David E. Gish is a native Kansan who grew up in Garden City. He
received his post-high school education at the University of Kansas
(BME) and Wichita State University (MME) with further graduate
studies at Northwestern University. His teaching career has
spanned five decades with stops in Downs, Sublette, Lily Lake,
Hutchinson, Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley, Olathe and as music
substitute teacher in the Blue Valley Schools. Shawnee Mission
West High Symphonic Band performed at the 1973 Mid-West Band
and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago. Gish went to the Blue Valley
Schools in 1979 to start the district's first-ever school string
orchestra program. Gish served as an officer in the Northeastern
Kansas Band Association, and was the 1971 KMEA State Band
Chair. Honors include 1964 Outstanding Young Educator,
presented by the Sublette Jr. Chamber of Commerce; 1983
Leawood Middle School Master Teacher; 1988 Greater Kansas
City Recognition of Excellence in Teaching; 1999 Certificate of
Recognition by the University of Kansas Institute for Research in
Learning Disabilities; Valley Schools nominee for Kansas Master
Teacher; 1994 Certificate of Honor for Outstanding Contribution to
the Teaching Profession by Emporia State University.