Harry Sims grew up in Athens, Georgia and received a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia. He taught at David C. Barrow Elementary before retiring and served as Athens City Commissioner before running for mayor. In this interview, Sims…
Phyllis Juliette Quick Stewart was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina but has spent the majority of her adult life in Georgia. She was a life-long educator, beginning as an elementary school teacher and retiring as elementary school…
Bessie Little Hinton was born in Aliceville, Alabama in 1956 into a large family. She went through the Aliceville education system, participated in Upward Bound at Stillman College, and after graduation from Aliceville High School, pursued a degree…
Shundra Caldwell was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1969. She was raised there alongside her cousin by her aunt, mother, and grandmother. In 1987 she graduated from Callaway High School and enrolled in Tougaloo College. In 1992, Caldwell and her…
Sharon Cooper was born in Athens, Georgia in 1956. She was a member of the second class to graduate from Cedar Shoals High School, and after graduation she married her husband and they have been together ever since. She attended the University of…
Gloria Little was born in Athens, Georgia in 1932, and grew up on John Street in East Athens. In her youth, she attended historic Athens Black schools like East Athens Elementary, Reese Street School, and Athens High and Industrial before enrolling…
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.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
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…
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…
Jennifer Chambless is an elementary school music teacher in Chattahoochee, Georgia. In this interview, Chambless discusses her late journey into becoming an educator.
Craig Hurley is an elementary school music teacher in Cobb County, Georgia. In this interview, Hurley discusses his family’s long history of educators.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Herman Johnson was born in 1929 in Gilbert, Louisiana. His parents were sharecroppers, and he grew up working on farms. He graduated from Southern University and served in the Army. Johnson worked with Magnolia Mutual Life Insurance Company, taught…
