Jennifer DiVasto is currently a teacher at Pennridge High School but serves as much more than an educational teacher. She teaches Chamber Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, Rock Band, and Guitar Studio, as well as how to succeed in other ways. In 2021, Time Magazine featured DiVasto in an article titled “From Teachers to Custodians, Meet the Educators Who Saved A Pandemic School Year.” In it, DiVasto was described as someone who is “determined to give the kids a sense of success,” and there is no better way to describe her. During the pandemic, DiVasto was teaching at Central Bucks East High School, in the midst of her transition to teaching at Pennridge High School.
DiVasto’s transition to Pennridge High School led her to bring along with her the teaching style and traditions that were acclaimed in the Time Magazine article. This included a music video that was filmed at the Central Bucks East High School football field, which consisted of socially distanced students playing their instruments. During the 2022 to 2023 school year, Jennifer arranged a similar music video filmed at Pennridge High School’s football field. Just like DiVasto was described in the Time Magazine article, Daniel Dadio, a student of DiVasto as a part of the chamber orchestra, described her as “one of the best teachers who is very musically and socially intelligent.” He also described her classroom environment as “a very safe space. It is usually competitive in the music industry, but she doesn’t do anything to influence that.” DiVasto makes sure she can push her students to succeed while keeping a positive environment that brings her students together. Her class is described by Dadio as funny and homey, with lots of parties and jokes.
In addition to teaching her classes, she does many extracurricular activities that range from helping with school-related musical events to hosting her own podcast. Her podcast, called Musicast and she recors for the F-Flat Publishing Company out of Philadelphia, originated from a time when DiVasto was helping organize a rock band event when a lady asked her if she would consider podcasting. DiVasto knew that there were a lot of connections and things to say about music education, so she told the lady that she would try it for a year and see from there. She is still recording the podcast through the end of this school year and at this time, is unsure as to how long she will continue the podcast.
Aside from her podcast, she is successful in multiple ways through her desires and unending positivity. Her many successes also include her two nominations as a quarterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award. She states that “music is what you have to work for, and if you put the effort into it, you will get a lot out of it. It is worthy work and I enjoy what I do.” Although she is a great success, she is a very humble person. When transitioning to Pennridge High School, she did not mention the Time Magazine article that she was featured in because she was still new to the school district and didn’t want any held expectations.
Jennifer DiVasto is an overachieving success at Pennridge High School with her work experience of more than 19 years. She manages to balance teaching many classes a day, working outside of the classroom on musical events and performances, as well as her personal life involving her children. She influences her students to continue on their musical journey and she is very supportive of them.
Sources:
https://time.com/6094017/educators-covid-19-school-year/
https://phspenndulum.org/7216/news/school/jennifer-divasto-the-unsung-hero-of-pennridge/
https://www.youtube.com/@cbeastorchestra6685
https://fflat-books.com/musicast-podcast/?srsltid=AfmBOoqBWtKhez_AV45hXpA8uz4KoQZEssweo6msrmgytCHQZC94tm9i
