Christy Todd is the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year and a middle school music teacher in the Fayette County Georgia School District.This interview was recorded remotely.
Emily Calhoun has been a school music teacher for 38 years. She is currently the assistant orchestra director at Savannah Country Day School and the Kindergarten through first-grade music specialist at St. Andrews School in Savannah, Georgia.This…
Candace Stoffel is a retired vocal music public school teacher. She taught in Ohio and in Barrow County and Clarke County, Georgia for a total of 36 years.This interview was recorded remotely.
Sharon Phillips is a retired music teacher of the Atlanta Public Schools. She taught at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School for 30 years.This interview was recorded remotely.
Armand Peterson was a middle school music teacher at Bladensburgh High School in Prince George, Maryland for 5 years. He is now an assistant middle school principal in Prince George, MD.This interview was recorded remotely.
Cynthia Terry taught public school music for 29 years, 27 years in Atlanta and 2 years in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Terry also served as Director of Fine and Performing Arts for the Atlanta Public Schools for 9 years.This interview was recorded…
Michael Kobito is Director of Bands at Woodland High School in Cartersville, GA and the 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year.This interview was recorded remotely.
Jonathan Grantham is a high school band director at Amador High School in the Pleasanton Unified School District in Pleasanton, California.This interview was recorded remotely.
Anoa Green is Director of Wind Studies at the Baltimore School for the Arts in the Baltimore, Maryland City School District.This interview was recorded remotely.
Tonna Carbaugh-Dieter is a high school orchestra director in the Twin Valley School District in Elverson, Pennsylvania.This interview was recorded remotely.
Mr. Jackson is a retired Orchestra Teacher from the Kirkwood School District in Kirkwood, Missouri, after having taught there for 30 years. He currently teaches strings part time in the same school district.
Lori Schwartz Reichl has been a public school music educator for 15 years. She has successfully led middle school band programs in Pennsylvania and Maryland.This interview was recorded remotely.
Jennifer Floyd was a high school orchestra teacher in Georgia for 16 years. She taught at Lovejoy High School in Clayton County, Brookwood High School in Gwinnett County, and McEachern High School in Cobb County.
Robert Lawrence has worked as a music teacher at Clarke Central High School for many years. Despite originally majoring in marine biology at Troy University, Lawrence has found joy in the teaching profession throughout his years. In this interview,…
Hayley Gallagher, now Hayley Atha, is an elementary music specialist and has been teaching in the Jackson County Schools for 14 years. She was selected as Teacher of the Year for her school for the 2021-2022 school year.
Ashley Drake is a guitar teacher at Duluth Middle School in Duluth, Georgia. Drake discusses the demographics of the school, her path to becoming a guitar teacher, and the challenges and rewards to teaching. She also talks about influences and…
Krissi Davis is an orchestra director at Grady High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Davis discusses the demographics of the school, why she became a teacher, and why some teachers quit. She also describes her motivations and pride in seeing students…
Ariel Robins is a music specialist at Findley Oaks Elementary School in Johns Creek, Georgia. Robins discusses the demographics of the school, her path to teaching, and the difference between teaching in elementary and high school. She also talks…
Amanda Dodd is a music specialist at Lovin Elementary School in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Dodd discusses the demographics of the school, her path to teaching, challenging moments, and the rewards of teaching. She also recalls her funniest moments and…
Mandy Gunter is a music specialist at Burnette Elementary School in Suwanee, Georgia. Gunter discusses the diversity of the school, why she became a teacher, and what keeps teachers in the profession as well as what factors lead some teachers to…
Ashley Whelchel is a chorus, band, and musical theater teacher at North Hall High School in Gainesville, Georgia. Dr. Whelchel discusses her path to teaching, the demographics of the school, and the rewards and challenges of teaching.
Rosie Riquelme is a Director of Orchestras at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia. Riquelme discusses the diversity of the school, her approach to teaching, and the challenges she experienced. She also talks about her favorite moments and…
Carolyn Akridge is a music specialist at Ivy Creek Elementary School in Buford, Georgia. Akridge discusses the demographic of the school and how she became a teacher. She also discusses her proud moments, personal challenges, and how she and the…
Roland Ventura is a band instructor at Pinckneyville Middle School in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Ventura discusses his path to teaching, the work environment, and his passion for teaching. He also recalls challenges and proud moments he’s…
Daniel Brown is a music teacher in Rye, New York. Brown discusses his career path, the importance of his teacher training, and the highs and lows he’s experienced in the profession.
Vicky Orozco is a music teacher at the South Bronx Classical Charter School in Bronx, New York. Orozco discusses her path to teaching, her successes and challenges, and her hopes for the profession.
Julia West is a music teacher in New York City. She discusses her experiences teaching in urban schools, both wealthy and low-income, in Dallas and New York. She talks about her path to teaching and the rewards and challenges of her work.
Larrolyn Patterson Parms-Ford is a music teacher at Harlem Village Academy East Elementary in New York, New York. Parms-Ford discusses her experience as a new teacher, working with K-3 students, the challenges of teaching vs. student teaching, and…
Laura Montanari is a music teacher at Growing Up Green Middle School in Long Island City, New York. Montanari describes her path to teaching, her proud moments and challenging moments, and mentoring.
Tanya Chanphanitpornkit is a high school orchestra teacher in Niagara, New York. Chanphanitpornkit discusses the diversity of her school, the challenges of teaching, and how she keeps her students engaged.
Eric Williamson is a music teacher at PS32 in Brooklyn, New York. Williamson discusses his experience as a music teacher early in his career. He talks about his challenges and proud moments, and what keeps teachers in the profession and what factors…
Judith Beale is a Part-Time Music Instructor at Kennesaw State University who previously taught elementary music for 39 years. Beale discusses her years as a teacher, including the challenges and rewards that a music teacher faces. She also discusses…
Mary McGowan is a music teacher at Adamson Middle School in Rex, Georgia. McGowan discusses her career path, her teaching style, why some choose to leave the profession, and shares some of her proudest moments.
Craig Hurley is an elementary school music teacher in Cobb County, Georgia. In this interview, Hurley discusses his family’s long history of educators.
Jennifer Chambless is an elementary school music teacher in Chattahoochee, Georgia. In this interview, Chambless discusses her late journey into becoming an educator.
Myra Rhoden is the Band Director and Fine Arts Department Chairperson at Fayette County High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. Dr. Rhoden discusses her career path, her proudest moments, and her approaches to teaching and mentorship. She also…
Megan Endicott is the general music teacher at Dolvin Elementary School in Johns Creek, Georgia. Endicott discusses the rewards of teaching music as students make discoveries, as well as the challenges of working with difficult administrators. She…
Victoria Knowles is a Music Specialist at Cloverleaf Elementary School in Bartow County, Georgia. Knowles discusses her work environment, her teaching style, and how she motivates her students. She also talks about staying connected with the…
Marcy Simmons is a music integrationist at Beecher Hills and West Manor Elementary Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Simmons discusses her career path, the highs and lows of her work, and her approach to motivating students.
Kelly Mraz is a music teacher at Head Elementary School in Lilburn, Georgia. Mraz discusses her career path, her experiences in the classroom, and the importance of working for a school system that values music education. She also discusses the…
Richard McKee is an Adjunct Instructor of Music Education at Kennesaw State University and teaches Music For Early And Middle Grades. McKee discusses teaching music in various school districts, including those in Rome and Acworth, Georgia. He also…
Angela McKee is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Kennesaw State University. In this interview, McKee discusses teaching elementary music classes in Rome, Georgia and Cartersville, Georgia. She also discusses student teaching and being a…
Scott Smith is a music teacher at Central Middle School in Carrollton, Georgia. Smith discusses his teacher training, why he stayed in the profession, and why some teachers have left teaching. He talks about his successes and challenges and ways he…
Luther Harris is a music teacher at Buford Middle School in Buford, Georgia. Harris discusses the demographics of the school, his workload, and his path to teaching. He also talks about rewards and challenges of teaching and recalls proud and…
Joya Harris is a music teacher at Alcova Elementary School in Dacula, Georgia. Harris discusses her path to teaching, the importance of connecting with students, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She describes music as an outlet for…
Chelsea Rhoades is a choral director at North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia. Rhoades discusses the demographics of the school, her path to teaching, and the highs and lows she’s experienced in the profession. She talks about how she…
Kevin Hays is a music teacher at South Hart Elementary School in Hartwell, Georgia. Hays discusses why he became a music teacher, why some teachers quit, and proud moments. He also describes his influences and how he motivates his students with pop…
Zandra Bell-McRoy is a band director at Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, Georgia. Dr. Bell-McRoy discusses the demographics of the school, the school’s band program, and her path to teaching music. She also talks about her teacher training, why…
Carla Jackson is a music teacher at Roopville Elementary School in Roopville, Georgia. Jackson discusses why she became a teacher, the importance of connecting with students, and her approaches to teaching. She also describes the rewards and…
Angela Baddock is an orchestra director at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia. Baddock discusses her path to teaching music and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She also talks about making connections with students and other teachers.
Judith Spears is a retired choral music teacher at Dacula High School in Dacula, Georgia. Spears discusses her music education, her path to teaching, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She talks about having her son as a student and also…
Erma Davis is a music teacher at Snellville Middle School in Snellville, Georgia. Davis discusses her early teaching experiences, the rewards and challenges of teaching, and how she overcame those challenges. She talks about her teaching approaches,…
Audrey Murphy is a band director at Hopewell Middle School in Milton, Georgia. Murphy discusses her path to teaching music, the requirements, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She also talks about proud moments and the importance of…
Katie Rogers is the Associate Band Director at Duluth High School in Duluth, Georgia. Rogers discusses her path to teaching and highlights specific moments of pride, challenge, and humor. She also discusses her teaching style, her role as both a…
Sharon August is a music specialist at Vestavia Hills Elementary Liberty Park in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. August discusses her path to teaching music, the rewards and challenges of teaching, and the Alabama Music Educators Association, She also talks…
Kelly Hollingsworth is a music specialist at Cary Woods Elementary School in Auburn, Alabama. Hollingsworth discusses her path to teaching, the curriculum, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She also recalls funny moments and talks about how…
Holly Seales is a music specialist at Rehobeth Elementary School in Dothan, Alabama. Seales discusses her path to teaching, the rewards and challenges of teaching, and making her class a comfortable experience for students. She also talks about…
Vicki Portis is a music specialist at Bluff Park Elementary School in Hoover, Alabama. Portis discusses her path to teaching, what keeps her in the profession, and what factors lead some teachers to quit. She describes funny moments and talks about…
Phil Wilson is a music teacher at Ogletree Elementary School in Auburn, Alabama. Wilson discusses his early teaching experiences, the rewards and challenges of teaching, and his teaching approach. He also discusses professional development and…
Sara Womack is a music specialist at Greystone Elementary School in Hoover, Alabama and the president of the Alabama Music Educators Association. Dr. Womack discusses her path to teaching, what keeps her in the profession, and what factors lead some…
Mary Land is a Professor of Music at Young Harris College in Young Harris, Georgia. Land discusses why she became a teacher, why she moved from teaching middle school to teaching music education in college, and what factors lead some teachers to…
Brenda Poss is a music teacher in Athens, Georgia. Poss discusses her path to teaching, her early teaching experiences, what keeps her in the profession, and what factors lead some teachers to leave. She also describes her favorite moments and her…
Jessica Lawson is a music teacher at Northport Elementary School in Northport, Alabama. Lawson discusses her path to teaching, challenging moments, hopeful moments, and her teaching approach. She also talks about motivating her students by…
Bo Na is an orchestra teacher at North Gwinnett Middle School in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Na discusses her path to teaching, challenging and rewarding moments, and her teaching style. She also talks about influential teachers and motivating her students.
Sarah Black is an orchestra teacher at North Gwinnett Middle School in Sugar Hill, Georgia. Black discusses her path to teaching, her music education, and the challenges and rewards of teaching. She also talks about how she motivates students and how…
Katie Williams is a choral director at Oconee County High School in Watkinsville, Georgia. Williams discusses her path to teaching, her music education, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She also describes her teaching style, learning from…
Tiffany English is a music teacher at Sugar Hill Elementary School in Sugar Hill, Georgia. English discusses why she became a teacher, what keeps her in the profession, and what factors lead some teachers to leave. She describes funny moments, how…
Teresa Granger is a music teacher at Rocky Branch Elementary School in Bogart, Georgia. Granger discusses her path to teaching, her early teaching experiences, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She describes hopeful and funny moments, her…
Jeffrey Rowser is a band director at Morgan County High School in Madison, Georgia. Rowser discusses why he became a teacher, his music education, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. He describes music as a positive outlet for students,…
William Kilgore is a band director at West Jackson Middle School in Jefferson, Georgia. Kilgore discusses his path to teaching, administration obligations, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. He describes his teaching style, how he motivates…
Timothy Adams, Sr. is a retired music teacher who began working in Georgia schools in 1959. He discusses his career influences, his passion for teaching, and his mentorship of students.
Laura Stanley is a band director at Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia. Stanley discusses why she became a teacher, the rewards and challenges of teaching, and hopeful moments. She also talks about motivating her students and mentorship.
Mary Frances Early is a music teacher in Georgia and was the first African American to graduate from the University of Georgia. Early discusses her path to teaching, her early teaching experiences, why she stayed in the profession for so long, and…
Eunice Kang is an orchestra director at Clarke Central High School and Clarke Middle School in Athens, Georgia. Eunice Kang discusses her path to teaching, what keeps her in the profession, and what factors lead some teachers to leave. She describes…
Charles Palella is an elementary school music teacher in New York. Palella discusses why he became a teacher, his early teaching experiences, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. He describes his teaching style and experience in mentorship.
Benita Gladney is a music teacher in Chicago, Illinois. Gladney describes her path to teaching, her early experiences, and the rewards and challenges of teaching. She describes proud moments, her teaching style, and experience in mentorship.
