Lafayette Band Director Earns State Outstanding Music Educator Award
![A Rockwood educator smiles with his Teacher of the Year award.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1767639297/rsdmoorg/fytmgcjlbvehvrznmssg/BalogMMEAAward2026_2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1767639297/rsdmoorg/fytmgcjlbvehvrznmssg/BalogMMEAAward2026_2.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1767639297/rsdmoorg/fytmgcjlbvehvrznmssg/BalogMMEAAward2026_2.jpg","width":680}])
Lafayette Band Director Earns State Outstanding Music Educator Award
Brad Balog, band director at Lafayette High, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2026 Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA) Dr. Wynne J. Harrell Outstanding Music Educator Award.
Nominees for the award were accepted from across the state and voted on by MMEA area vice presidents.
"(Balog) represents what all our members aspire to be: a model of teaching, learning and professional excellence," said MMEA President Chris Sacco.
Balog, a Lafayette graduate, is in his 25th year teaching at his alma mater. He was named the 2025-2026 Rockwood School District Teacher of the Year this past April and was one of 108 teachers from around the region honored with an Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award in November.
He will be recognized with the Outstanding Music Educator Award on Jan. 30, during this year's MMEA Conference, which runs Jan. 27-31 in Osage Beach. Balog will also be leading the Lafayette Wind Ensemble in a performance at the conference.
Lafayette is among only 33 music groups from around the state selected to perform at the MMEA conference, one of only seven high school bands, and this is first time a Lafayette band has performed at the MMEA conference.
Do you want to stay up to date on all the latest news from Rockwood?
Recent News Articles
![Rockwood Early Childhood Preschool Enrollment Now Open]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1766510015/rsdmoorg/hr564jklltav2a2oqpzu/ECRegistration2026forweb_2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1766510015/rsdmoorg/hr564jklltav2a2oqpzu/ECRegistration2026forweb_2.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1766510015/rsdmoorg/hr564jklltav2a2oqpzu/ECRegistration2026forweb_2.jpg","width":680}])
Rockwood Early Childhood Education is offering open preschool enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year to families in our community.
![Rockwood Kindergarten Registration for '26-'27 Now Open]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1764869634/rsdmoorg/mnkqij7vd9hxetshpyyc/KRegistration_2627.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1764869634/rsdmoorg/mnkqij7vd9hxetshpyyc/KRegistration_2627.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1764869634/rsdmoorg/mnkqij7vd9hxetshpyyc/KRegistration_2627.jpg","width":680}])
Do you have a child ready to start kindergarten next school year Rockwood schools are offering online kindergarten registration to help our families prepare for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.
![Candidates File for the Rockwood Board of Education]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1767383010/rsdmoorg/pbr8irwisqrrx8vfjhhj/BOECandidates2026forweb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1767383010/rsdmoorg/pbr8irwisqrrx8vfjhhj/BOECandidates2026forweb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1767383010/rsdmoorg/pbr8irwisqrrx8vfjhhj/BOECandidates2026forweb.jpg","width":680}])
Candidate filing for the Rockwood Board of Education closed on Dec. 30, and the district has three citizens who have filed to run for three open seats. The seats are currently held by Kary Bachert, Bob Cadigan and Lynne Midyett.
![Rockwood Families: Apply Now for 2026-2027 FAFSA Federal Student Aid]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759768231/rsdmoorg/zjlqkmzkvhygxecdfies/FAFSAFormOpen2025forweb.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759768231/rsdmoorg/zjlqkmzkvhygxecdfies/FAFSAFormOpen2025forweb.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1759768231/rsdmoorg/zjlqkmzkvhygxecdfies/FAFSAFormOpen2025forweb.jpg","width":680}])
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form for the 2026-2027 school year is now available for students to complete and submit, and the state of Missouri priority deadline is Monday, Feb. 2.