutions — have been recognized for outstanding achievement in providing access to high-quality music education.
“This recognition is a wonderful tribute to our faculty, students, and families. Music brings joy for all generations, which is such an essential aspect of schooling and one that feels particularly important right now,” said Superintendent David Fleishman.
“Our community values and supports music education as a fundamental part of our children’s education,” said Susan Memoli, Wayland K-12 Director of Fine Arts. “The skills of self-discipline, teamwork, perseverance, and excellence help promote achievement and a lifelong appreciation of the arts.”
Recipients of the 2026 BCME Awards were selected through a comprehensive application and review process that evaluates key indicators, including funding, instructional time, participation rates, facilities, and community support. To uphold the program’s rigor and credibility, all applications were independently reviewed and verified by WolfBrown, a research and evaluation firm specializing in education and the arts.Courtesy photo by Solect Energy
Pictured, from left, at the Temple Shir Tikva ribbon cutting for its solar project: Temple Executive Director Dan Brosgol, Rabbi Danny Burkeman, Trustee for Social Justice Robert Koster, Solar Energy Project Consultant Stephen Clairmont, and Temple President Amy O’Donnell.
Temple Shir Tikva hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 29 to celebrate the completion of its new rooftop solar and solar canopy installation.
The event brought together community members, project partners, and local stakeholders, and included remarks from Dan Brosgol, Temple Shir Tikva’s executive director; Robert Koster Temple Shir Tika’s Trustee for Social Justice; and Senior Rabbi Danny Burkeman.
“We’re making a commitment to stewardship, to sustainability, and to being the kind of Jewish community that doesn’t just talk about repairing the world but is willing to pick up tools and get to work.,” said Brosgol. “It’s our way of saying that Jewish values don’t stop at the sanctuary doors; they extend upward to the roof, to the canopies, and outward to the world our children will inherit.”
The 264 kW DC system, developed and installed by Solect Energy through the Power Options Solar & Storage Program, maximizes on-site energy generation while making efficient use of available space. The system is now fully operational and will generate clean, renewable electricity on-site, supporting the Temple’s long-term sustainability and energy management goals.
“Temple Shir Tikva’s leadership demonstrates how community institutions can turn values into action,” said Matt Shortsleeve, SVP Marketing & Policy at Solect Energy. “Projects like this connect sustainability, community impact, and long-term planning in a very tangible way.”
