AUSTIN, Texas —
A Central Texas educator is being honored and will march in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Ryan Dufrene is a traveling band director who teaches at four different Austin ISD schools.
He'll be one of 400 band directors marching from across the United States, but the only one from Austin.
"I think the exposure of something like saluting America's band directors is important just to bring awareness to people across the country, how important this is in our schools," said Dufrene.
For Dufrene, ever since he started playing, he never wanted the music to stop. He says his hope is that it will inspire his students to keep reaching for the stars.
"It's my life's work," he said. "It's just so much fun for me to share the thing that I love more than anything with my students and to see them when it finally clicks."
His passion poured over into teaching.
"Music and the arts are super important in school," Dufrene said. "It enhances the school community, it enhances students' learning experiences."
His students will get the chance to watch him on TV marching in the parade as part of the salute to band directors. Something they say is music to their ears.
When students at Perez Elementary were asked why they were excited to see their teacher on TV, trombone player Adan Rodriguez said, "Because he's going to be playing for everyone."
Flute player Genesis Puebla said, "Because I get to see him, and he is really good at it."
A fellow trumpet player Bryan Ochoa explained why he's excited.
"It's because he's really talented at it," Ochoa said.
They all think he's first chair when it comes to teaching and that may be because of his experience. Dufrene marched back in 2005 with his Louisiana college right after Hurricane Katrina.
"It was just a great time for the state to kind of come together and be put on the national stage in a positive light.," said Dufrene.
Now, he's excited to go back, this time representing Austin, the Live Music Capital of the World.
"If you want to have all those great live music things in the future, you need these things in schools and kids getting a love for music early on.," Dufrene said.
He hopes that seeing him gives his students the courage to march to their own beats.
KVUE caught up with Dufrene at Perez Elementary, but he also teaches at Houston, Langford and Widen elementaries.