SAMANTHAQUESENBERRY

Applicant for the position of Montgomery County Public Schools

Fine Arts Supervisor

SHINICHI SUZUKI: “Art exists for the human species. I

think that all of the people who love art, who teach art, and all of you should burn with the obligation to save the world.”

“It is necessary to be concerned about the importance of educating a really beautiful human spirit.”

Musicians have theirinstruments of choice;artists have their preferences of mediums.My true passion is the art of education. I am an Arts Educator.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY SUMMARYMontgomery County Public Schools:

Present Position: Music Specialist, Grades K-51996-PresentTeach music classes for grades K-5 in two schoolsProduce music programs several times a year

Previous Position:Choral Director, Blacksburg Middle School1989-1996Taught choral music grades 6-8Produced and directed a yearly musical

Tunes For TotsBlacksburg, VirginiaPrivate music classes for ages birth through fiveSummer Sessions, 1996-PresentDesign and teach a summer curriculum for multi-level age groups

Private Voice Lessons1996-2006Specialized in audition preparation

Previous and Additional Employment:

SynerVision Leadership FoundationExecutive Director2010-2011Took a year’s leave of absence from teaching to help

start this foundationWorked with churches and nonprofit organizations to help develop

their leadership skillsWorked to secure funding, maintain the website, obtain

nonprofit status, develop vision and mission statements,and create a business plan

Helped develop three online leadership courses

Church MusicPresent Position:Blacksburg Presbyterian ChurchChildren’s Music DirectorJanuary 2011-PresentPlan for and rehearse two choirs weekly

Previous Position:One In The Spirit, Blacksburg, Virginia Ecumenical Group of 12 ChurchesExecutive Director2008-2009Led the development of vision and mission statements and

long-range planning goalsOversaw all aspects of project implementation and budgetsWrote and dispersed weekly and monthly communications

with all churchesLed the development, planning, and implementation of ecumenical

activities such as a Good Friday service and Social Justice Prayer Walks

 

Church Music, con’tLuther Memorial Lutheran Church, Blacksburg, VirginiaDirector of Ecumenical Worship Renewal Grant2006-2008Oversaw all aspects of grant implementation and funds Headed a task force of representatives from six area churchesHeaded the task force from Luther Memorial on worship renewalPlanned and implemented an ecumenical worship service for 4,000

people in response to the Virginia Tech April 16th Tragedy with

The Rev. Dr. Tony Campolo as the featured speaker Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, Blacksburg, VirginiaWorship Leader, Alive! in Christ2000-2006Oversaw all aspects of ministryDesigned and led weekly worship serviceOversaw all aspects of the worship team

Auburn United Methodist Church, Riner, VirginiaChoral Director1985-1992Oversaw all aspects of the choral ministryLed children’s music activities

NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED

I received my National Board Certification from theNational Board of Professional Teaching Standards in 2004

My certification is in Early and Middle Childhood Music

Following that period I spent six years co-leading a mentoring programfor other teachers engaged in the process, both music and non-music in Montgomery County

EDUCATIONMaster of Science, 2013Radford UniversityEducational Leadership

Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, 1989Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VirginiaMajor: MusicConcentration: Vocal Music Education

CERTIFICATIONVirginia Department of EducationPreK-12 Administration and Supervision

National Board Certification, 2004National Board for Professional Teaching StandardsEarly and Middle Childhood Music Virginia Department of EducationMusic PreK-12Vocal and Instrumental

VOLUNTEER POSITIONSParent Advisory BoardCommunity Children’s Chorus, Division of the Blacksburg Master Chorale2006-2008

Children’s Music DirectorLuther Memorial Lutheran Church2000-2007 Couples Group LeaderLuther Memorial Lutheran Church2005-2007 Summer Musical EnterpriseBoard of Directors, 1997-2001

HaeBo Theatrical ProductionsBoard of Directors, 2006-Present

Vocal and/or Musical Director/Actress 1997-presentSummer Musical EnterpriseTriSoul ProuductionsHaebo ProductionsNew River Stage

Productions include: Cinderella, The House at Pooh Corner, Steel Magnolias, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Monky Business, Tom Sawyer, Oliver, Godspell, Annie Get Your Gun, The Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz

GRANTSCalvin Worship Renewal InstituteSpecial Blacksburg Grant, $5,000 Calvin Worship Renewal Institute, 2006-2007Worship Renewal Project, $20,000

What’s On Stage Grants:Lowes Toolbox for Education Grant, Fall 2010 Blacksburg Master Gardener’s Association, Fall 2010 Verbrugge Family Fund, 2010-2011 Community Foundation of the New River Valley, Fall 2003-2011Fall and Spring Grant Cycles-16 grants awarded STAR, Montgomery County Public Schools, 2001-2008Six grants awarded 

VERB: Play Without Borders, 2005

Virginia Commission for the Arts, Teacher Incentive Grant, 2004

Virginia Education Association Mini-Grant, 2004 National Education Association, Innovation Grant 2002

Virginia Commission of the Arts, Teacher Incentive Grant, 2001Artist-In-Residence: Joe Shannon

New River Valley Friends of the Symphony, 1999Artist-In-Residence Program

AWARDS AND PUBLICATIONS

Teacher as Researcher, 2006Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity National Collegiate Music Award, 1986

“Worship in Terrible Times” in Reformed Worship MagazineJune 2008 “Stars of Stage and Screen” in Virginia Journal of Education, December 2005 “Strange But True Choir Stories” in VocalEase, January 1997

WHAT’S ON STAGEFounder and Director, “What’s On Stage”Afterschool Arts Program for At-Risk StudentsHarding Avenue Elementary School, Blacksburg, Virginia2001-present

Secure all grants and donations to fund the program

Design the theme and curriculum for each year

Manage all communication with sponsors, donors, parents, school administration, and arts providers

Lead all weekly sessions

Plan, implement, and supervise all field trips 

WHAT’S ON STAGE

WHAT’S ON STAGE

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

I was in the first Kindergarten class at Riner Elementary School. I attended school in the Auburn strand until my family moved when

I was a junior in high school. The current Fine Arts Supervisor was my band director!

I did my student aiding in the Shawsville/Elliston strand with a teacher who is currently the BMS choral director.

I student taught in the Christiansburg strand. One placement was with a teacher who still teaches at CES.

I have taught in the Blacksburg and Christiansburg strands for 21 years.

Through my church work, community theatre work, What’s OnStage and many other activities, I have a wide base of community contacts.

MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES/LEVELSI have taught middle and elementary school and done workshops

and directed musical theatre at the high school level andabove.

Although my time has been spent as a music teacher, I have collaborated with the art teachers in all my positions in order to do interdisciplinary units, Fine Arts Festivals andother joint activities.

My work with What’s On Stage has given me the opportunity to be more involved and hands-on with art projects and art staff than the average music teacher.

I have extensive work with drama and musical theatre.

MY STANDARDS I have a vision for the future of Fine Arts in Montgomery County that

builds on our tremendous success thus far. (ISLLC Standard 1) I am committed to viewing all decisions through the lens of

student learning and am committed to supporting my staffin meaningful professional growth. (ISLLC Standard 2)

I am a highly organized individual who is accustomed to managingmany tasks and activities. (ISLLC Standard 3)

I have many established community contacts and have collaboratedwith the school and larger community for many years. I am able gather and organize resources and have worked with a verydiverse population in my teaching assignments and What’sOn Stage. (ISLLC Standard 4)

I have and will always attempt to act in an ethical manner with fairness and integrity in both my personal and professional life. (ISLLC Standard 5)

I understand that one school, one school district, and even one community cannot be the whole of our focus. As educators we must be active in the community in any way that will help us tobetter serve our students. (ISLLC Standard 6)

PERSONAL VISION STATEMENT

I believe that educating the whole child-body, mind, and spirit-is essential to the well-being of the individual and to our society in general. We must not let our children’s education be merely an exercise in memorization and learning only what will be tested.We must teach our students that creativity, problem solving, andcooperation are highly valued traits in our 21st century. We must also constantly make them aware that the beauty of art is a necessity, not a luxury. Not only for them, but for all of humankind.