Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Recognition
Accomplishments
Affiliations
Timeline
Generic

Sherise Longhurst

Cottonwood Heights,UT

Summary

Kodály-Certified Music Specialist proficient in developing lesson plans, leading groups, and diverse musical styles. Successful at adjusting instructional strategies to engage and teach diverse students. Diversity-focused leader knowledgeable about different styles, cultures, and approaches. Expert in communication, conflict resolution, and mentoring individual students.

Overview

32
32
years of professional experience

Work History

Beverley Taylor Sorenson Music Specialist

Ridgecrest Elementary
Cottonwood Heights, UT
08.2015 - Current
  • Teach Kodály-based general music classes to 520 students.
  • Direct two before-school choirs, with an emphasis on high-quality folk and composed repertoire.
  • Currently serving as Arts Team Lead in Canyons School District, supporting a team of eight teachers and contributing to a districtwide database of arts-integrated lessons for classroom teachers.
  • Short documentary of typical teaching day: http://tinyurl.com/LonghurstTeaching
  • Cooperating site teacher for one student teacher and three Beverley Taylor Sorenson Fellows from the University of Utah.
  • Student teaching supervisor for three pre-service arts teachers from the University of Utah.
  • Create and conduct annual schoolwide winter program, involving every student in school, for parents and community.
  • Utilize successful classroom management techniques to keep students focused.
  • Implement culturally- and stylistically-diverse curriculum.
  • Tailor lesson plans to target varied learning styles.
  • Foster creative and confident environment for music education and exploration.
  • Cultivate classroom environment focused on inclusion and growth, fostering both social and academic development.

Director of Before-School Choirs

Ridgecrest Elementary
Cottonwood Heights, UT
09.2009 - Current
  • Conducted as a parent volunteer before joining the faculty.
  • Instruct performers on history, fundamentals and appreciation of different music styles.
  • Choose and prepare pieces for holidays and special event performances at Ridgecrest.
  • Direct rehearsals to achieve tonal and harmonic balance.

Parent Volunteer

Various Schools and Community Choirs
08.1995 - 08.2015
  • Did not teach full time in the classroom for several years: lived outside the U.S. for a time and then focused full time on family responsibilities.
  • Stayed active in the music education community by volunteering in classrooms, accompanying choirs, directing children’s performing groups, and attending workshops.

Choir and Handbell Teacher

Murray High School
Murray, UT
08.1994 - 06.1995
  • Taught approximately 300 students, including Madrigals, A Cappella Choir, Men’s Choir, Women’s Choir, and Handbells.
  • Helped rebuild a program that had suffered from high turnover and inconsistent teaching quality.
  • Served as a member of the selection committee to find my replacement—a teacher who is still at the school today.
  • Chose suitable music for vocal types and organized rehearsals to prepare members for performances.
  • Led special musical events including concerts, musical dramas, Homecoming, and assemblies.
  • Instructed performers on history, fundamentals and appreciation of different music styles .

Choir and General Music Teacher

Lehi Junior High School
Lehi, UT
08.1992 - 07.1994
  • Taught approximately 400 students, including Concert Choir, Boys’ Choir, Girls’ Choir, Advanced Girls’ Choir, and General Music.
  • A former student is now the choir and handbell teacher at the same school.
  • When she took maternity leave several years ago, I was her long-term sub.
  • Taught principles of music, musicianship, music theory and history.

Education

Master of Arts - Teaching Fine Arts

University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
05.2023

Bachelor of Music - Music Education

Brigham Young University

Skills

  • Lesson Development and Planning
  • Instructional Design
  • Individualized Instruction
  • Community Relations
  • Relationship Building
  • Choral Conducting

Recognition

  

  • Named 2022-2023 Outstanding Elementary Music Educator of the Year by the Utah Music Educators Association.
  • Students created and performed two original operas with Utah Opera outreach program.
  • Ridgecrest choirs performed at the Utah State Capitol as part of Arts Day on the Hill.
  • Two-time nominee for the Sorenson Legacy Award: https://bit.ly/30wbIXQ.
  • Frequent presenter at district and regional professional development meetings, focusing on quality instructional practice, lesson design, and arts-integrated curriculum.
  • Sought and received grants totaling over $13,000 to purchase classroom sets of Orff instruments and ukuleles.

Accomplishments

  • Kodály Levels 1-3
  • First Steps in Music certified
  • Conversational Solfege certified
  • Licensed to teach music K-12 in Utah and Colorado

Affiliations

Member of the Salt Lake Vocal Artists. Competed in the Tolosa International Choral Festival in Tolosa, Spain, 2018

Timeline

Beverley Taylor Sorenson Music Specialist

Ridgecrest Elementary
08.2015 - Current

Director of Before-School Choirs

Ridgecrest Elementary
09.2009 - Current

Parent Volunteer

Various Schools and Community Choirs
08.1995 - 08.2015

Choir and Handbell Teacher

Murray High School
08.1994 - 06.1995

Choir and General Music Teacher

Lehi Junior High School
08.1992 - 07.1994

Master of Arts - Teaching Fine Arts

University of Utah

Bachelor of Music - Music Education

Brigham Young University

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Sherise Longhurst