What is your Alma Mater?
Middle Tennessee State University (Bachelors of Music 2001, Master of Arts 2011)

Where do you currently teach?
Lascassas Elementary School (Rutherford County, TN)

How long have you been teaching?
18 years ​

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
I choose to belong to TnMEA, not just for the wonderful Professional Development Conference that happens every April, but for the year round advocacy they provide on the state level, the amazing publications we receive, and most importantly, for the music education community that being a member offers me.

What do you love about teaching?
I love so many things about teaching! I love the students smiles when they are joyfully making music in class, I love taking students on field trips and choir trips, and I love seeing past students who tell me I made a difference in their life.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
I would love to work with special needs students as a music therapist.

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I think must people would be surprised to know that I trained in and taught ballet and pointe for over 20 years. I am also certified to teach yoga!

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​​​​​Something fun and unique I do in my classroom is to use a lot of phrases in different languages. I grew up in a household where German and English were used. I like to use German, French, Spanish, and other languages when teaching. It keeps the students attention, exposes them to other cultures, and sparks their interest! ​

What is your Alma Mater?
MTSU

Where do you currently teach?
Brown's Chapel Elementary School, Rutherford County

How long have you been teaching?
4 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
I am a member because it's a great way to connect with other teachers and it gives my students performance opportunities outside of school.

What do you love about teaching?
I love building relationships and connecting with my students.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
Broadway Costume Designer

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I love to sew and quilt!

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​​​​​I start almost every class with a "BrainDance"activity that I learned about it in my Orff training. It's a great way to get kids focused and they love it!

What is your Alma Mater?
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Where do you currently teach?
Cedar Bluff Elementary School, Knoxville

How long have you been teaching?
20 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
For me, there is no choice. TnMEA is our professional organization and as such I believe every educator should be a member. TnMEA is only as strong as it's members. By joining TnMEA, you are enabling the organization to support music education in our state in a relevant way. The only way the organization can find out the issues and needs of our educators is if we share them. By being a member of TnMEA, we actually help ourselves and the others in our state.

What do you love about teaching?
I love making music with my students. No matter how young children are, they still have a feelings! Sometimes they just don't know how to express them. Giving them an outlet for their feelings and emotions is tremendously satisfying.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
I'd love to start a joint child and senior daycare. I saw a video of something like this online and I think it would be a wonderful thing for those involved. Seniors have so much experience and caring to share and our little ones would only see benefits! I'd love to be a part of starting something along those lines.

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I've recently become very interested in the Appalachian Dulcimer. I'm not a native Tennessean, so the instrument is new to me. But, I find that I love learning about the history of the instrument and the songs of our region. There are local clubs all over Tennessee, and I encourage all of you to check one out!

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​​​​When beginning a new unit, whether it is folk dancing or learning a new instrument, I always have the students create the rules and expectations for behaving or using the equipment. I find that when they create the rules, there is more "buy-in." I also have them decide on the consequences if someone breaks the class's expectations. I have found that in most cases, this eliminates behavioral issues and causes the students to be more invested in our class. ​

What is your Alma Mater?
East Tennessee State University

Where do you currently teach?
Rock Springs Elementary
Sullivan Co.

How long have you been teaching?
18 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
Tennessee Treble Honor Choir
Access to resources and professional development for my classroom

What do you love about teaching?
Sharing my passion of music with others. I love sharing music with young children and seeing how natural it is for them to enjoy.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
A chef.

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I love to cook.

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​​​I love to have students become the teacher. When teaching an instrument part I only teach to one student and then they continue teaching to each other. It's not so much about the exact pattern, but more about the process and communicating. ​

What is your Alma Mater?
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Where do you currently teach?
Rocky Hill Elementary, Knoxville

How long have you been teaching?
16 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
Professional Development and Networking :)

What do you love about teaching?
What a joy to develop relationships with students and watch them grow into young people who love making music!

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
Florist, I love flowers and it looks like fun! :)

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
Being on the lake in the summer, can't wait!

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​​I made a poster with of a singer's head/ shoulders with the mouth open and cut out. When I want to demonstrate singing with mouth open, I get behind it and put my mouth in the opening, which looks really silly from the front! My students laugh every time and remember to open their mouths correctly to sing. :)

Words cannot describe the impact that this year's conference had on our general music teachers in the state of Tennessee. Starting at 8:00 on Thursday morning, over 40 people attended Betsy Carter's wonderful session about composing in Kindergarten and 1st Grade. WHAT??? Composition that early? Well, in order to be in compliance with our new standards, we have to learn different ways to compose in the early years. Thankfully, our very own Tennessee teacher was able to share that with us. 

Then, we had the privilege of attending the General Session with "five-time CMA Awards winner Martina McBride, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Tennessee Education Commissioner Dr. Candice McQueen and University of Tennessee associate music professor Dr. Johnathan Vest. The panel was moderated by CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern..." (Read more about it HERE: www.cmaworld.com/cma-foundation-announces-1-million-initiative-state-tennessee-support-statewide-music-arts-education/) HUGE thank you to the CMA Foundation for all you did to support our conference this year. I spoke to some educators who received your scholarship for conference, and they were all so thankful for this experience. Without you, they may not have been able to come.

​Thursday continued on with presentations from Steve Campbell at Dancing Drum, Miss Carole from Macaroni Soup sponsored by Bear Paw Creek, and a ukulele session by myself and Dr. Andrew Perry of Peripole. Yes, ALL of that happened on ONE day. Our highest attended session had over 85 teachers in attendance! This was incredible! A HUGE thank you to Peripole for donating their time and instruments to our conference. Because of them, we were able to have wonderful resources and instruments for our presenters and teachers to use for their sessions. 

Then, Friday came. Thank you SO much to GIA Publications for sponsoring Dr. John Feierabend's sessions. He presented two sessions on Friday, and they were wonderful. Also, a HUGE thanks to Peripole for sponsoring Dr. Rene Boyer's sessions. She shared three sessions with our TN teachers on Friday! We also had another session from Miss Carole, which was fabulous! Also, we had an elementary school, Idlewild Elementary under the direction of Allen Moody, perform a spotlight concert! What an amazing experience for those students.

Saturday started off with a BANG! 175 students from 45 schools performed in our Tennessee Treble Honor Choir to a crowd of over 600 people under the direction of Dr. Martha Shaw. Thank you to Tiffany Barton who made sure this year was such a success, excellent job! Also, we had a three hour session by Dr. John Feierabend, and I am certain the 60+ teachers that were there were filled with TONS of new material for their students. 

​Didn't make it this year? Don't worry, next year will be just as great! Mark your calendar for April 10-13 in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center.

Before I finish up this blog, I want to take a moment to thank our vendors and our donors: Peripole, Sweet Pipes Recorders, Quaver, GIA Publications, Dancing Drum, Music K-8, Jessica Young, Amy Abbott, Aileen Miracle, David Row, Tracy King and, Caspar Babypants. You make our world go 'round! 

Teachers who attended this year, thank you for trusting TnMEA and myself to give you what you needed at this year's conference. I hope your time was well spent and you will return to our conference. To those who did not make it, we will definitely hope that you will come! See ya next year!
​

What is your Alma Mater?
University of Mississippi

Where do you currently teach?
Egypt Elementary, Memphis

How long have you been teaching?
7 years

Why do you choose to be a member of TMEA?
There are so many incredible professional development opportunities for me, and students have the opportunity to participate in music outside of the school.

What do you love about teaching?
I love sharing my love of music with young people, and hopefully fostering a love of music as well.

If you could choose another job for one day, what would it be?
Park Ranger

Tell us one thing about you that people would be surprised to know or something you are passionate about besides teaching.
I enjoy building and restoring furniture. A good majority of the furniture in my home was built by me.

Share a fun and unique idea that you use in your classroom!
​​​​After mastering a skill/concept, I have students put their arms up and copy me in sayings like, "Oh yeah" "I'm the greatest" etc after they do something positive. It really boosts the classroom morale, and makes the students feel really good about their hard work. (I enjoy doing it too