CMA Foundation Reveals 2024 Music Teachers Of Excellence

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The CMA Foundation has revealed its 2024 Music Teachers of Excellence class.

Through an application process consisting of teaching videos, professional references and community service work, Music Teachers of Excellence are selected based on their dedication to bringing a high-quality music education program to their students and the impact they’ve had on their school community through music.

In celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week, the CMA Foundation joined forces with Tanner Adell, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Priscilla Block, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Chapel Hart, Jordan Davis, Lindsay Ell, Filmore, Mickey Guyton, Tyler Hubbard, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Brian Kelley, Tiera Kennedy, Maddie & Tae, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Reba McEntire, Carly Pearce, MacKenzie Porter, Frank Ray, Reyna Roberts, Caitlyn Smith, Alana Springsteen, Thomas Rhett, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson and Chris Young to surprise each honoree yesterday (May 7) with congratulatory video messages shared at their schools. CMA and CMA Foundation staff also visited the 10 Metro Nashville Public School teachers in their classrooms to surprise them with news of becoming Music Teachers of Excellence.

“We are immensely proud to celebrate these 30 remarkable music educators as part of our Music Teachers of Excellence program,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “These teachers consistently go above and beyond to build inclusive environments in their classrooms and communities, often removing barriers that prevent even just one student from participating in music education. It takes a village, and we are so grateful for our village of amazing country artists who joined us this morning to recognize these 30 incredible humans.”

The Music Teachers of Excellence ceremony, presented by One Country, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. As part of the CMA Foundation’s investment strategy, each educator will receive a $5,000 grant—half of the investment will go toward their classroom needs and music programs, and the other half will support personal expenses. To date, the CMA Foundation has invested over $30 million nationally to ensure music teachers have the support and funding needed to create a thriving program within their school and community.

2024 Music Teachers of Excellence:
Justin Antos – Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, Blue Island, IL
Evan Burton – Page Middle School, Franklin, TN
Vanessa Cobb – Montgomery Central High School, Cunningham, TN
Johnny Croft – Cane Ridge High School, Antioch, TN
Charissa Duncanson – Ferndale Lower Elementary School, Ferndale Upper Elementary School, Oak Park, MI
Deanna Grandstaff – Cecil Intermediate School, McDonald, PA
Corey Graves – Jackson Middle School, Forney, TX
DaJuana “Dee” Hammonds – Hull-Jackson Montessori School, Nashville, TN
Eric Hanson – Wilson Elementary, Coppell, TX
Tony Hartman – Scales Elementary School, Murfreesboro, TN
Michael Holland – Franklin High School, Franklin, TN
Brent Hopper – Lakeland Preparatory School, Lakeland, TN
Allen Kennedy – Hume–Fogg Academic High School, Nashville, TN
Ollie Liddell – Memphis Central High School, Memphis, TN
Tyler Merideth – James Lawson High School, Nashville, TN
Allen Moody – Idlewild Elementary, Memphis, TN
Linzie Mullins – Snowden School, Memphis, TN
Cody Newman – Forney High School, Forney, TX
Katiana Nicholson – Columbia Central High School, Columbia, TN
Dave Petrelli – Lockeland Design Center Elementary, Nashville, TN
Holly Rang – Pennington Elementary, Nashville, TN
Samantha Reid – Oliver Middle School, Nashville, TN
Stephanie San Roman – Oswego High School, Oswego, IL
Jonathan Seligman – Casillas Elementary, Chula Vista, CA
Laura Shepherd – Donelson Middle School, Nashville, TN
Andrew Smith – Powell High School, Powell, TN
Sarah Theres – Florosa Elementary School, Mary Esther, FL
Kaitlin Tilden – Andrew Jackson Elementary, Old Hickory, TN
Taylor Walkup-Amos – Yorktown Elementary School, Yorktown, VA
Shoshana Wulf – Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet High School, Nashville, TN

Liza Anderson
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