Iris Stevenson facts for kids

Iris Stevenson-McCullough is an amazing American teacher and choir director. She is known for her work with school choirs. The fun movie Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit is based on her real experiences as a choir director at Crenshaw High School.

Her Early Life and Music

Iris Stevenson grew up in Buffalo, New York. Her dad worked hard and also played music. Her mom worked at home. Iris loved music from a very young age. She started writing music when she was just three years old! She began performing when she was seven.

When she was fifteen, Iris won a special scholarship. This allowed her to study music at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Ohio. After college, she taught at Canisius College. She also earned a master's degree in music teaching from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Teaching in Los Angeles

In 1985, Iris Stevenson moved to Los Angeles. She became a music teacher in the public school system. She teaches piano, choir, and music theory at Crenshaw High School. This school is in Los Angeles and has many African-American students.

Iris has led the Crenshaw High School choir to perform in many places. They have been on national television shows. In 1992 and 1993, she took the choir to perform in France. They sang at the Worldwide Music Festival in Nice, France. She also led the choir to win four years in a row at the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. Today, she is the head of the music department at Crenshaw High.

Iris Stevenson also directs music at the Angeles Mesa Presbyterian Church.

The Story Behind Sister Act 2

In May 1991, many teachers in Los Angeles were at risk of losing their jobs. Iris Stevenson was one of them. She spoke out publicly against the school board. Her strong voice caught the attention of a film producer named Dawn Steel.

Dawn Steel thought Iris's story would make a great movie. This led to the musical comedy film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. The movie is loosely based on Iris Stevenson's time as a choir director.

Later Achievements and Challenges

In 2014, Iris Stevenson took the Crenshaw Choir to the White House. They performed for President Barack H. Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. After this amazing trip, the school board temporarily stopped her from teaching for 120 days. This decision led to protests outside the high school.

Iris Stevenson also shared her musical knowledge with famous K-pop stars. She taught Suga, V, and Jungkook from the South Korean boy band BTS. She taught them important basics of hip hop music.