SBO+ 2026 50+ Music Teachers Who Make a Difference

38 Are NAfME Members

In the May 2026 School Band and Orchestra Plus (SBO+), they announced their “50+ Music Teachers Who Make a Difference.” Of those, 38 honorees are NAfME members.*

Music educators shared their thoughts on three questions:

• What is your proudest moment as a music teacher?
• How do you hope to make a difference in your students’ lives?
• What’s the most important lesson you try to teach your students?

Read the full article—and thanks to SBO+ for providing NAfME members with complimentary subscriptions. Nominations for the 2027 recognition are being accepted now.

Here is the full list of “Music Teachers Who Make a Difference”:

• Jason Jackson, Daphne Elementary School, Alabama*
• Toby Lambert, Colony Middle School, Alaska*
• Jenn Bock, Highland High School, Arizona*
• CamRyn Stillman, Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School, Arkansas*
• Gracie Carrillo, Ceres High School, California*
• Trey Tafoya, Legacy High School, Colorado*
• Rachel Hanchuruck, Francis Walsh Intermediate School, Connecticut*
• Caitlyn Derrick, Sanford School, Delaware*
• Dr. Robert Roche, Roosevelt STAY Opportunity Academy, Washington, DC*
• Wes Lowe, The King’s Academy, Florida*
• Corie Benton, Pope High School, Georgia*
• Duane Padilla, Punahou Music School, Hawai‘i
• Josh Barro, Mountain View High School, Idaho*
• Stacey Peterik, Urbana High School, Illinois*
• Chris Taylor, Pendleton Heights High School, Indiana*
• Erin Mahr, Assumption High School, Iowa*
• Pamela Lawson, Eisenhower High School, Kansas*
• Willow Cooper, Beaumont Middle School, Kentucky*
• Jessica Fain-Blanchard, Bluff Middle School, Louisiana*
• Julia Edwards, Poland Regional High School, Maine*
• Ocie Banks, Thomas G. Pullen K-8 Creative & Performing Arts School, Maryland*
• Stephanie Riley, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, Massachusetts*
• Amanda Lenze, Dublin Elementary School, Michigan
• Gillian Desmarais Keller, Webster K–12 School, Minnesota*
• Tammy Carney, Long Beach Senior High School, Mississippi*
• Mark Connor, Principia School, Missouri
• Michael Sticka, Chief Joseph Middle School, Montana
• Chiyo Trauernicht, Omaha Central High School, Nebraska*
• Dr. Tracy Leslie, Del Webb Middle School, Nevada*
• Edward Doyle, Manchester School District, New Hampshire*
• Zachary Gates, East Brunswick High School, New Jersey*
• Virginia Weaver, Hermosa Middle School, New Mexico*
• Stacy Stollberger, Connetquot High School, New York
• Steven Kelly, Gray’s Creek Middle School, North Carolina*
• Rich Gonzales, Sheyenne High School, North Dakota*
• Eric Trio, Clairsville Elementary School, Ohio
• Alex Rivera, Hilldale Elementary School, Oklahoma
• Cynthia Navarro, Clear Creek Middle School, Oregon*
• Kyla Davis, Ben Franklin Middle School, Pennsylvania
• Megan Catelli, Archie R. Cole Middle School, Rhode Island*
• April Troglauer, Aynor Middle School, South Carolina*
• Tessa Belgum, Yankton Middle School, South Dakota*
• Lafe Cook, Dobyns-Bennett High School, Tennessee
• Taylor Williamson, Wiley Middle School, Texas
• Glen Wallace, Fairfax High School, Vermont*
• Taryn Wood, Woodbridge Senior High School, Virginia*
• Ethan Chessin, Camas High School, Washington*
• Neil Kin, Suncrest Middle School, West Virginia*
• Bill Dennee, Denmark Middle School, Wisconsin
• Connor Dennis, Worland High School, Wyoming

* NAfME members whose memberships were current at the time of this announcement and is subject to change.