To Suth, With Love

She's admittedly disorganized at times, particularly when it comes to paperwork.

And her teaching style is a bit unorthodox -- peppered with humor and good-natured scolding.

But for students, past and present, Bloomingdale High School chorus teacher Bev Sutherland, or "Suth," as they call her, is simply the best teacher they've ever had.

So, it wasn't surprising to see an abundance of tears flowing at Sutherland's final choral concert at Bloomingdale High School May 12.

After 35 years of teaching, Sutherland is retiring.

For her students at Bloomingdale High School, it not only means saying goodbye to a beloved teacher; it means bidding farewell to a mentor and a friend.

"She's helped us grow as people, taught us confidence," said student Emily Dees. "I'm really sad."

"Suth, you have been there for us no matter what," said Carter Householder. "I honestly wouldn't be the musician I am without the opportunities she's given me."

Sutherland frequently reached for the box of Kleenex sitting next to her chair as her students performed songs in her honor, songs that weren't on the program Sutherland clutched.

"It was all a surprise to me," said Sutherland. "I had no idea what they were going to do."

Among the songs, the choir performed a version of "To Sir With Love," changing the words to "To Suth With Love."

"I really broke up when they did that one," said Sutherland. "I was totally surprised."

She also was unaware a group of former students, from King and Newsome high schools, as well as Bloomingdale, from graduating classes ranging from 2000 to 2010, had gotten together to rehearse a special song for her on the night of her last concert.

They sang one of her favorite songs, "Georgia on My Mind."

"I heard they only rehearsed two days," said Sutherland. "It was beautiful."

There were other surprises as well, including appearances by former colleagues Scott Rudes and Ted Hope, both one-time band teachers at Bloomingdale.

Rudes described meeting Sutherland as a first-year band teacher 15 years ago.

"We shared Room 186 over the next eight years," said Rudes, "and she helped me to grow into the educator I am today."

Hope, Bloomingdale's first band teacher, brought Sutherland to Bloomingdale.

"What I love about Bev Sutherland, despite her lousy paperwork, is she was absolutely loyal and always had our back," said Hope.

"You have no idea how much this has meant to me," said Sutherland to the packed auditorium of people gathered to honor her.

Sutherland said she knew in the sixth grade that she wanted a career in music. That's when she joined her New Jersey elementary school band as a clarinet player and had an opportunity to play at the New York World's Fair.

An "Air Force brat," Sutherland came to Brandon when her father was transferred to MacDill Air Force Base, and attended Brandon High School when it was located at what is now McLane Middle School. There, she was an All-State clarinet player in her senior year, 1971.

She went on to the University of Tampa, majoring in music and minoring in education while playing clarinet and saxophone for the UT band. It was at UT that Sutherland said she discovered she could sing, thus beginning a love affair with school choruses.

After graduation, her first teaching job was at McLane Junior High School where she taught chorus and orchestra. She went on to King High School in 1979 and then landed at Bloomingdale High in 1992. She left Bloomingdale for two years in 2004 to teach at Newsome High School but then returned to Bloomingdale in 2006.

"A day hasn't gone by that I didn't look forward to coming to work," said Sutherland. " 

Among her career highlights were watching her chorus members perform in London last January and at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City a few years before.

"My kids are what makes teaching so rewarding," said Sutherland. "That, and the fact that I truly love doing what I'm doing and the people I work with."

Although past students frequently stop by the school to see Sutherland, the choir teacher can't begin to guess how many students she's taught over the past 35 years.

"I have 247 students this year alone," she said. "I've had students go on to attend every military academy. I've had students who became doctors, actors and music teachers. In fact, I'm now teaching the children of students I've had."

Sutherland admitted that she is retiring reluctantly.

During her 30th year in teaching, she signed up for the state's Deferred Retirement Option Program, with the understanding that she'd teach for five years, retire and take a month off, then resume teaching. 

"But the state changed the rules and I'm not able to come back after all," said Sutherland.

But she said Bloomingdale High School hasn't seen the last of her. She plans to help out with the band under the direction of Jon Sever.

The students and staff will host a party in Sutherland's honor Sunday, May 22, at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. The public is invited.