EDUCATION_____________________________________________________________________________
Illinois State Licensure in K-12 Music Education (Highly Qualified) | 2015-Present
Masters of Music Education | University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul MN | 2021
| Masters Thesis: “Building A Foundation Together: A Multicentric Curriculum for the Early Elementary Music Classroom”
Kodály Mastery Certification | University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul MN | Summer 2019-2021
Kodály Mastery Certification | DePaul University, Chicago IL | Summer 2014-2016
Orff-Schulwerk Certification | DePaul University and University of Kentucky | Summer 2013, 2017, 2018
Bachelor of Music in Education | Summa Cum Laude | DePaul University, Chicago, IL | June 2015
| Honors Thesis: “Finding My Voice: A Hip Hop Curriculum for Students of Diverse Backgrounds”
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE____________________________________________________________
University of Chicago Laboratory Schools | Chicago, IL | Elementary Music Teacher
August 2019-present, Elementary general music teacher for ages nursery-2nd Grade
| Received highest formal evaluation rating consecutively: 2019-Present
| Design Kodály and Orff-inspired curriculum in collaboration with the N-5 music department to create cohesion across grades, adapted curriculum to remote and in-person through the covid-19 pandemic
| Co-direct and accompany Lower School (3rd-5th) Choir
| On the Dean(s) Hiring Committee 2021
| Special-Area Chair, 2021-2023
| Member of SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) and WARE (White Anti-Racist Educators)
| Collaborate with the N-2 division special-area and homeroom teachers to create opportunities like monthly community sings, author visits, culture bearer performances, end-of-year celebrations, and social justice protests.
California State University Bakersfield Kodály Institute| Bakersfield, CA | Pedagogy and Music Literature Professor
Summer 2024
| Designed and taught curriculum for 3-week post-graduate level course in Level II Kodály pedagogy and music literature
Helen Keller Elementary School | Tinley Park, IL | Elementary Music Teacher (Tenured)
August 2015-2019, Elementary general music teacher for ages pre-K-5th Grade
| Recipient of early tenure: 2018, received highest formal evaluation rating consecutively: 2015-Present
| Designed the district’s standards-based music education curriculum with the Fine Arts Committee: 2017
| Established the Helen Keller 4th-5th Grade Choir in 2015.
| Differentiate instruction for students with a variety of needs, including students with special needs and second language learners.
| Implemented the use of technology in the classroom through coding and leading technology workshops
| Created and organized performance opportunities with community outreach aligned to district curriculum including grade-level music concerts, assemblies, workshops, and local sports events.
PRESENTATIONS & WORKSHOPS________________________________________________________
"Demonstration: Building Cultural Empathy in a Kodály Setting"
| Organization of American Kodály Educators National Conference | March 2025
"Can I Kick It? Affirming Music Fluency with Hip Hop & Pop"
| AKTS & KMECC Chapter Workshop | March 2025
| Aileen's Music-Room Meet Up Virtual Conference | Feb 2024
“Come and Play the Kodály Way”
| Midwest Kodály Music Educators of America Conference | October 2024
| Michigan Kodály Educators - Kodály Summer Camp Workshop | July 2024
| Missouri Music Educators State Conference | January 2024
| Illinois Music Education Conference | January 2022, January 2020
"An Introduction to Kodály-Inspired Teaching"
| Albion College Undergraduate Workshop | October 2023
| Northern Illinois University Undergraduate Workshop | Feb 2020, March 2018, March 2017, Feb 2023
"Let Children Lead: Framing Reflective Conversations Through Musical Play"
| Organization of Kodály American Educators National Conference| March 2023
| Missouri Music Educators State Conference | January 2024
| Iowa Music Educators State Conference| November 2023
| Chicago Area Kodály Educators Workshop Trio | November 2022
"Building a Foundation Together with Inclusive Repertoire"
| Organization of Kodály American Educators National Conference | March 2022
| Missouri Music Educators State Conference | January 2024
| Iowa Music Educators State Conference| November 2023
| Midwest Kodály Music Educators of America Conference | October 2022
"A Joyful Journey: Inclusive Repertoire & Activities for the Kodály-Inspired Room"
| Kodály Association of Southern California Online Workshop | November 2022
| Tri-City Kodály Educators Workshop | October 2022
"Celebrating Differences: 6 Dances & Games to Help Diversify your Repertoire"
| DePaul Kodály Institute Special Topics | July 2022
“Conversations on Race & Equity With Practical Applications for the Music Room”
| Illinois Music Education Conference | January 2022
| Chicago Area Kodály Educators Chapter Share | February 2021
“STEAM: Musical Coding for Kids”
| Illinois Music Educators State Conference | January 2019
“Finding My Voice: A Hip Hop Curriculum for Students of Diverse Backgrounds”
| Hip-Hop Music Pedagogy Symposium, Wisconsin School of Music Association | August 2021
| Illinois Music Educators State Conference | January 2017
PUBLICATIONS_________________________________________________________________________
"Teaching Songs in a New Language? Tips & Tricks to do it with Confidence!"
Mrs. Stouffer's Music Room Blog, Feb 4, 2025.
"Classroom Process: Re-Imagining SongLists in the Kodály-Inspired Music Room"
National Kodály Envoy, Winter 2024, Vol.50, Issue 2
"Sing This Instead! Reimagining Songlists in the Elementary Music Room"
Illinois Music Educator Journal, Spring 2023.
"Hip Hop in the Kodály-Inspired Elementary Room"
Midwest Kodály Music Educators Association Bulletin, Fall 2021
“Finding My Voice: A Hip Hop Curriculum for Students of Diverse Backgrounds: Part II”
Illinois Music Educator Journal, Spring 2016, Vol 77. _____. Minnesota Music Educators Journal Interval, Fall 2016
“Finding My Voice: A Hip Hop Curriculum for Students of Diverse Backgrounds: Part I”
Illinois Music Educator Journal, Winter 2015, Vol 76__. Kentucky Music Educators Association Bluegrass Music News Summer 2016, Vol 67.4
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION & SERVICE______________________________________________
Award | Outstanding Emerging Educator, Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE) | 2022
Service | Midwest Kodály Music Educators of America (MKMEA) | Board Member (Member-at-Large) | 2023-Present
Service | Chicago Area Kodály Educators | Board Member (President, President-Elect, Member-at-Large) | 2016-Present
Service | OAKE Equity Committee Member| 2022-Present
Service | OAKE Harmonia Mundi Task Force Member| 2021-Present
Featured Article | "Storytelling through Music" | @Lab Magazine | April 2023
Featured Article | "When Music Works Its Magic" | Fund for Lab Feature | Nov 2022
Featured Article | “Community Sing invites grandfriends to join the chorus” | @Lab Magazine | January 2022
Featured Article | “Future Teacher Aims to Change Children’s Lives Through Music” | DePaul NewsRoom | June 5 2015