Sherry Paetznick Wilkins, Orchestra Director at Kilgore high school, has been named Teacher of the Month. She brings incredible energy and creativity to every rehearsal, turning a room of teenagers into a real symphony. Under her direction, the Orchestra has many awards,
“In high school, I graduated third in my class. I was in NHS, orchestra, KYSSED (which is now KBAD), French Club (Esprit de la France), GT classes including Mentorship, the Reflector staff, the Flame staff, Junior Historians, Who’s Who, and Texas Scholars.”
Students gain much more than musical skills—they build confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong love of music.
“My favorite school activity will always be orchestra. Music brings joy”
This award honors teachers who inspire students and strengthen their school community—one note at a time.
“I think my biggest challenge is keeping up with everything I need to do now and for future events while fitting it into and working around school and student schedules/calendars as much as I can. Right now we are polishing UIL Concert and Sight-Reading music, as well as music for the Black History program, and one class is practicing fiddle music for Texas Day at Chandler.” .
Despite the busy schedule, she is proud of how much the orchestra program has evolved
“I’m proud of the way the orchestra program is growing at KHS in both size and quality. We’ve grown from two classes when I started here to four classes. This year, the orchestra had 17 students make All Region, tying with Tyler Legacy, which is a 6A high school. We are also taking 9 students to State Solo and Ensemble. I am extremely proud of these students for their accomplishment last year and hope to continue that tradition into this year and the future.
Wilkins credits her parents for instilling the values that helped her succeed.
“The most influential person in my life would have to be two people–my parents, David and Jeanette Paetznick. They gave me a great, stable, and moral upbringing with varied experiences and taught me to have common sense. I had a wonderful childhood, and the lessons they taught me have helped me be successful in my adult life.”
Her connection to Kilgore runs deep.
“My family moved from Stephenville to Kilgore when I was three, and I went to Kilgore school K-12, graduating in 1994. I went to Kilgore College for two years as a music major on a full ride academic scholarship. Then I transferred to SFA and changed my major to education, but music scholarships paid for my tuition there even though I was not a music major.”
Looking to the future, she’s keeping her options open but hopes to always keep music at the center of her life.
“In ten years, I hope to either still be here at KHS teaching orchestra or retired and teaching private lessons from my music studio that I would like to open someday.”
With Family and music in her life, both essential sources of support and joy.
“My best friend is my husband, Matthew Wilkins. He is a wonderful human being, supportive of everything I do, and is always there for me, even when I’m crabby.”
Her passion for performance extends beyond the classroom.
“I do have a music career in addition to teaching at KHS. I play in the Longview Symphony and occasionally sub in the Marshall Symphony. I am a member of the Longview String Quartet, and we play gigs like weddings several times a month.”
When asked about her greatest inspiration as a teacher, Wilkins doesn’t hesitate.
“My most influential teacher was Mrs. Lisa Roberts, my orchestra teacher from 6th to 12th grade. She set me on the path to becoming a musician and an orchestra teacher. She encouraged me and talked to my parents into buying me an instrument and taking private lessons. She set me up with a wonderful private teacher, and she contacted the orchestra teachers at Kilgore College and SFA for me and arranged auditions.”
Outside of music, Wilkins enjoys quiet moments.
“In my spare time, I like to play with my adorable dog Lady Juliet (who is the goodest, cutest girl EVER) and my cat Lord Chesterton Meow Meow I. And do Duolingo. One day I will be good at speaking Spanish.”
She’s also full of fun facts that showcase her personality.
“I met Karl Urban at a Comic Con. He’s really nice.
My maiden last name Paetznick is Prussian. Prussia no longer exists, but it was a country in the Eastern part of Germany/western part of Poland.
I have hypermobility (double jointed). Sometimes it’s cool–for instance, I can do the splits with either leg leading or out to the side. But sometimes it’s annoying–like if I lift weights and go too heavy, my joints pop out of place. It doesn’t hurt. It’s just annoying.”
She feels big pride in where her journey has led.
“My biggest accomplishment is being able to do my dream job teaching orchestra at KHS. Back in middle school and high school, I wanted to be an orchestra director and take over from Mrs. Roberts when she retired. It was a long road to get here from 15 years of teaching elementary to moving over to secondary to teach orchestra, but here I am finally following the dream I chickened out of in college.”
And if she could, she’d share all this with her ancestors.
“I would love to talk to all of my grandparents again, but especially my Paetznick grandparents because my grandmother died before I was born and my grandfather died when I was one. I would talk to them about EVERYTHING, but especially family history and stories from Prussia.”
Sherry Paetznick Wilkins’s journey is one of dedication, passion, and heart, a reminder of how one teacher’s love for music can inspire many.