Reply To: Introduction to IN-ovations Council

[nafmeadmin]

Mary Palmer, Ed.D.
Dr. Mary Palmer is President of Mary Palmer & Associates, LLC, Consultants in Education and the Arts. This group works with schools and community organizations to assist them in transforming their practices through the arts. She has taught in colleges, universities, PK – 12 schools, and community settings throughout the United States as well as on five continents.
Palmer is Professor Emerita at the University of Central Florida – Orlando where she served as Professor of Music Education, Coordinator of Graduate Studies in Music Education, and Dean of the College of Education. As Dean of the College of Education at UCF, she pioneered leading edge educational technology and professional development programs for teachers. Her leadership of multiple national and state professional associations includes presidencies in MENC: The National Association for Music Education Southern Division; VSA Arts of Florida; Florida Music Educators Association; and the Florida Alliance for Arts Education. She is a member of the Board of the International Arts Schools Network as well as the IN-ovations Council of the National Association for Music Education. Her service on state and community Boards of Directors, including the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Florida Theatrical Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Alliance for Arts Education, VSA Arts Florida, A Gift for Teaching, and others, underlines her commitment to service and connectedness.
Since 1985, Palmer has served as senior author of multiple Pre-Kindergarten through grade 8 music textbook series published by Silver Burdett/Scott Foresman; these books are used by teachers and students worldwide. She is the Founder and first Director of Florida’s Arts for a Complete Education/Florida Alliance for Arts Education; this program has been instrumental in developing programs and policies affecting arts education in Florida. Palmer’s extensive travels and teaching experiences are evident in her global perspective.
A multitude of programs and studies have been led by Palmer. Some highlights include Florida’s Arts Integration Programs for teachers, teaching artists, and community members; Arts and Technology linking the arts to the teaching of career and technical education programs at the secondary level; Children and the Arts which emphasizes arts integration for children from age 3 upward; Arts Build Communities (ABC), an arts integration program with the Orange County (Florida) School District. She has established award-winning collaborative programs with Walt Disney World, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Junior Achievement, and others. Palmer’s Through the ARTS program has transformed schools across the country; her Connect with Music program for babies from birth to age 2 has received international attention.
Palmer’s many awards include recognition from Florida’s Governor, Legislature, and Department of State for her leadership in Arts Education; ACE of Hearts; Pi Delta Kappa Educator of the Year; Florida Music Educators Hall of Fame; UCF Quill Award. As a Fulbright Scholar, she conducted arts research in South America. Her client schools have received prestigious awards including the Kennedy Center Arts Education School of Distinction, Florida Department of Education Music Demonstration School, and Magnet Schools of America School of Distinction.
Mary holds Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois.