John Downey

Staff Member of the Royal Family Since 2000

Education: MA in Education, Pepperdine University, 2000; BA in Public Relations, BA in Religion, Pepperdine University, 1995

Favorite Proverb:  If you wish to climb the ladder you must begin at the first rung.

Favorite Josh Ritter Lyric: Don't let the things you remember ever outnumber the things that you live for and don't let the things you hold onto ever outnumber the things you let go.

Favorite Albus Dumbledore Quote: "To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever. It is in your very skin."

Wisdom Regarding Song In The Home And Classroom: Songs passed from generation to generation of parents or children can be compared to stones washed over time in a mountain stream. They are changed by the action of time and accident. Rocks are smoothed by the constant movement of the water, just as songs are improved by their frequent and slightly varied repetition. Pebbles hit stones and chip them, just as parents may forget a song’s words or melody. And neither rocks nor songs are simply shaped by water and time – they also shape the environment of which they are a part. Stones make the brooks bubble and chuckle, just as songs make children move and sing along. - Anthony Seeger, Director Emeritus, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

Hobbies: Watching hockey (Sharks) and Australian Rules Football (Carlton Blues). Reading (non-fiction). Music (very eclectic tastes). Travel (domestic [with a focus on National Park Sites] and international).

Message to Students: Take risks. Hard work in pursuit of achieving a challenging goal will satisfy your soul. Choose your friends wisely. Surround yourself with good people.