Nyssa Choir Teacher earns highest National Guard Warrant Officer rank
By Logan Bagett on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
NYSSA — The Malheur Education Service District recently issued a release celebrating Nyssa School District’s choir teacher, Mr. Kevin Durfee, for earning the esteemed rank of Warrant Officer 5 in the Army National Guard. Read the district’s release below:
(From the Malheur Education Service District)
Kevin Durfee isn’t a stranger to success.
The Nyssa School District choir teacher can look back on a career of triumph, steering youth choirs to numerous state championship honors.
Yet since the early 2000s, Durfee also held down a part-time job as a member of the Idaho Army National Guard and earlier this month he achieved an extraordinary milestone when he was promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5.
Durfee, who teaches choir to grades sixth through 12th, clinched the top citizen-soldier honor after holding down numerous command and training commands in the Guard. He commanded the Idaho Army National Guard’s 25th Army Band for 15 years before he transitioned to train Officer and Warrant Officer Candidates in Idaho, Indiana, and South Dakota.
Achieving the rank of a Chief Warrant Officer 5 in the Guard or the U.S. Army is an exceptionally rare event. Chief Warrant Officer 5 is the highest warrant officer rank and only a very small number of men and women gain such a promotion. Generally, only about 3% to 4% of warrant officers secure the rank. To reach the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5, an individual must have years of experience, expertise and display exceptional leadership qualities. The rank is retained only by those who are considered elite technical experts.
Durfee’s journey to secure the top rank began when he joined the Idaho Air National Guard in 2001. As his mostly part-time citizen-soldier career moved forward, Durfee also began teaching, first for the Nyssa School District and then at the La Grande School District. Durfee taught for 18 years in La Grande, steering his choirs to capture 10 state championships.
“We had a really good run,” said Durfee.
Durfee, who grew up on a dairy farm on Mitchell Butte Road, returned to the Nyssa School District in 2025 to teach choir.
Durfee said his success as a Guardsman can be attributed to a single factor.
“I worked hard and the (Guard) leadership in Idaho took care of me. They awarded hard work. My career has been blessed,” he said.
He said his career as citizen-soldier paid off in his vocation as a teacher. He said his military experience “helped me be a better teacher.”
“It’s been huge in my life,” he said.
An educator for 27 years, Durfee said his love of students keeps him going.
“I enjoy making music and over the years we have been able to do some really incredible performances. I love seeing a kid go from where they started to where they end up,” he said.
In a sense, Durfee expects victory, whether as a citizen-soldier or a teacher.
“If a kid gets in my choir the expectations for their effort and performance are going to be extremely high. It is going to take some getting used to. But once they get used to it, they will figure out they will get something out of it,” he said.
Durfee said hard work, whether as a citizen-soldier or a member of a choir, translates into success.
“When kids learn with effort and by working hard and listening about teamwork, then they can become state champions,” he said.
He said he loves his teaching job.
“The kids I am teaching right now are working hard. They are really focused and I really enjoy them and my administration has supported me beyond what I expected,” he said.
Durfee said one major motivation he carries is the expectation he will hear harmony from his choirs.
“Some people love a beautiful car or a fast horse. I love to hear harmony. It gives me chills,” he said.
