New Hampshire’s Windham High School teacher Jared Cassedy was chosen from an initial list of 7,000 nominees.

By Christine Ha

Jared Cassedy, a South Korean adoptee and high school music teacher, was announced as the winner of the Grammy Music Educator Award.

The Recording Academy and Grammy Foundation honors teachers who “have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education” each year, according to the foundation.

Cassedy, who is a staff member at Windham High School in New Hampshire, was chosen from an initial list of 7,000 nominees.

He was adopted into an American family at age 4 and went on to attend New Hampshire University to study music education. Cassedy joined the high school six years ago as teacher and band director.

According to CBS News, his students nicknamed him “The Energizer Bunny” for his fast talking and passion for music.

Cassedy will be flown to Los Angeles to accept his award, attend the Grammy Awards and receive a $10,000 honorarium.