Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:05 — 115.7MB)
When Chelsea Sardoni, an elementary generalist reached out to Missy with a series of questions relating to Culturally Responsive Teaching, Missy knew right away who to look to for insight. Listen in to this interesting and instructive conversation between Chelsea, Missy, and Music Teacher and Educational Consultant Ashley Cuthbertson!
Ashley Cuthbertson (she/her) is the Founder & CEO of A. Cuthbertson Consulting, LLC, an educational consulting firm that partners with schools, school districts, and organizations to help music educators build and maintain high quality music programs that attract, engage, and retain music students by centering equitable and culturally responsive pedagogical practices in their music curriculum & instruction.
A Nationally Board Certified Teacher, Ashley holds a Master’s in Education, as well as certifications in the Kodály approach and Arts integration. Ashley has over twelve years of experience in education as an elementary general music & choral educator, an elementary band educator, a K-12 musicianship instructor, a private lessons instructor, lead teacher, new teacher coach, adjunct professor, and consultant.
A passionate advocate for music education, Ashley additionally serves the National Association for Music Education as a member of the Repertoire Diversity Task Force and the Virginia Music Educators Association as chair of the DEI Council.
Learn more at:
ashleycuthbertson.com/masterclass
Chelsea Sardoni is an elementary general music teacher in Massachusetts. She currently teaches grades 1-5 and also is a conductor for the South Shore Children’s Chorus. She is passionate about creating safe spaces for self expression and exploration. Chelsea works to design instruction that is culturally relevant beyond diverse repertoire choices. She initially reached out to Missy to dive deeper into this journey to better herself and her learning communities.
Jasmine Fripp is a Grammy-nominated music educator and the founder of Passionate Educators, Inc. With seven years of teaching experience in public and charter schools, she has built award-winning choral programs and provided Black and Brown students with various opportunities to excel within and outside the world of music.
Dr. Chantae D. Pittman is the Director of Choral Activities at Campbell High School in Smyrna,GA in the Cobb County School District, and adjunct professor at Georgia College and State University. Dr. Pittman is passionate about all forms of music. She is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University having received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 2010. She has since earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education at VanderCook College University (Chicago, IL, 2013). In May 2021 Dr. Pittman graduated from The University of Georgia where she completed her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Choral Music Education.
Raised in Solon, OH, Kelsey D. Burkett is a 2006 Graduate of Capital University, where she majored in Music Education and served as the alto section leader in the renown Chapel Choir. She completed her Masters of Music in Music Education and Kodaly Certification from Capital University in 2019. In her 17th year of teaching, she has a passion for the developing voice and middle school singers. She serves as the Director of Choirs at Hilliard Memorial Middle School, in Hilliard, Ohio, where she directs the 7th Grade Treble Choir and 8th Grade Treble Choir. Alongside Jeremy Witt and Alyssa Schott, she also directs the Jaguar A Cappella Program, which consists of four contemporary a cappella groups comprised of singers in the 7-12 grade levels at Hilliard Bradley High School & Hilliard Memorial Middle School. She is co-director of Bradley High School’s premier Contemporary A Cappella Group, Shades of Blue, who have performed at the National A Cappella Convention and have consistently placed in the Quarterfinals and Semi Finals of the ICHSA Varsity Vocals circuit.
Dr. Krissy Doyle-Thomas (Ph.D.) is a Medical Neuroscientist and Professor in Toronto, Canada. She is an expert in medical conditions that affect the brain and mental health. She has received several prestigious fellowships including fellowships from the Canadian Institute for Health Research and the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada. Dr. Krissy’s research has been published in numerous high impact peer-reviewed journals and presented nationally and internationally to both academic and non-academic audiences. Dr. Krissy has been celebrated as one of Canada’s top 150 black women who excels within her field.
Elise Hackl (she/her) is a neurodivergent accessible music teacher & accessibility coach in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, working with neurodiverse individuals from preschool through adulthood. Elise is a proud alum of Illinois State University (BS in Music and Special Education ’14), Concordia University Chicago (MA ’17, MMEd with Principal Certification ’22), and Wichita State University (MME ’19). Elise’s main focus in her research is training and preparation for accessible classrooms. In 2018, Elise was nominated for the Illinois State Board of Education ‘Those Who Excel’ Teacher of the Year program, receiving an award of merit.