Brian McDaniel

Band Director, Rancho Mirage High School

Band director at Rancho Mirage High School, in 2019, McDaniel was a finalist for the Top 50 Global Teacher Prize, following his win for California Teacher of the Year in 2018. He has been a finalist for Life Changer of the Year as well as a nominee for National Teacher of the Year and the Grammy Music Educator Award.
McDaniel uses music as a tool for students to find their sense of belonging to a larger group. His philosophy—"Caring Beyond Expectations"—shows students how to set personal goals and objectives so they can strive to be anything they want.
With a goal to give all students a pathway to success, he facilitates workshops for local teachers and alumni to learn his methods of connecting with students and inspiring change. His workshop tagline is: “Creating inspiring teachers, one community at a time."
He has also established an endowment to support the next generation of teachers. To date, he has raised more than $1 million through grants, donations, sponsorship and fundraisers to ensure access for every child.
McDaniel speaks at events to encourage CSUSB students to purse the field of education as a profession; he believes it's important to stay in your local community to truly effect change and engages elected officials to make a difference in the Inland Empire.

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