NASHVILLE, TN (CelebrityAccess) — The Country Music Association’s philanthropic division, the CMA Foundation, announced it is honoring 30 music teachers from across the U.S. as the 2023 Music Teachers of Excellence.
The teachers will be honored during the seventh annual Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony, which this year will take place on September 19th in Nashville. Along with the honor, the CMA will also invest a total of $150,000 in the award recipients, with half of each teacher’s share going to support classroom needs and music programs, and the other half will support personal expenses.
Honorees were selected following an extensive application process that includes teaching videos, professional references and community service work.
Now in its seventh year, the Music Teachers of Excellence Program was created to recognize music teachers who have a significant impact on bringing high quality music education to their students.
“We could not be prouder to support these 30 incredible music teachers through the Music Teachers of Excellence program,” says Tiffany Kerns, Executive Director, CMA Foundation. “We have seen first-hand how critical music education is to the success and well-being of students, and that starts with our music teachers. We are thrilled to welcome a new class of music teachers into this community, and we cannot wait to celebrate them on September 19!”
2023 Music Teachers of Excellence Award Recipients (in alphabetical order):
• Alicia Engram – Eagle View Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Antioch, TN
• Ann Marie Morris – Cole Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Antioch, TN
• Ashley Harris – Spring Station Middle School, Williamson County Schools, Spring Hill, TN
• Briana Vogt – Franklin High School, Williamson County Schools, Franklin, TN
• Corey Graves – Tony A. Jackson Middle School, Forney Independent School District, Forney, TX
• Crystal Briley – University Park Creative Arts School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, Charlotte, NC
• DaJuana “Dee” Hammonds – Hull-Jackson Montessori School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
• Danielle Leigh Taylor – Tusculum Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
• Elaina Gallas – Edmondson Elementary School, Williamson County School District, Brentwood, TN
• Elizabeth Carter – Snowden School, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Memphis, TN
• Eric Songer – Chaska Middle School West, Eastern Carver County School District, Chaska, MN
• Ethan Chessin – Camas High School, Camas School District, Camas, WA
• Frank Zimmerer – Antioch High School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Antioch, TN
• Garrett Doo – Smyrna High School, Rutherford County Schools, Smyrna, TN
• Jacqueline Hanna – Glenview Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
• Jason Glashauser – South Clinton Elementary School, Clinton City School District, Clinton, TN
• Kacee Sanders – DuPont Hadley Middle School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Old Hickory, TN
• Kate Affainie – Granbery Elementary School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Brentwood, TN
• Kristina Waugh – Rossview High School, Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, Clarksville, TN
• Mandy Funderburk – Meigs Academic Magnet School, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
• Matthew Trevino – Roan Forest Elementary School, North East Independent School District, San Antonio, TX
• Dr. Nita L. Smith – Isaiah T. Creswell Middle Magnet School of the Visual and Performing Arts, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Nashville, TN
• Nora Hernández – Monroe Elementary Language Academy, Garden Grove Unified School District, Fountain Valley, CA
• Patrick Bourn – Franklin Elementary School, Franklin Special School District, Franklin, TN
• Rose Hellmers – Ravenwood High School, Williamson County Schools, Brentwood, TN
• Ryan Mack – P.S. 10 Magnet School of Math, Science, and Design Technology, NYC DOE District 15, Brooklyn, NY
• Shawna Longo – Durban Avenue Elementary School, Hopatcong Borough Schools, Hopatcong, NJ
• Sherie Grossman – Mt. Juliet High School, Wilson County Schools, Mt. Juliet, TN
• Stephanie San Roman – Oswego High School, Oswego Community Unit School District 308, Oswego, IL
• Stephen Lawrence-Carroll – North Atlanta High School, Atlanta City School District, Atlanta, GA
