Beloved Sugar-Salem band director retires after three decades with the district

SUGAR CITY, Idaho — The average person will have 12 jobs during their lifetime, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. However, there are those who find the perfect job, and stick with it their whole career. Fortunately, for the Sugar-Salem School District, Mark Seare found his perfect fit when he accepted a job as the band director back in 1993.

“To be honest, when, I was in college I didn’t want to be a band teacher,” said Seare.  “I thought, 50 kids with noisemakers in their hands—I don’t want any part of that.” 

“I was a computer science major in college. I found myself doing my homework as fast as I could so I could go do music, compose, and practice. I couldn’t run away. So I decided to go back and get a teaching certificate,” said Seare.

Retired Sugar-Salem Choir Director Joe Cherrington was the assistant principal responsible for hiring Seare.

“I was the one that hired him,” said Cherrington. “I’m sure glad we found him and brought him up here. One of the things I enjoyed the most in my musical career was the opportunity to work with Mark. He’s a great man and we had so many great times that were just fun.”

Early in his career, Seare had aspirations of moving on to “bigger and better things.” But the community and the students changed his mind.

“I have this theory. You teach in a large community, you might teach a lot of kids, but the bucket’s not very deep,” said Seare.  “Your finger only gets a little wet when you dip it in the bucket.  But when you teach in a small community, the bucket’s really small but you can touch really deep. It’s been a wonderful opportunity to get to know families really well.”

When Seare announced he was planning to retire at the end of the 2022 school year, his former students wanted to pay tribute to the career which touched so many lives in a small community.

Emily Blackham Goodman was one of those students. She graduated back in 2002, and promised Mr. Seare she would host an event for him when he retired.

“He’s the reason I chose to study music in college,” said Goodman. “His passion for music and his love for all of us just touched me.  So I told him when you retire I want to host this event for you because you deserve every minute of it.”

Hundreds of former students along with friends, family, and community members turned out on a Friday evening for a chance to shake hands, take a few selfies, and reminisce with Mr. Seare.

Former student and 2005 graduate, Kendra Ricks Sieler came to the event with several family members. “We feel like our family’s special because he made each one of us feel special. But looking around the room you can see it wasn’t about us. It was about who Mr. Seare is,” said Sieler.

Seare said he started teaching because of his love of the music. “

“At first it was the music,” said Seare. “But, gradually, over time it was the kids. I learned over my career I really don’t teach music. I mean, that’s the curriculum, but what I teach is kids.”

Those kids, who are now adults, still appreciate Mr. Seare’s efforts.

“I love him to death,” said Goodman.  “There’s been so much that he’s done for all of us. He loves his students and that’s what makes the big difference.” 

Mark and his wife Debbie started Glenn Miller night based on a similar event once held at Utah State with a live jazz band and a dinner.

“We put together this teeny little jazz band with about 18 people and we served a meager meal with the help of a few parents,” said Seare. Since then, Glenn Miller Night has become a highlight of the community.

“Eventually the parents took it all over,” said Seare. “The evening has just become an incredible evening, and it’s grown bigger than Sugar-Salem. It’s a community event.”

Despite the success of Glenn Miller night and advanced jazz band, the night it seems fitting that Mr. Seare’s final concert before retirement would be directing the junior high bands. 

“After the concert, somebody yelled ‘Yeah Mr. Seare!’ Everybody stood up. I was overcome with emotion,” said Seare. “I finally had to just walk off the stage and stand there and wait until they stopped clapping. I also don’t like the attention on me. I want to put it all on the students.”

Seare said he and his wife hadn’t made any specific plans for retirement, aside from spending more time together and with family.  They would like to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Seare is also considering options like teaching adjunct classes for Brigham Young University-Idaho and maybe even composing some music for education.

“I’m very humbled and very grateful,” said Seare. “It’s been a wonderful run. I’ve been blessed by so many people. When I leave, I know that after a few years my name will be forgotten, and I’m fine with that. But I hope that the students I had will remember that they had someone that tried to treat them with kindness and love.”

REXBURG COMMONS