Karen Saxon reminds School of Education graduates to ‘keep the main thing the main thing’ at 153rd Commencement
Karen Saxon, ’03, music educator, delivered a moving speech to the graduating Class of 2025 during the School of Education’s evening Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 17. Saxon addressed a full crowd in the Sports Arena for Buffalo State’s 153rd annual Commencement, during which the university conferred degrees on nearly 1,700 undergraduate and graduate students over three ceremonies.
Saxon referred to a quote attributed to Stephen Covey, the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, that she first heard from her mother, a lifelong educator:
‘The main thing about the main thing… is to keep the main thing the main thing,’” Saxon said. “In education, the main thing is the student. Every single one. Collectively. Individually. We know the challenges—mental health, literacy gaps, shrinking budgets. But no matter what we face, we work for the students.”
Saxon holds a bachelor of arts in vocal performance from Buffalo State University and master of science in education in educational administration from the University of Scranton. She has devoted 27 years to music education in the Buffalo Public Schools. Currently, she serves as a vocal music instructor at City Honors School and as an adjunct voice professor at Buffalo State.
She made history as the first-ever musical director for Shea’s Performing Arts Center’s production of Once On This Island and Ujima Theater’s collaboration with Second Generation Theater for The Color Purple. In 2025, Saxon co-founded AnsariSaxon Productions alongside Buffalo State assistant professor Naila Ansari Carbonell Catilo, establishing an African American, female-owned professional production company committed to artistic excellence.
Following is the full text of Saxon’s speech:
Good afternoon, everyone.
It is a joy to be here today with all of you—graduates, families, faculty, and friends—for this incredible celebration.
CONGRATULATIONS, Class of 2025!
You’ve studied, researched, written, grown—and now you arrive at commencement.
The beginning. What a beautiful beginning it is.
Before I go any further, I want to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. Durand and her cabinet, and to those who nominated me to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Thank you for this honor.
I also want to celebrate the Department of Education. Your tireless efforts to prepare this generation of leaders do not go unnoticed. Thank you.
And now—graduates, faculty—please join me in giving a rousing round of applause for your families. Whether by birth or by choice—no one gets here without a support system. Thank you, families.
My name is Karen Saxon. Proud graduate of the Class of 2003. I hold a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance from Buffalo State and a Master of Science in Educational Administration from the University of Scranton.
Thanks to the preparation I received here, I’ve spent 27 years teaching in the Buffalo Public Schools, performing regularly with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, and introducing over 200 classrooms to opera through the Metropolitan Opera House HD Live in Schools program. I’ve also proudly served as a cooperating teacher—not just to help shape future educators, but to become a better educator myself. I welcomed feedback. I still do. That’s the spirit of Buffalo State.
Now, let me take you to a moment that could have derailed from my present course—but changed everything.
It was my interview for the vocal music position at City Honors School. The best school in BPS—yes, I said it!
I had been preparing diligently for my sample lesson. A unit on ascending diatonic intervals. (If that means something to you—thank your music teacher.)
I had lesson objectives. I prepared a digital review. I was ready. And then I got a phone call.
“Are you still planning to come in for the interview today?”
My heart dropped. I’m sure that some of the melanin left my face!
My interview was scheduled for TOMORROW. I checked my letter; there had been a mixup.
I was at our family funeral home office carrying out my administrator duties and working on my lesson electronically. In sneakers. Wearing leggings. No laptop.
By the grace of God and a spare professional outfit in my office, I pulled myself together.
I got to the school, took a written music theory test—thank you, Mr. Hilliard—and prepped for the lesson. I had no time to run home and grab the laptop. In the interview room there was just a whiteboard and dry erase markers.
I did what teachers do. I taught. I turned that interview committee into my class. I asked questions to establish prior knowledge. I built knowledge by defining each term in the unit title–then I asked clarifying questions to assure that students understood the terms. I encouraged singing—judgment-free, of course. I did my best to make them comfortable enough to try.
Four years later, I’m still teaching at City Honors.
Sometimes, all you need is a marker and your purpose.
Here’s what I want you to remember. This quote that I’m going to share is attributed to Stephen Covey, the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. However, I’m going to share it as I received it from my mother, Michelle Thomas, a lifelong educator:
“The main thing about the main thing… is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
In education, the main thing is the student. Every single one. Collectively. Individually.
We know the challenges—mental health, literacy gaps, shrinking budgets. But no matter what we face, we work for the students.
Emerging educators, they watch us. Developing educators, they learn not just from what we teach—but how we teach. How we treat them. Expert educators, they learn from how we handle the hard days.
So please—see them. Make them feel welcome. Then foster a classroom environment where they are encouraged to see and welcome each other.
Teach for understanding. If you commit to this, your students’ testing scores will certainly reflect it. In order to do this, you must commit to meeting every student where they are and then scaffold them to where they can be. Support them, even when they miss the mark.
Because one day—they’ll serve you in a restaurant, check you into a hospital, or evaluate your performance as your supervisor. And when that day comes, you’ll be grateful you kept the main thing the main thing.
Class of 2025, congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone.
I am cheering wildly for you.
And I proudly welcome you as colleagues.
Thank you.
Photo by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.
