She is living her dream, working as a special education teacher at South Jordan Middle School, making a difference in the lives of students every day.

But Lauryn Macedone saw another dream come true not too long ago, when she was a contestant on the wildly popular show “The Voice,” selected to be a part of Alicia Keys’ team.

On this episode of the Supercast, we meet this superstar teacher and musician who has a heart of gold and a voice that turned heads around the nation, and turned the chairs of three judges on “The Voice.”

Anthony Godfrey:

Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. She is living her dream, working as a special education teacher at South Jordan Middle School, making a difference in the lives of students every day. But Lauryn Macedone saw another dream come true not too long ago when she was a contestant on the wildly popular show, “The Voice”, selected to be a part of Alicia Keys' team. On this episode of the Supercast, we meet this superstar teacher and musician who has a heart of gold and a voice that turned heads around the nation and turned the chairs of judges on “The Voice”.

We're here with Lauryn Macedone, a teacher at South Jordan Middle School, talking to her about her experience on “The Voice”. Thanks for taking a few minutes with us.

Lauryn Macedone:

Thank you so much for having me. I'm grateful to be here.

Anthony Godfrey:

Tell me a little bit about your teaching career, first of all.

Lauryn Macedone:

Okay. Yeah. So I actually just started in January, just finished my student teaching at Copper Hills High School, and then this is my first job, so I'm really excited to be here. I'm in special education here at South Jordan Middle School. I'm in the autism classroom specifically, so an autism support classroom. I have seven students and get to help them meet their individual needs and get to help them in their education, so it's awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:

That’s fantastic. I love a good mid-year hire. <Laugh>. Tell me what made you want to be a special education teacher?

Lauryn Macedone:

Oh, that's such a good question. I've known it since eighth grade. I took a peer tutoring class when I was in middle school, had an awesome teacher, met incredible individuals with disabilities who just inspired me. And I knew from then on that I wanted to help them and I wanted to be on their side, and I wanted to be their cheerleader to help them reach their goals and dreams that they have in life.

Anthony Godfrey:

That is a great peer tutor success story, and there are a lot of those out there. It's such a great experience for kids to get to know someone who might be a little bit different from them or from their friends. And I think it changes you permanently when you have that experience.

Lauryn Macedone:

Totally. We're so grateful for all of our peer tutors here. Like we have such a good peer tutoring program and are so grateful for all the students that take a class period out of their day to come and help others and learn from them as well. It’s awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:

And I love to see your enthusiasm and excitement for your new role here at South Jordan Middle.

Lauryn Macedone:

Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:

It is kind of hard to come in the middle of the year and jump in, but it sounds like it's gone really well for you.

Lauryn Macedone:

It has. This school is so supportive, the admin so supportive. I have a ton of awesome aides in my classroom that are super helpful and it just made the transition really smooth.

Anthony Godfrey:

Good. That makes a big difference. We've struggled to hire classroom assistants throughout the district. and it makes all the difference when you have that kind of support.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes. We're very lucky here. We have amazing aides, so it's awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:

And tell me about your student teaching experience. You were at Copper Hills, another great school.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes. I loved my student teaching. I was with an awesome mentor teacher, Jacque Sheppick. She taught me so much, was an incredible example. I was in a life skills class over there with 14 students with differing abilities and was able to teach them everything from math to restaurant skills. And it was awesome. We taught everything in between and it was super fun.

Anthony Godfrey:

She does an awesome job. She and her students were on the Supercast a couple of weeks ago as well. It's a great program everywhere you look in every school. It's exciting and it's an inclusive way of providing a great education for students of all abilities.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah. Yeah. That's something that I've loved the most about being in Jordan School District, is that I feel like there is so much inclusion in every school that I've been in during my education. I did a practicum placement here, did my student teaching here, and now I'm a teacher here. And every school that I went to was so inclusive and that just runs through all the schools and it's really, really amazing to see.

Anthony Godfrey:

We work hard at that. So it's great to hear that from you.

Lauryn Macedone:

It's great.

Anthony Godfrey:

Let's talk about your career with “The Voice” as well. So how long ago were you on “The Voice”?

Lauryn Macedone:

So it was about six years ago. I was 16 and 17 years old throughout the whole process. I was a junior in high school. And actually kind of coincidentally my blind audition aired six years ago today.

Anthony Godfrey:

Really? Wow.

Lauryn Macedone:

So today was the day <laugh> six years ago. I was so excited that my friends would be able to see my blind audition and they would finally know why I was missing so much school, <laugh> and all of the things.

Anthony Godfrey:

So you couldn't really tell people that you were even trying out or involved or anything like that?

Lauryn Macedone:

No, no. I couldn't tell them until about a month before. And so I just told people that I had a music opportunity and missed a lot of school, but it was super great and it was a great experience.

Anthony Godfrey:

Now let's go back a step. Tell me what got you interested in singing and your singing career up until then.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah. I have been singing ever since I could talk if you ask any of my family members. I would give them shows all the time. <Laugh> Whenever there was a fireplace, that was my stage, I was standing on it. I was singing loud and proud for everyone to hear. I would watch like Disney movies and sing along with the princesses and all the things. And so I've been performing ever since I can remember. I went to a performing arts preschool when I was younger.

Anthony Godfrey:

Oh, wow.

Lauryn Macedone:

And I did plays there too. It's just in my blood. I knew I loved to sing and love to perform.

Anthony Godfrey:

Is there a type of song that you like to sing in particular?

Lauryn Macedone:

It's changed over the years. I started a lot with musical theater and then I kind of jumped. I wanted to be a country singer and now I feel like I finally found myself as an artist. And I love like singer-songwriter style music. I am really inspired by like the sixties, the seventies artists, like Carole King, Joni Mitchell, stuff like that.

Anthony Godfrey:

There is some great singer-songwriter stuff available during that era.

Lauryn Macedone:

Oh yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

And they probably told you I'm a huge music fan. I go to a lot of concerts and live music is a big deal for me. So it's exciting to talk with you and to hear about this experience now.

Lauryn Macedone:

That's fun.

Anthony Godfrey:

Was "The Voice" your particular focus or were there other shows that you considered or tried out for as well?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah, that's a great question. I always had people telling me growing up, like, oh, you should audition for “The Voice” or “American Idol”. And I always had it in the back of my mind as something that I wanted to do. But I actually did a voice competition in Provo and they sent my video to “The Voice” and “The Voice” actually reached out to me to come and participate in their audition process.

Anthony Godfrey:

So you did a voice audition in Provo?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

But it was an audition for the show specifically, or was it for something else?

Lauryn Macedone:

It was something else.

Anthony Godfrey:

What was that for?

Lauryn Macedone:

It was just a little voice competition in Provo that my parents and I were like, let's just go do it. Sounds like fun. You can go just compete, meet other local artists. So I just went and it was more like a networking opportunity and they were awesome and sent my video to “The Voice” and the rest is history. Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:

Wow. Now people tell you you should try out for “The Voice” and for me they say you should try out for the trivia shows <laugh>, where you can name that song, name that tune, name the artist. It's the Shazam show.

Lauryn Macedone:

You should! You should. There you go.

Anthony Godfrey:

So I can't perform it. I just listen to people like you who can perform it. So the audition, you didn't even know you were auditioning for “The Voice”?

Lauryn Macedone:

Not really. Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:

Tell me what it feels like when "The Voice" contacts you and you weren't even expecting it.

Lauryn Macedone:

It was crazy. I can remember that moment like it was yesterday. I remember it was after a dance class and I was with my cousin and a friend and we were at Bahama Bucks getting some shaved ice. We were just enjoying our time. And I opened up my email and I saw an email from “The Voice”, and I think I, like, I read it at least 10 times <laugh>, just to make sure that it was real, that I was reading it correctly. I called my mom crying. I was like, I don't know what's happening right now. But it was surreal. It was crazy, but it was really cool. So I had to go through a pretty lengthy audition process. There were lots of auditions before you see the blind audition on tv, but just went through that whole process, kept getting through and it was super amazing and super humbling. I didn't expect it at all.

Anthony Godfrey:

Did they ask you to come up with what song you wanted to sing? And did you have to vary that song at each stage of the audition?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah. It was different. Some auditions, they asked for four songs, some auditions, they asked for two songs. Some they picked my song, some I got to pick. But the original video that was sent to “The Voice” I sang Girls Just Want To Have Fun, kind of my own rendition of it. And that song stuck with me the whole time. I sang it at every single one of my auditions. And then that was a song that I sang for my blind audition too. So it was kind of my good luck charm.

Anthony Godfrey:

What a great choice. What a great choice.

Lauryn Macedone:

It was great. It was awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:

How many songs did you end up singing for them? Not including the one that you sent in or that they sent in on your behalf? How many songs did you sing before you ended up in the blind audition? Or how many times did you sing a song?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah, I think it was four times if I'm remembering correctly.

Anthony Godfrey:

And is this for like producers or people behind the scenes? People with clipboards leaning close as you sing?

Lauryn Macedone:

<Laugh> Yep. In a dark room, ambient lighting, like yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:

Really?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah. Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay, so it's kind of how like I pictured it.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yep. <Laugh>.

Anthony Godfrey:

And did you think, well, I'm pretty lucky to get this far, so I'll just give it a shot? Or were you feeling the pressure?

Lauryn Macedone:

Both, both. I saw so many talented people around me. Everyone that auditioned, I was like, whoa, they're so good. I was so intimidated. I was very intimidated. But I just, I was lucky. My parents were there with me throughout the whole experience and they just said, you're amazing, like, keep going. They were really my big cheerleaders and even when I felt like I wasn't good enough to be there, they helped me to realize that they saw something in me and so I should just keep going. And it was very humbling and I learned a lot from the experience of just to push through and to keep going and to believe in myself too.

Anthony Godfrey:

Stay with us. When we come back, Lauren Macedone sings for us.

Break:

Are you looking for a job right now? Looking to work in a fun and supportive environment with great pay and a rewarding career? Jordan School District is hiring. We're currently filling full and part-time positions. You can work and make a difference in young lives and education as a classroom assistant or a substitute teacher. Apply to work in one of our school cafeterias where our lunch staff serves up big smiles with great food every day. We're also looking to hire custodians and bus drivers. In Jordan School District we like to say people come for the job and enjoy the adventure. Apply today at employment.jordandistrict.org

Anthony Godfrey:

Describe for those who may not watch "The Voice" what's the structure of the show and how does it work?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah. So there are about four rounds that are prerecorded and that go on before they go to live shows. So there's a blind audition where you get to perform for four of the judges.

Anthony Godfrey:

And the judges are famous musicians.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

Who are then trying to pick someone who wins the competition. And the prize for the competition is a recording contract.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yep.

Anthony Godfrey:

Cash.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yep.

Anthony Godfrey:

Probably the home version, the board game version of "The Voice".

Lauryn Macedone:

Yep. There you go.

Anthony Godfrey:

But along the way, their chairs are turned away from you.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes. Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

So describe that part of it.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah. So they're turned the opposite way so they can't see you. All they can do is hear you. There's no preconceived judgments or notions that come. They just listen to you sing. And if they like what they hear, they turn around, they push a button and turn around and then they fight to have you on their team if you get more than one to turn around. So that's, it was pretty cool. That was the blind audition.

Anthony Godfrey:

And tell me which musicians were there that you got to be judged by and interact with.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah. Yeah. So my season, I was on Season 12 and Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys, and Adam Levine were the judges.

Anthony Godfrey:

That is awesome.

Lauryn Macedone:

It was pretty cool.

Anthony Godfrey:

That is really cool.

Lauryn Macedone:

It was really surreal.

Anthony Godfrey:

Well, that's a pretty cool lineup of musicians to be judging you.

Lauryn Macedone:

It was awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:

Also, like you said, it would strike fear in my heart to do anything in front of them.

Lauryn Macedone:

Oh yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:

Most people would have a tough time talking in front of those four. Just meeting them or chatting with them, much less performing for them. And knowing it was gonna be televised.

Lauryn Macedone:

Totally.

Anthony Godfrey:

Their chairs are turned around and they get to hit the button and turn around and see you once they choose you.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yep.

Anthony Godfrey:

And tell me who chose you.

Lauryn Macedone:

So Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, and Blake Shelton all turned around for me while I was singing.

Anthony Godfrey:

That is Insane. That is cool. That is so cool to have three out of four.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah, it was, it was surreal.

Anthony Godfrey:

Who was the first?

Lauryn Macedone:

It was Gwen and then shortly after it was Alicia and then it was Blake. So they all kind of hit it like the same moment. It was pretty quick.

Anthony Godfrey:

That is so cool. And then they talk with you afterwards a little bit?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes. Yes. And I don't remember anything that was said, <laugh>. I don't remember any of it. <Laugh>. I just was like you were saying it was hard to talk, let alone sing and I was just standing there smiling and nodding. Couldn't tell you what they said. I was just in shock. I was like, I want to phone a friend, like where's my mom? Can I go talk to her really fast? This is a big decision that I'm about to make. It was crazy.

Anthony Godfrey:

That is so exciting. And so they have all chosen you, now you get to choose which team you want to be part of.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

And did you choose Team Gwen?

Lauryn Macedone:

I chose Team Alicia actually.

Anthony Godfrey:

Team Alicia? Interesting.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes, I chose Alicia Keys.

Anthony Godfrey:

Even though Gwen chose you first you went with Alicia?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes. Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay.

Lauryn Macedone:

And I just had this, I just loved Alicia Keys. I thought she was very genuine and very kind and that was so true. She was like a mother to all of us on her team. She was very nurturing and just so genuine and authentic. She was amazing.

Anthony Godfrey:

That's incredible. Yeah. So tell me what happened with the competition after that point.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah, so there's a lot more rounds. I made it to the second round, so the battle round where you're paired up with someone from your team and you sing the same song that your judge picks for you. So Alicia chose a song that me and a teammate sang against each other, and you battle for the winner. And my teammate, she was amazing, and so she won that battle and then I went home after that. But it was, it was incredible.

Anthony Godfrey:

That is a huge win. Yes. Getting to go, getting to compete, and having them turn around and push the button three out of four. That is a huge victory.

Lauryn Macedone:

It was.

Anthony Godfrey:

I think that's really exciting.

Lauryn Macedone:

It was so cool. And I think a little bit inside I was so sad, but I was a little grateful cuz I had already missed a lot of school and I couldn't teach myself Trig any longer. I needed to go and be taught by my teachers.

Anthony Godfrey:

Yes. Understandably.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes. So I was grateful, but it was so awesome.

Anthony Godfrey:

Can we take a look at some of the photos and video of your time on there?

Lauryn Macedone:

For sure. This is just a fun one that I took that I could post on social media <Laugh> that said Team Alicia.

Anthony Godfrey:

That's cool.

Lauryn Macedone:

Once I was finally able to make the announcement, I put that out there. This is during the blind audition during my video when Alicia hit her buzzer, but it also hit over a million views on YouTube. So I screenshotted this moment as like a…

Anthony Godfrey:

That you had a million views logged.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yep.

Anthony Godfrey:

That's insane.

Lauryn Macedone:

It was super cool.

Anthony Godfrey:

You look like you were really in the moment. You are fully there.

Lauryn Macedone:

Oh yeah. I had to just focus on my singing or else I was gonna freak out too much. So <laugh> I had to be in it.

Anthony Godfrey:

Oh, that's so cool.

Lauryn Macedone:

I was closing my eyes here and that's when they all turned around and so I opened my eyes and I saw that they had turned around <laugh>. And you can, in my blind audition, I get this little smile. You can tell the moment that I noticed that they've turned around.

Anthony Godfrey:

That's so awesome.

Lauryn Macedone:

It's pretty awesome. This was my whole team.

Anthony Godfrey:

Oh yeah.

Lauryn Macedone:

They were awesome. So this guy actually won my season. His name's Chris Blue and he was super cool. This was one of my really good friends.

Anthony Godfrey:

And there's Alicia right at the center.

Lauryn Macedone:

There’s Alicia right there. Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:

So you really got some time with her.

Lauryn Macedone:

Uh huh, yeah. It was super neat.

Anthony Godfrey:

That's cool. Okay. Can we watch a little video here?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah. This is my blind audition video.

Anthony Godfrey:

Okay. Is this a live band playing with you?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes.

Lauryn Macedone singing Girls Just Want to Have Fun:

I come home in the morning light,

My mother says when you gonna live your life right?

Anthony Godfrey:

<Laugh> You can see them touching the button.

Lauryn Macedone:

Uhhuh.

Anthony Godfrey:

I would've watched this a thousand times if I were you.

Lauryn Macedone:

I think I have probably.

Anthony Godfrey:

You can see them react immediately.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

And you sound so good.

Lauryn Macedone:

Thank you.

Singing:

Some boys take a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest of the world.

I want to be the one to walk in the sun...

Alicia thought there were two singers.

Anthony Godfrey:

She thought that was a different person, because you just busted it out right there.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

<Laugh>. That's what she's asking Blake.

Lauryn Macedone:

Uh huh.

Anthony Godfrey:

What that shows is your range. They're singing along. They're moving to it.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah.

Anthony Godfrey:

Look at that.

Lauryn Macedone:

Here's the moment right there. You can tell, that's when I saw.

Anthony Godfrey:

And you know what? They're having fun. They're totally enjoying that.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

So if anyone wants to watch this, they just search Lauren Judd, L a u r y n  Judd, Draper, "The Voice", and that'll come up. I just can't believe the interaction. it's so exciting. But your performance. Wow.

Lauryn Macedone:

Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:

You sounded so good on that.

Lauryn Macedone:

Thanks.

Anthony Godfrey:

And to do that on that stage, much less do it in the privacy of your own home. That's talent.

Lauryn Macedone:

Thank you. You are so nice. Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:

So what are you doing now with your talent besides coming on the Supercast?

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes. Yes. <Laugh>, you know, I have to really find time to make time for this hobby. It's hard when I am so busy, I am trying to bring it into my classroom as much as I can. As a first year teacher, I'm like grasping the curriculum first and then I think I will slowly be able to bring it more into the classroom. But my goal is to integrate music into the classroom a lot because individuals with different abilities relate with music so much. It just connects with them on a different level. And so I really want to utilize that in my teaching. I do perform every once in a while. I recorded a little bit recently. But I really, I need to do music more. I have to make more time for it. It’s hard.

Anthony Godfrey:

Tell me about recording and performing you've done recently.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yeah, I do. I've just recorded an album of original songs that I wrote.

Anthony Godfrey:

Really? So you're composing on top of all this?

Lauryn Macedone:

I did, yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

Wow. I think I've said wow about 15 times in this Supercast, but I'm really blown away by your talent. Tell me about the stuff that you’ve written.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes. So it's got kind of like that sixties, seventies singer-songwriter vibe like we talked about earlier. And it does, it kind of has a Christian base that I've been working around and trying to get into. Just original songs with my heart and feelings.

Anthony Godfrey:

There's good market for that type of music.

Lauryn Macedone:

Yes. Yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

<Laugh> Well, I'd love to hear some of your original stuff so send me a link. And I'd love to have a live performance right now, if you don't mind.

Lauryn Macedone:

Oh, yes, yes.

Anthony Godfrey:

My chair does turn if it feels better for me to turn my back.

Lauryn Macedone:

Perfect, Yes. Probably.

Anthony Godfrey:

And then hit the table and spin around.

Lauryn Macedone:

That's what you should do. Definitely. Definitely. Okay, so this is Wild Flowers by Tom Petty.

Anthony Godfrey:

Oh, I love this song. It’s a great one.

Lauryn Macedone:

It's so good.

Singing:

You belong among the wildflowers

You belong in a boat out at sea

Sail away, kill off the hours

You belong somewhere you feel free

Run away, find you a lover

Go away somewhere all bright and new

I have seen no other

Who compares with you.

Anthony Godfrey:

The crowd goes wild <laugh>.

Lauryn Macedone:

Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:

That sounded so good. I couldn't join in on that I needed to hear you sing. That was so good.

Lauryn Macedone:

You’re so nice. Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:

Man, you've got a great voice, <laugh>. That was awesome.

Lauryn Macedone:

Thank you.

Anthony Godfrey:

Thank you. Thanks for sharing your talents today. I wish you the best of luck in the future. And thanks for sharing your talents in our classroom here at South Jordan.

Lauryn Macedone:

Thank you so much for having me, and thanks for letting me be a part of this awesome district.

Anthony Godfrey:

It's fantastic to have you. Thank you.

Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember, education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there.