Gary L. Marvel

Mr. Marvel has 31 years of teaching experience. He has been teaching music in DoDEA schools for the past 7 years, at Bahrain High School and at Naples High School in Naples, Italy. Prior to joining DoDEA, Mr. Marvel taught music at Al Hekma International School in Bahrain; Hedgesville High School, Shepherd College, Berkeley Springs High School, and Paw Paw High School in West Virginia; and at Bruton High School in Virginia. He was also a fine arts coordinator with the Berkeley Board of Education. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Shepherd College and his Master of Arts Degree in Music Education from James Madison University.

"People learn by seeing the relevance of education to their everyday life." These words, spoken by John Dewey many years ago, lead Mr. Marvel to remind us as educators how essential it is to make our subject matter relevant to the needs of students in the 21st century. A student describes Mr. Marvel as an "exceptional teacher" who inspired him to follow in his footsteps. "Since the moment Mr. Marvel set foot in Naples, he set to work to improve the school's music program, organizing DoDDS-Europe's first and only student marching band. Respected by his peers and beloved by his students, Mr. Marvel epitomizes all that a teacher should be."