NAfME-TX stands on the belief that music is a basic human need. We will strive to ensure that every child in every school in Texas will receive a well-rounded education which includes a comprehensive, sequential, high-quality program of music taught by a certified music teacher. We intend to accomplish this through the following:

Advocacy

Inform, engage, and activate the public, policy makers, and educational leaders to promote and support music as an integral and core component of a comprehensive and balanced education accessible to all students

Leading the Profession

Provide music educators and education leaders with engaging professional development opportunities and resources to support best practices and serve the needs of students

Research

Promote and disseminate sound data to advance music teaching and learning and influence educational policy

Capacity Building

Ensure data-driven fiscal practices and decision making to advance our association and the profession we serve

Executive Board

Mark Montemayor, Ph.D. - President

Mark Montemayor is an associate professor in the music education division of the University of North Texas College of Music, where he teaches instrumental methods and graduate courses in research and curriculum. Previously, he was Professor of Music and head of music education at the University of Northern Colorado. His research work includes matters related to the cognitive psychology of music instruction, with particular focus on teacher evaluation, musical modeling, conductor expressivity, and music teacher education. His research is published the Journal of Research in Music Education, International Journal of Music Education, the Journal of Music Teacher Education, and Psychology of Music, and he is the lead author of World Music Pedagogy, Volume IV: Instrumental Music Education (Routledge, 2018). He has served on the Editorial Committee for JRME and the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, and he was the chair of the Learning and Development Special Research Interest Group for NAfME.

Dr. Montemayor previously taught music at Gig Harbor High School in Gig Harbor, Washington. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied saxophone and music education, and he earned Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at the University of Washington.

Tanya Allen, Ph.D. - President-Elect

Tanya Allen is the acting department chair and Associate Professor of Music Education at Texas Southern University (TSU) in Houston, Texas. She completed her graduate degrees in music education at Florida State University and her bachelor’s degree and teaching certification at the University of New Orleans. Tanya has over twenty years of experience teaching music to elementary through post-secondary students and enjoys teaching non-music majors as well as mentoring pre-service teachers in her current position at TSU. When not working, Tanya enjoys exercising and trying new brunch spots with her five-year old daughter.

Julie Derges, Ph.D. - Past President

Liaison to Pre-Service Teacher Education Chair

Julie Derges, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and the Division Head of Music Education at the University of Houston. At UH, she teaches undergraduate courses in elementary and secondary general music methods and graduate courses in music education research and pedagogy. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her master’s and doctoral degrees in music education at Michigan State University. Prior to entering higher education, she taught PreK-6 general music and choir in the Fairfax County Public Schools in Northern Virginia and early childhood music classes at the Levine School of Music in Washington, D.C. and the MSU Community Music School.

Dr. Derges’ research interests include informal and popular music learning and music teacher professional development. Her work has been published in several journals, including the Journal of Research in Music Education, International Journal of Music Education, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Research Studies in Music Education, and Music Educators Journal, and she has publications in three books: Oxford Handbook of Social Media and Music Learning, Oxford Online Handbook of Assessment in Music Education, and Learning from Young Children: Research in Early Childhood Music. Additionally, Dr. Derges has presented her both nationally and internationally and remains active as a clinician and music teacher.

Emily McGinnis, Ph.D. - Member-at-Large

Liaison to Social Media Chair

Dr. Emily McGinnis is a Professor of Practice in Music Education at the University of Houston where she teaches Introduction to Education in Music, Student Teaching Seminar, and graduate-level music education courses. McGinnis was previously a member of the music education faculty at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, adjunct faculty at both the University of Houston and San Jacinto College, and a university supervisor for student teachers from UMKC, Missouri State University, and Luther College. Additional career highlights include Director of Band positions in Kansas and Illinois, teaching early childhood music classes, conducting a New Horizons Band for senior adults, and teaching private lessons. Her research on undergraduate music education curriculum, life-long music making, and experiences of women brass players has resulted in publications and presentations at regional, national, and international levels. McGinnis is also active as a performer, primarily in the brass band genre. She has played cornet and tenor horn with the internationally renowned Fountain City Brass Band, the all-female Athena Brass Band, and the Houston Brass Band. Originally from Freeport, IL, McGinnis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and PhD and MME degrees from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Corey Sullivan, Ph.D. - Member-at-Large

Liaison to Advocacy Chair

Dr. Corey Sullivan joined the faculty at Texas Tech University as the Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education and Associate Director of Choral Studies in the Fall of 2023. He teaches undergraduate course work in choral methods and music technology and conducts the treble ensemble Scarlet Voce. A South Georgia native, he taught middle and high school chorus in Tallahassee, Florida prior to his appointment at TTU. He received his Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Music Education, and Ph.D. in Music Education from Florida State University. Dr. Sullivan's research is centered on music cognition and perception in digital settings, the intersections of technology and equity in the music classroom, and singer identity development in choirs.

His research has been presented at state, regional, and national venues. He has published reviews and research in the field of music education, including a recent scoping review in Update: Applications of Research in Music Education. Dr. Sullivan is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, International Society for Music Education, College Music Society, Texas Music Educators Association, and National Collegiate Choral Organization.

Zachary Edwards - State Director

Zachary Edwards is currently a DMA student at the University of Houston pursuing a major in music education and a minor in applied percussion. He also serves as teaching assistant for "General Music in Elementary & Secondary Schools." Previously, Zach taught at KIPP CONNECT Primary School where he was the general music teacher, choir director, and Orff ensemble director. During his time with KIPP, he also served as the primary music regional content lead for KIPP Texas-Houston and the student growth and achievement assessment writer for KIPP Texas. Zach holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Texas A&M University-Commerce where he graduated cum laude with honors, and a master's degree in music education from Tarleton State University where he graduated as the fine arts department's outstanding graduate student for his graduating class. In addition to his position as state director of NAfME-Texas, Zach has also previously held the positions of treasurer and member at large for the Texas Gulf Coast Orff Association. Zach is certified in the Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk approaches and frequently performs as a free lance percussionist in the Houston area.

Committee of Chairs

Shauna Satrom Pickens, Ph.D. - Collegiate Chair

Dr. Shauna Satrom Pickens is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Texas Tech University, where she teaches courses in music education and serves as a field supervisor for student teachers. Previously, she was an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where she served as Coordinator of Music Education and Director of the Master of Music in Music Education program. Prior to her higher education positions, she served as a middle school band director in Pflugerville, TX for almost 10 years.

As a researcher, Dr. Pickens’ work is focused on teaching music in low-SES urban and rural communities, music teacher preparation, and instrument preferences of children. She has presented her research at the National Association for Music Education conference, the Symposium for Music Teacher Education, and the TMEA conference. She has also co-authored articles published in Update: Applications for Research in Music Education and Texas Music Education Research. Dr. Pickens earned her Bachelor of Music in trombone performance from Texas Tech University, Master of Music in trombone performance from Southern Methodist University, and PhD in Music Education from Texas Tech University.

Erika Knapp, Ph.D. - Culturally Responsive Pedagogy Chair

Erika J. Knapp is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of North Texas, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. She holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from Michigan State University and specializes in elementary education, music for special learners, and inclusive practice. Her scholarly and research interests include teacher professional development, antiracist music education, culturally sustaining and ability-responsive practices, and students with disabilities. Knapp has published research in Music Education Research, Arts Education Policy Review, International Journal of Music Education, Action, Criticism and Theory in Music Education, Music Educators Journal, The Orff Echo, and the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education.

Loneka Battiste, Ph.D. - Social Justice Chair

Loneka Wilkinson Battiste is an international scholar with over 20 years of experience teaching music in school and community settings. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Education (Music Concentration) from Dillard University, a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Oklahoma, and a Ph. D. in Music Education from Louisiana State University. Her scholarly interests include culturally responsive teaching and Black musical aesthetics. Her work has been published in the Choral Journal, Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, Journal of General Music Education, Proceedings of the International Society for Music Education, and General Music: Dimensions of Practice. She has presented several papers and sessions at local, national, and international conferences and symposia. She is also an active clinician who presents workshops on culturally responsive teaching and Black musical aesthetics. She has been a featured clinician for the Texas Music Educators Association conference in San Antonio, Texas, and was the featured mini-conference presenter for the Organization of American Kodály Educators national conference.

Before entering higher education, she was the Pre-K through 12 elementary general and choral instructor at Southern University Laboratory School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She served as Assistant Minister of Music at Greater Mount Carmel Baptist Church for ten years and was music director for several community theater productions. In addition, she co-created and led a summer performing arts program for children in the Baton Rouge community. Loneka Wilkinson Battiste is committed to ensuring all students experience a sense of belonging at the center ofschool music programs.

Laura Bock - Pre-Service Teacher Education Chair

Laura Bock is currently a 3rd year PhD student in the Music and Human Learning department at The University of Texas at Austin. As a young musician, Bock grew up in central Maryland where she was an active member of her high school band and orchestra programs. She completed a double concentration in Music Education and Flute Performance at James Madison University and a master’s degree in Music and Human Learning at The University of Texas at Austin. From 2011-2015, Bock taught 5th and 6th grade band at Walker Upper Elementary School in Charlottesville City Schools and served as the District XIII representative to the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. Between 2017 and 2022, Bock was the Assistant Band Director at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas as well as its associated elementary and middle school feeder schools where she worked with students in Grades 5-12. She was recognized as the 2020-2021 Outstanding Young Music Educator for eastern central Kansas. Bock enjoys working with a variety of students across different musical content areas and age levels.

AJ Marks - Advocacy Chair

AJ Marks serves as the Music Teacher at The University of Texas Elementary School in Austin, Texas, where he was recognized as New Teacher of the Year in 2023. There, he works with Pre-K through 5th grade students in Orchestra, Music Production, and Foundations in Music classes. He also serves as the Program Director for the Musical Lives orchestra program at UT Elementary, which supports the orchestra students at the school as well as undergraduate and graduate students from the Butler School of Music through a teacher development program. A native Austinite, Marks grew up active in his local band and orchestra programs as a trumpeter. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, holding a BM in Instrumental Music Studies and a minor in Educational Psychology. Marks is passionate about bringing quality music education to all students regardless of age, background, or circumstances. He has worked with musicians from infancy through adulthood, fostering strong musical skills, curiosity, passion, and joy in a variety of educational contexts.

Suzanne Charney - Website & Social Media Chair

Suzanne Charney is a doctoral student in Music and Human Learning at the University of Texas at Austin, where she teaches undergraduate courses in instrumental methods, is a teaching assistant for undergraduate and graduate level coursework, and is a Field Supervisor for student teachers. Originally from Springfield, Ohio, she earned her Bachelors of Music Education and graduated with High Distinction from Indiana University. She taught middle and high school band in Indiana and in central Texas and was honored to be selected as a Top Ten Teacher of Influence. She returned to Indiana University to pursue a Master of Music Degree in Wind Conducting and Music Education. While at Indiana University, Suzanne was an Associate Instructor for the Marching Hundred, Interim Athletic Band Director, and guest conductor for their wind ensembles. Suzanne’s research interests include procedural memory consolidation, attention allocation, and teacher identity. Her research has recently been presented at the NAfME National Conference, Texas Music Educators Association Clinic and Convention, International Society for Music Education Research Commission, and the Society for Music Perception and Cognition. She is dedicated to creating quality learning experiences for future students.

Constitution and Bylaws

nafme-texas_handbook_approved_2021.pdf

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