by 
Joshua Pauly teaches band at the WRV middle school and high school. Pauly grew up in Waconia, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota-Morris, the Conservatório Dramático e Musical de Tatuí in Brazil, and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, receiving his degrees in music. Pauly has earned honors at the Vermont Association for Jazz Education. Pauly started teaching at the White River Valley High School the 2016-17 school year. This was the year before South Royalton and Bethel merged schools. Pauly is very supportive towards his students and has always pushed us past our limits.
Josh Pauly not only pushes his students to their full potential, but he also conveys enormous amounts of compassion and support for his students. He makes a point to have a relationship with all his students. Pauly makes learning new music fun and worthwhile. He knows how to be serious and focus on what needs to be worked on, while making sure everyone has an enjoyable experience doing it. Pauly pushes everyone to be the best versions of themselves and pushes everyone to be the best musicians they can. During performances, Pauly always makes sure the audience knows how hard his students have worked and makes sure all the students get the proper recognition they deserve. Aside from all the practicing the band does, he also makes sure that his students have days to relax and not worry about playing. For example, Pauly will take the band on walks through the trails at the school. If the weather is decent, Pauly will take the class out to play kickball. Pauly makes sure all of the students in his class have the best experience they can.
When Pauly first arrived at the South Royalton campus in the 2016-17 school year, he made a memorable first impression. Every student was at a different level of music they could successfully play. Some students were at a more advanced level and other students were either at a beginner level, or a moderate level for their grade. Pauly was able to push every student to the same level of music. Pauly has been able to get beginners to middle school level music, middle school students to high school level music, and high school students close to college level music. Pauly consistently tries to get students to a new level of music, by enhancing the playing experience, pushing the students past their preferred tempo, and giving more advanced music after every performance. When Pauly teaches, his number one rule is to have fun. If Pauly notices his students aren’t having fun, he makes a point to flip the mood around.
Joshua Pauly has been able to connect with his students on a personal level. He has made an immense impact on this school, and on all of his students. Pauly has always maintained his energy in class, and has always made sure his students are able to match his energy. He always knows how to change the energy in the room and make sure everyone has the best rest of their day, with his wise words, “Be your best.”
