As a new music educator, you are faced with many challenges that are not always addressed in undergraduate or credential programs. This session is designed to explain important lessons learned based on the real life experiences from the presenters’ first few years in education. The presenters hope that new and aspiring music educators will walk away from this session with the knowledge and tools to help them not only survive, but begin to thrive, in the early years of teaching.
Target Audience
Music Education Majors, 1st-Year/Early Career Music Teachers
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
AJ Gonzales
Prospect High School
AJ Gonzales (He/They) is a 3rd-Year instrumental music teacher at Prospect High School in San Jose, CA teaching Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, String Orchestra, and running the Panther Marching Band & Color Guard. In his short tenure as instrumental music director, AJ has not only expanded the music program at Prospect, but all his groups have been recognized as award-winning in the festival and competition criterias of CMEA, NCBA, and CCGC. They received their Bachelors in Music Education and Masters in Teaching from San José State University (SJSU). While in his undergraduate studies, AJ was a recipient of the Shannon Kelly Kane Scholarship Award in 2021 awarded by NAfME being recognized on a national level for his advocacy work, a member of the CMEA collegiate council from 2021-2022, and presented at CASMEC in 2021 on inclusive teaching practices to support LGBTQIA+ students in the music classroom.
Amanda Lopes
Bella Vista High School
Amanda Lopes (She/Her) is a 3rd year music teacher in the Sacramento region. She taught at Anna McKenney Intermediate School in Marysville, CA for her first 2 years of teaching and is currently one of the Co-Director of Bands at Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks, CA. Amanda was selected as 2024 New Teacher of the Year for the Marysville Joint Unified School District and also received the 2024 Outstanding New Educator Award from the California Teachers Association and the Feather River Service Center Council. Amanda earned her Bachelors in Music Education and her Single Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Sacramento (CSUS). She is currently earning her Masters of Music in Wind Conducting from CSUS studying with Dr. Matthew Morse. Amanda also serves as the Social Media Representative for the CMEA Capitol Section Board.
Pia Satana
Castillero Middle School and Pioneer High School
Pia Satana (She/Her) is the choir teacher at Castillero Middle School and Pioneer High School in San Jose. Over the past three years, she has taught a variety of music classes, including general music, choir, orchestra, and marching band in the Santa Clara and San Jose School Districts. She received her Bachelors in Music Education and Masters in Teaching from San José State University, Kodály Levels I & II at Holy Names University, and Orff Levels I & II through the SF International Orff Course. At SJSU, Pia served as President of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Student Chapter and Event Organizer for the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) Student Chapter. She has presented at both the 2020 California Choral Directors Association Summer Choral Summit (CCDA) and the 2021 California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC) on topics surrounding student leadership and engagement in music education.