Get to know the Quaver DEI Committee, a group of employees committed to incorporating factors relating to diversity, inclusion, and equity in the fabric of QuaverEd.
Jennifer Barnes
Role At QuaverEd:
Curriculum Writer
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Belmont University.
Fun Fact:
Jennifer loves horror movies and has read every Stephen King book in chronological order.
“The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.”
Stephen King
Experience Highlights:
- Taught K-4 Music for 13 years at Lockeland Elementary in Nashville, TN
- Served as a Peer Reviewer for MNPS’s Fine Arts Portfolio Evaluations
- Mentored undergraduate music education students from Belmont University.
- Honored as a CMA Music Teacher of Excellence in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Certifications:
- Kodály Level II Certification
- Orff Level II Certification
Session Highlights:
- Cultural Competency in the Kodaly Classroom at the 2020 Texas Music Educators Association
Toni Garza
Role at QuaverEd:
Instructional Coach & Clinician
Education:
BM, Berklee College of Music
MBA, Southern New Hampshire University
Fun Fact:
Loves elephants! Toni has elephant decor all over her home and office!
“As teachers, we often struggle with thinking that we are chained to our classrooms. I’ve heard phrases like ‘teaching is all I know how to do’ from the educators I work with. My response is always the same: ‘You’re a teacher. You can do anything!‘”
Experience Highlights:
- Boston & Metro Nashville Public Schools Teacher
- General Music (Pre-K-8th) Grade, Choir (6-8th Grade), General Education (4th Grade)
- Disney Musicals in Schools Director
- MNPS Side-by-Side Music Coach
Certifications:
- Orff Level I
- Responsive Classroom
- Project-Based Learning 101
- Lipscomb’s Instructional Coaching and Tech Coaching Academies
Session Highlights:
- Building a Middle School General Music Curriculum from Scratch
- Cultural Competence in the Music Classroom
- Getting to the Heart of Music: Using SEL in the Music Classroom
Otto Gross
Role at QuaverEd:
Music Producer, Composer, Instructional Coach, and Clinician
Education:
B.A., Berklee College of Music
Cert., Belmont University
Cert., University of Las Vegas
Fun Fact:
My favorite show of all time is Columbo.
“When my son says ‘Daddy… I love you.‘”
Experience Highlights:
- Music Director
- Orff Ensemble Composer
- Public Speaker
- International Touring Musician
- NAACP ACT-SO Gold Medalist
Certifications:
- Orff-Schulwerk Level III
- World Drumming
- Distinguished Scholar of the Arts
Session Highlights:
- Improvisation
- Active Music-Making
- Culturally Relevant Music
Stephanie Haney
Role At QuaverEd:
SEL Curriculum Specialist
Education:
BSW, Western Illinois University
MASE, Belmont University
Fun Fact:
I’m a big musical theater fan.
“Relationships are the foundation of teaching and learning. I love creating engaging lessons that spark thoughtful conversations and meaningful connections between teachers and students.”
Experience Highlights:
- 10+ years of teaching experience with a background in Special Education and Gifted Education
Certifications:
- E-Learning and Instructional Design
- K – 12 Special Education Teaching License
- Endorsement in Gifted Education
Session Highlights:
- SEL
- Special Education
Brandon Karstetter
Role At QuaverEd:
Director of Content
Education:
B.S., Murray State University
Fun Fact:
When I was eleven, I wanted to be a “scientist inventor” when I grew up.
“A child spells love, T-I-M-E“
Experience Highlights:
- Script Supervisor on Episodes
- Teacher Notes Guru
- Proofing Lord of Content Department
- Correlations Overseer
- Spanish Pre-K Project Lead
- MacGyver of Content Department
Certifications:
- N/A
Session Highlights:
- Pirate #11 in Stinky Pirates song
- Audience Member #3 in various tracks of QuaverEd screens
- Writer and Voice of Fun Folk Facts
Valerie Diaz Leroy
Role At QuaverEd:
Research and Pedagogy Specialist
Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music, Boston College (1999)
Fun Fact:
Valerie has a certificate in Baking and Pastry from the Tampa Art Institute and used to teach cooking classes to her elementary students!
“A careful and thoughtful study of music has provided me with remarkable opportunities to develop a deeper appreciation for humankind. Working with musicians, historians, and educators has encouraged me to explore the impact that music has on all our lives and has helped me expand and rethink diverse ways to create effective and valid curriculum and powerful pedagogical approaches that expand the knowledge and understanding of music.“
Experience Highlights:
- 13 years in the classroom
- Taught K-4th grade Music
- Taught Kindergarten Spanish
Certifications:
- Kodály Certification
- Conflict Transformation Certification
Session Highlights:
- Folk Dancing
- Banjo Picking!
Ashley Perry
Role at Quaver:
SEL Curriculum Specialist
Education:
Candidate for Doctorate of Education in Leadership and Professional Practice (2020), (Trevecca Nazarene University)
Master of Arts in Teaching, (Belmont University)
Bachelor of Arts in English (University of Memphis)
Fun Fact:
I have an identical twin sister and we were born on Valentine’s Day!
“Our Deepest Fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
-Marianne Williamson
Experience Highlights:
- Two years as a 6th Grade Middle School Reading Teacher
- Three years as a Third Grade Reading/Social Studies Teacher
- Two years as a Fourth Grade Reading/Social Studies Teacher
Certifications:
- K-6 Teacher Licensure
Session Highlights:
- SEL
- Movement
Jamie Young
Role at Quaver:
Content Strategist
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from DePauw University
Fun Fact:
I collect anything and everything Mary Poppins related.
“Love looks into the future and sees possibilities that do not currently exist. Love is larger than the moment; love is larger than the present tense.”
-Jon Foreman