Heather Katz Cote

Dr. Heather Cote has been with the Westwood Public Schools in Westwood, MA, since 2001, where she serves as the K-12 Director of Performing Arts as well as conducts the WHS concert band and wind ensemble. In addition, she is the Teacher Education Coordinator and Adjunct Faculty at Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA as well as Adjunct Faculty for Kent State University’s online Masters of Music Education program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the Hartt School, a Masters degree in Theater Education from Emerson College and a DMA in Music Education from Boston University, where her dissertation research focused on teacher evaluation.

Dr. Cote has taught vocal, general and instrumental music at all levels K-12. She has presented nationally and internationally at state conferences and workshops on a variety of topics including assessment, teacher evaluation, curriculum, and student growth in the arts. In addition, she has served as a guest lecturer for music education programs at various universities. Her research has been published in a variety of state journals, as well as in the Journal of Research in Music Education and the Journal of Music Teacher Education.

As a woodwind specialist, Dr. Cote performs regularly in the theater scene in both the Boston and Providence areas. She has been active in the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, serving on the Eastern District Executive Board for 6 years. She is a Past-President of MMEA as well as Editor of the Music Program Leaders Strand for MMEA state Journal. She served on NAfME’s Council for Music Program Leaders from 2015-2025, two years of which she served as chairperson. She was awarded the Lowell Mason Award in 2019 from MMEA.