Through the Gary and Linda Huber Fund for Arts and Learning, our mission is to ensure that the students of Greencastle Community Schools have access to quality arts and music education. Our long-term goal is to endow two teaching positions in the Greencastle school system: a music teacher and a visual arts teacher. Our short-term goal is to provide annual support to current Greencastle art and music classes. Currently, we accomplish that through the donation of art supplies and equipment, instrument repairs, sheet music, and other needed supplies.
With every economic downturn, one of the first budget cuts discussed by school systems, against the advice of countless studies, is the elimination of music and art curriculum. The Music Achievement Council provides the following statements on the value of arts education in K-12 schools through their Keep Music Education Strong initiative:
Music develops skills needed by the 21st century workforce: critical thinking, creative problem solving, effective communication, team work, and more.
The vast majority (96%) of school principals interviewed in a recent study agree music education encourages and motivates students to stay in school. Further, 89% feel that a high-quality music education program contributes to higher graduation rates.
Students indicate that arts participation motivates them to stay in school, and that the arts create a supportive environment that promotes constructive acceptance of criticism and one in which it is safe to take risks.
Funding two teaching positions is a lofty goal, as the average teacher’s salary in Indiana is $54,300 (school year 2017-18). Because a beginning teacher’s needs and employment benefits are different from that of a veteran teacher, we hope to fund positions for individuals who can teach at a competitive level, one which will be of most benefit to students.
Once the two positions are endowed, it is our hope that additional creative activities for students can be funded. Such endeavors include: Bringing orchestra back to Greencastle Community Schools, expanding media use in art classes, offering art history and music history, and teaching cultural understanding through art and music.
History of the Fund
Gary and Linda Huber are alumni of Greencastle Community Schools. Although Gary began his education at Roachdale Elementary, he attended Greencastle Middle and High Schools. Linda grew up in Greencastle. During the Vietnam war, Gary went into the US Navy following graduation and returned to work in the family business, A. A. Huber and Sons. Linda attended Indiana University, then worked for Blue Shield of Indiana for ten years, after which she worked in Public Relations for the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Most recently, she has been the Executive Assistant to four Mayors of the City of Greencastle.
The Hubers have two children, Lauren and Derek who are also graduates of Greencastle High School. Lauren received her Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University and Derek received his Bachelor’s degree from Ball State University. Although music was part of their lives, both children excelled in art.
In fact, art is a large part of the family. Gary’s father, A. A. Huber, received a scholarship to attend the Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, but it was during the Great Depression and his family could not afford the cost of a bus ride to the school.
To honor Gary, following his death in 2006, the Hubers founded the Gary and Linda Huber Fund for Arts and Learning in order to support music and arts education in Greencastle Community Schools with the purpose of enriching the lives and futures of all students through music and arts education.
Huber Fund for Arts and Learning 