FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CLOVIS, NM — Clovis Municipal Schools is proud to recognize two educators connected to the Clovis High School choir program who were recently honored by the New Mexico Music Educators Association (NMMEA) for their outstanding contributions to music education in New Mexico.
James Golden, assistant director of choirs at Clovis High School, was named the 2027 NMMEA Educator of the Year, and Alan Dropps, retired Clovis High School choir director and former Clovis Municipal Schools Director of Music Education, was inducted into the NMMEA Hall of Fame.
Both honors are awarded through a competitive nomination process that begins at the district level. Nominees are first submitted by colleagues and voted on by the Southeastern district of NMMEA before advancing to the state level for state consideration.
The NMMEA Educator of the Year award recognizes a widely respected and established music educator who has made significant contributions to music education in New Mexico schools and is actively teaching in the state at the time of nomination and award presentation.
Golden has served as a music educator in New Mexico for 14 years, teaching choir at both the middle and high school levels. He has taught at Portales Junior High School, Portales High School, Yucca Middle School, Piedra Vista High School, Clovis High School Freshman Academy, and now Clovis High School. In addition to his classroom responsibilities, Golden serves as Choral Vice President of NMMEA and has held several leadership roles within the organization, including District 3 President and District 3 Choral Vice President.
Throughout his career, Mr. Golden has led student ensembles to nine New Mexico State Choir Championships, consistent Division I ratings at Music Performance Assessments, nine Best in Class awards at the Greater Southwest Music Festival, and Best in Festival honors at the 2026 Lone Star Classic. His ensembles have twice achieved the rare distinction of winning both Mixed Choir and Treble Choir state championships during the same adjudication cycle, 2024 with Piedra Vista High School - a first in school history and again in 2026 with Clovis High School (with Mrs. Tami Martin) - a first in school history as well. In 2025, Mr. Golden and Ed. Fellow Seth Baldock earned a championship title with the Yucca Middle School Women's Chorale - a first appearance and win for YMS at the NMAA Competition.
Beyond competitive success, James is recognized for building inclusive, student-centered choral programs that emphasize leadership, mentorship, recruitment, community engagement, and advocacy for music education. His commitment to excellence has helped students develop not only as musicians but also as confident leaders and compassionate individuals, while his service at the district and state levels continues to strengthen music education throughout New Mexico.
“Receiving the NMMEA Music Educator of the Year award is an incredible honor and one that I accept with deep gratitude and humility,” Golden said. “While my name is on the award, it truly belongs to the countless students, colleagues, mentors, administrators, family members, and communities who have supported me throughout my career. Every accomplishment I have been fortunate enough to experience is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of the students I have had the privilege to teach.”
The NMMEA Hall of Fame Award honors educators and administrators who have dedicated 20 or more years to music education in New Mexico and recognizes the invaluable service of music professionals who have helped bring high-quality music education to young people across the state.
Dropps served Clovis Municipal Schools for nearly four decades in a variety of roles, including elementary music teacher, choir director at Marshall Junior High and Clovis High School, assistant principal and principal at Yucca Middle School, Director of Music Education, assistant principal at Los Niños Early Intervention Center, and history teacher at Yucca Middle School.
His work in music education and leadership helped shape the district’s fine arts program and brought statewide and national recognition to Clovis. During his career, Dropps was named Clovis Municipal Schools Teacher of the Year for 2000–2001, earned first runner-up honors for New Mexico Teacher of the Year in 2001, and was recognized as NMMEA Administrator of the Year in 2014. Under his leadership, Clovis Municipal Schools was recognized multiple times among the nation’s Best 100 School Districts for Music Education and was also named a District of Distinction by NMMEA.
“An award like this does not belong to just one person,” Dropps said. “It is the result of the hard work and dedication of the thousands of students I have had the privilege to teach and the support of other teachers, administrators and parents I have worked with. I am humbled and blessed to receive this award.”
Award recipients are formally recognized by NMMEA during the annual general membership meeting at the NMMEA All-State Business Awards Luncheon.
Clovis Municipal Schools congratulates Mr. Golden and Mr. Dropps on these well-deserved honors and thanks them for the dedication, leadership, and passion they have brought to music education in Clovis and across New Mexico.
