Connect Tell us why you became a teacher

I was a musician all through my youth, and as I got older, I realize that people thought that they had no access to Music and couldn’t understand any of it. I thought that was such a loss in their life since it had given me so much joy. I decided to dedicate my life to teaching music to share the joy and wonder that i had experienced.

Tell us about your most memorable teaching experience

It would have to be Makayla . Makayla came to me in the sixth grade in a wheelchair and had very little use of her hands. But she really wanted to play a string instrument. Together, we discovered chair could be raised up and we could place a Cello across her lap and she could use the thumb of her left hand to stop the notes on the strings. Her hard work was inspiring and amazing. She even played a solo at the concert, plucking the strings because the bow is too hard. It didn’t stop her!

What would you do with the $25,000?

My county is fantastic for music education and I would definitely want to set up some more summer camps for kids for orchestra and the other disciplines.. There is a music council. I have opportunities to set up scholarships for students going to college for music education. (The Ericka Grady Music Ed College Scholarship Fund). As for my school I want to set up some jam hubs for my kids to use electric instruments in a quiet setting. It would go a long, long way.