In his 10 years at the school, he has started a guitar program that has become very well respected in the area. His students were selected as the grand prize winners of the Makin' Wishes with Weezer contest, and were fortunate enough to meet the rock band via webchat and also receive new classroom equipment from their win. Mr. Gerry was named the Salina "Teacher of the Year" in 2012 and was a semi-finalist for the state of Kansas' "Teacher of the Year" in the the same year as well. He hold a music education degree from Wichita State University, and will complete his master's from Kansas State University in educational leadership in the summer of 2013