Tri-Chairs: Tanya Allen, Martha Gabel, and Michael Stone

The scope of the NAfME Professional Learning and Partnerships Committee (PLPC) is as follows: regular updates to the National President/Board Chair and coordination with NAfME staff as to the ongoing activities of the Societies and Councils of the Association; creation of and requests for new symposia, events and virtual offerings directly related to the pedagogical interest of the music discipline; and creation of and requests for project-based relationships, collaborative ventures, and other joint undertakings directly related to the mission of NAfME (for review by the committee prior to action by the National Executive Board).

The PLPC is comprised of the Chairs (or designated surrogates of the Chairs) of the NAfME Societies, Program Advisory, Representative and Role-Based Councils, and up to (3) designated members of the Equity Committee. PLPC has at least two Chairs (currently three Tri-Chairs) appointed by the National President in conformity with the association’s appointment policies.

The committee meets regularly to discuss and prioritize education topics and issues to serve the on-going professional development needs of NAfME’s diverse membership and develop and vet professional learning community webinars and other virtual content for members, including for the NAfME Academy. One designated Chair also serves as Chair of the Biennial Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference.

Professional Learning and Partnerships Committee Policy

Committee Members

Martha Gabel, Tri-Chair
Fine Arts Coordinator
Olathe Public Schools
Olathe, Kansas
Michael Stone, Tri-Chair
Visual and Performing Arts Coordinator
Bakersfield City School District
Bakersfield, California
Tanya R. Allen, Tri-Chair
Associate Professor of Music Education
Texas Southern University
Houston, Texas
Steph Benischek
Elementary General Music Educator
Star Elementary School, Star, Idaho
Meridian, Idaho
LaSaundra Booth
Council for Orchestral Education
 Wake Forest Community Youth Orchestra 
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Scott Burgener
Music Education Department Specialist
Mesa Public Schools
Mesa, Arizona
Hannah Cole
Director of Bands, K-12 Music Department Coordinator 
Coventry High School 
Coventry, Connecticut
Shane Colquhoun
Assistant Professor of Music Technology and Contemporary Musical Styles
Alabama State University
Montgomery, Alabama
Katrina Cox
Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Lisa Crawford
Composition Teacher
Los Angeles County High School for the Arts
Los Angeles, California
Maria A. Ellis
Owner
Girl Conductor LLC
O'Fallon, Missouri
Johnathan Hamiel
K-12 Visual and Performing Arts Education Coordinator
Chapel-Hill Carrboro City Schools
Elon, North Carolina
Lenora Helm Hammonds
Dean / Professional Education Division (PED)
Berklee College of Music/Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Boston, Massachusetts
Steve Kelly
Professor, Music Education
College of Music, Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Amy Martinson
Manager of Arts and PE - Curriculum and Instruction
Denver Public Schools
Denver, Colorado
Sean Meagher
Music Teacher
Gilford Middle School
Belmont, New Market, New Hampshire
Stephen Pickard
Band Director
Governor John Rogers High School; Dessie Evans Elementary School
Puyallup, Washington
Bethany Robinson
Director of Jazz
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
Wendy Sims
Director of Music Education
University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Mackie V. Spradley
Director of Curriculum Programs
Texas Education Agency
Austin, Texas
Ann Marie Stanley
Director and Professor of Music
Penn State School of Music
University Park, Pennsylvania
Neil Swapp
Adjunct Professor
Western New Mexico University
Silver City, New Mexico
Kevin Vigil
Guitar Director
Heritage High School
Leesburg, Virginia
September 2024 Music Educators Journal. Now available online the latest issue of Music Educators Journal.
University of Michigan School of Music. Music, theatre, and dance. Master of Music Education Summer Program apply by February 5, 2025
Gator Cases sheet music stand cart