Loud, powerful guitar… fast, booming drums…. singing and piano… many instruments, many genres, but one man: Mr. Ken Lasaine.

Mr. Lasaine, or Ken, as he prefers to be called, has been a music teacher at Milken Community School since 1995, even before Rabbi BK joined. After 31 years, he’s decided to move on.

In the time since Ken began his career at Milken, the school has changed drastically.

“When I first started to come here, it was like temporary structures up in what is kind of now the middle school parking lot, and they were just bungalows,” said Ken.

Over the years, Ken has seen Milken grow from those bungalows to a sprawling high school and middle school.

As Ken sees it, Milken has not only changed physically but administratively, too.

“We were asked to let the students call us all by our first names, rabbis and administration included,” explained Ken “That’s why to this day, I let students call me Ken.”

Through all its significant changes, Milken has always continued to provide a great education and preparation for life after high school.

“Pretty much every student of mine that comes back to talk to my current crop of kids, they have one thing in common.” Ken said. “If you do your work here, college is easy. This place prepares you, and that’s one thing that hasn’t changed.”

Despite his love for the school, Ken feels ready to move on from Milken at the end of this year.

“I’ve done my 31 years, and it’s time for something different.” Ken said “I’m probably going to semi-retire.”

Oz Gaslin ‘29, a student of Kens’, said “he’s a great teacher and he knows so much about music.” Oz also said, “I’m very sad that he’s leaving.”

In his 31 years at Milken, Ken has taught many, many classes and has seen many of his students graduate.

“I leave with the satisfaction of that… all the kids I’ve graduated have gone on to make their place in this world.”