CERTIFICATIONS and PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- United Kingdom, Qualified Teacher Status
- California - Professional 5 Year License: Music P-12
- Crosscultural, Language, and Academic Development Endorsement (ESOL)
- Administrative Services Credential - Certificate of Eligibility
- International Baccalaureate
- MYP Arts (C2) 2018,
- DP Music (C1) 2018, (C2) 2020
- TOK (C1) 2018
- CAS Coordinator (C1) 2018
- Apple Educator
Work Experience
2021-Present The Chalk hills academy: LUTON, united kingdom
In 2021, I accepted the position of Curriculum Head of Music at The Chalk Hills Academy in Luton, UK. Currently, I am re-writing an aligned curriculum for the Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11) coursework and planning Key Stage Five coursework for the Sixth Form. I was awarded Employee of the Month as a first year teacher in 2021 after just a few months of service.
2017-2021 Campus International High School: Cleveland, Ohio
I came to Campus International High School in 2017 as one of founding teachers of the school. Campus International High School is a continuation of the successful Campus International School which houses Kindergarten to Eighth Grade.
At CIHS, all students study in the Middle Years and Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization. Here, I teach both MYP and DP music and the following ensembles and classes:
- Band
- Orchestra
- Music Industry
- Advisory
The program also has been honored by the NAMM Foundation in 2019, 2020, and 2021 with the SupportMusic Merit Award. The SupportMusic Merit award is an opportunity for an individual school (public, private, parochial or charter) to be acknowledged for its commitment to music education. I was also nominated and voted as the 2019-2020 Award for Professional Leadership winner, our school's version of Teacher of the Year.
2014-2017 Locke College Prepratory academy: Los Angeles, California
After leaving Dublin, Georgia, I was hired back in Los Angeles at the Locke College Preparatory Academy, a transitional charter school operated by Green Dot Public Schools. Here, I was tasked to bring back the long ignored music program. I started with 5 students which were left from the music program and I grew the program to around 200 students in just three years.
Here, I taught the following ensembles and classes:
The Concert Band attended SCSBOA Concert Festivals and in 2017 performed for comments only but rated at an Excellent level. Locke's band program had never been to concert festival and most students in the program were beginners when I revived the program. I am extremely proud of the work that my students and I accomplished during my tenure.
The program was honored twice by the NAMM Foundation in 2016 and 2017 with the SupportMusic Merit Award.
Here, I taught the following ensembles and classes:
- Band
- Music Industry
- Guitar
- Chorus
The Concert Band attended SCSBOA Concert Festivals and in 2017 performed for comments only but rated at an Excellent level. Locke's band program had never been to concert festival and most students in the program were beginners when I revived the program. I am extremely proud of the work that my students and I accomplished during my tenure.
The program was honored twice by the NAMM Foundation in 2016 and 2017 with the SupportMusic Merit Award.
2013-2014 Dublin City Schools and Dublin high school: Dublin, Georgia
Upon the death of my father, my mom asked me to leave Los Angeles to come help her get settled back in Georgia. Trying to find a job back in Georgia while in Los Angeles proved difficult, but I was offered a job in Dublin, GA where I was to oversee the district's music programs and teach at the high school.
Here I taught:
It was the first time in many years that the marching band truly marched a show. I took the students to the first Georgia State University Band Day in Atlanta which was the first trip the school had taken in some time. The students also performed at GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation (Concert Festival) at a level 4. The group earned Excellent Ratings at festival.
Here I taught:
- Band
- Guitar
- Music Theatre
It was the first time in many years that the marching band truly marched a show. I took the students to the first Georgia State University Band Day in Atlanta which was the first trip the school had taken in some time. The students also performed at GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation (Concert Festival) at a level 4. The group earned Excellent Ratings at festival.
2008-2013 Alliance Marc and EVA Stern Math and Science School: LOS Angeles, California
In 2007, I began to look for a new music teaching experience. I discovered an opening at a charter school in Los Angeles, California on the campus of California State University of Los Angeles. I have so many happy memories of my time at what we called Stern MASS.
I was hired to teach music appreciation and quickly realized, especially after reading the work of David Elliot, I began to look for ways to bring music making to Stern MASS. I introduced World Drumming and Popular Music (with the help of Little Kids Rock).
Then, a fortuitous partnership with LA Opera developed. One of my music appreciation classes became a music theatre class and they performed Tanis in America with the LA Opera's Opera in School program. Once that was completed, the kids wanted to do more, so they wrote and produced their own juke box musical. Music Theatre at Stern MASS was born.
Over two years, the students at Stern MASS produced five broadway musicals and performed in two of LA Opera's In-School Opera programs. There was so much interest in the program that we had to start two levels of Music Theatre. The rituals and procedures of the class were so strong that, when my father became ill in the middle of our production of Legally Blonde, my friend and colleague agreed to direct in my place.
My principal at the time messaged me while I was out, "The kids did everything. They set up, they rehearsed, they cooked in the concession stand, and performed beautifully. The adults didn't have to raise a finger. And at the end of the night, the students cleaned up everything. I have never seen anything like it."
Outside of music at Stern MASS, I assembled and coached the schools Rugby Team and sponsored the school's National Honor Society.
The program was honored by the NAMM Foundation in 2012 with the SupportMusic Merit Award.
I was hired to teach music appreciation and quickly realized, especially after reading the work of David Elliot, I began to look for ways to bring music making to Stern MASS. I introduced World Drumming and Popular Music (with the help of Little Kids Rock).
Then, a fortuitous partnership with LA Opera developed. One of my music appreciation classes became a music theatre class and they performed Tanis in America with the LA Opera's Opera in School program. Once that was completed, the kids wanted to do more, so they wrote and produced their own juke box musical. Music Theatre at Stern MASS was born.
Over two years, the students at Stern MASS produced five broadway musicals and performed in two of LA Opera's In-School Opera programs. There was so much interest in the program that we had to start two levels of Music Theatre. The rituals and procedures of the class were so strong that, when my father became ill in the middle of our production of Legally Blonde, my friend and colleague agreed to direct in my place.
My principal at the time messaged me while I was out, "The kids did everything. They set up, they rehearsed, they cooked in the concession stand, and performed beautifully. The adults didn't have to raise a finger. And at the end of the night, the students cleaned up everything. I have never seen anything like it."
Outside of music at Stern MASS, I assembled and coached the schools Rugby Team and sponsored the school's National Honor Society.
The program was honored by the NAMM Foundation in 2012 with the SupportMusic Merit Award.