Pearl Hall Elementary Teacher Jami Lupold Selected as Quarterfinalist for Grammy Music Educator Award
When Pearl Hall Elementary School teacher Jami Lupold learned that she was among only 222 music teachers across the country selected to be a quarterfinalist for the second annual Music Educator Award, it was music to her ears.
“It’s a huge honor to be recognized,” Lupold said. “I’ve known and met many nominees over the years so to be selected as one is pretty incredible.”
The Music Educator Award was established to recognize kindergarten through college, public and private school educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to music education. Additionally, the award recognizes educators who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in schools. According to the school’s principal, Marilyn Pavone, she has done just that.
“She has made such tremendous contributions over the years for students, educators, parents and communities,” Pavone said. “It is amazing how many lives she has touched.”
This is not the first time Lupold has been recognized for making a positive impact in students’ lives.
In 2013, she was selected as a recipient of the Pasadena ISD District Elementary Teacher of the Year award and later won the Region 4 Elementary Teacher of the Year award. She subsequently represented the district at the Texas Teachers of the Year ceremony in Austin as a finalist.
Lupold was surprised to hear that she was selected as a quarterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educators Award. She was nominated by one of her former student teachers Dr. Sara Stolt.
Stolt, a private clarinet instructor herself, said Lupold took her under her wing and inspired her to teach music. She has used her experience working with Lupold to carry the musical torch to others.
“Jami is a professional in the highest regard,” Stolt said. “She cares for her students and provides them with exceptional musical and educational outlets. Her creativity, hard work and what she does to provide these musical and educational sources is deeply inspiring and makes me want to become more creative in all that I do as a teacher and a musician.”
Stolt said Lupold is deserving of national recognition and nominating her was the former student teacher’s way of saying “thanks for being a great mentor.”
Presented by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Foundation, more than 7,000 nominations were submitted from all 50 states.
One recipient will be selected from 10 finalists and will be recognized for making an impact on students’ lives. If Lupold is selected as a winner, she will be flown to Los Angeles to accept the award, be among the stars at the Grammy Awards ceremony and receive a $10,000 honorarium.
Top finalists will each receive a $1,000 honorarium and the schools of all 10 finalists will receive matching grants.
The award will be presented at the Special Merit Awards Ceremony and Nominees Reception honoring recipients of the Lifetime Achievement, Trustees and Technical Grammy Awards during Grammy Week 2015, Feb. 2-8.
Now we like the sound of that.
Lupold’s Instrumental in Bringing Music Education to Students
With nearly 30 years of teaching experience under her belt and 16 of those at Pearl Hall, Lupold has reshaped the campus culture through unique collaborations with NASA, the Houston Symphony, the Society for the Performing Arts, the Houston Grand Opera and most notably the Building Cultural Bridges program she helped launch in 2001-through which she has brought numerous musicians, astronauts and scientists from around the globe to visit and share their stories with students.
“I knew I wanted to teach since I was in the eighth grade,” Lupold said. “I’ve had incredible opportunities that allowed me to travel and meet unbelievably successful people through my music. And I wanted to make sure that I could provide as many opportunities for students as I’ve had.”
She attributes the success of the music program at Pearl Hall and being selected as a Music Educator nominee to the Building Cultural Bridges program and the collaborative efforts of fellow colleagues.
“The enormity of the success of this program doesn’t just come from one person it comes from a highly trained educational team with Pat Surface and Seth Fewell,” Lupold said. "Together the three of us have put together amazing opportunities that have been created and supported by our incredible community partners, The Houston Symphony and NASA and other performing arts and scientific organizations in Houston and throughout the world. Our biggest fans are our principals, the school superintendent Dr. Kirk Lewis, administrative staff and Board of Trustees whose continuous support is greatly appreciated.”
The complete list of quarterfinalists can be found below (Jami Lupold's name is highlighted in yellow). The semifinalists will be announced in September. For more information, please visit http://www.grammyintheschools.com/.
Grammy Music Educator Award Quarterfinalists
| Name |
School Name |
City |
State |
| Keely Abeln |
Francis Howell Middle School |
Saint Charles |
Mo. |
| Diane Abrahamian |
Penfield High School |
Rochester |
N.Y. |
| Steven Acciani |
Diamond Bar High School |
Diamond Bar |
Calif. |
| Phil Aguglia |
Kenmore East High School |
Tonawanda |
N.Y. |
| Leslie Alan |
South Miami Middle Community School |
Miami |
Fla. |
| J. Anthony Allen |
McNally Smith College of Music |
St. Paul |
Minn. |
| Anthony Allmond |
Kaiser High School |
Fontana |
Calif. |
| Anthony Alvaro |
West Genesee High School |
Camillus |
N.Y. |
| Corey Ames |
Loyola Academy |
Wilmette |
Ill. |
| Mark Anderson |
Oswalt K8 Academy |
La Puente |
Calif. |
| Neil Anderson |
Murrieta Valley High School |
Murrieta |
Calif. |
| David Bachart |
New Hope-Solebury High School |
New Hope |
Pa. |
| Nancy Maria Balach |
University of Mississippi |
Oxford |
Miss. |
| Mary Barto |
The New School |
New York |
N.Y. |
| Graham "Scott" Barton |
Moreau Catholic High School |
Hayward |
Calif. |
| Jeff Behrens |
Richland Center High School |
Richland Center |
Wis. |
| William Bennett |
Cane Bay High School |
Summerville |
S.C. |
| Fritz Benz |
North Smithfield High School |
North Smithfield |
R.I. |
| Jake Bergevin |
Edmonds-Woodway High School |
Edmonds |
Wash. |
| Anthony Bernhauser |
Pearre Creek Elementary School |
Franklin |
Tenn. |
| Rob Blaney |
Woodbridge High School |
Irvine |
Calif. |
| Cindy Bradley-Cipriano |
Colonial Road School |
Franklin Lakes |
N.J. |
| Gregg Breinberg |
P.S. 22 |
Staten Island |
N.Y. |
| Timothy Brown |
Franklin High School |
Reisterstown |
Md. |
| Stephanie Brueggeman |
Progress South Elementary School |
St. Peters |
Mo. |
| Aaron Buck |
DeWitt Middle School |
Ithaca |
N.Y. |
| Jean Burkhart |
Seymour High School |
Seymour |
Tenn. |
| Joe Cantaffa |
Howell High School |
Farmingdale |
N.J. |
| Otis Carter III |
Moss Point High School |
Moss Point |
Miss. |
| Jared Cassedy |
Windham High School |
Windham |
N.H. |
| Brandon Catt |
Glenbard East High School |
Lombard |
Ill. |
| Caleb Chapman |
Pioneer High School for the Performing Arts |
American Fork |
Utah |
| Bernie Chavez |
Deming High School |
Deming |
N.M. |
| Ching-Ming Cheng |
California State University San Marcos |
San Marcos |
Calif. |
| Michael Chester |
Stewarts Creek High School |
Smyrna |
Tenn. |
| Josh Chodoroff |
Waubonsie Valley High School |
Aurora |
Ill. |
| Joseph Chouinard |
East Detroit High School |
Eastpointe |
Mich. |
| Dr. Buddy Clements |
Walnut High School |
Walnut |
Calif. |
| Joyce Click |
North Central High School |
Indianapolis |
Ind. |
| Travis Coakley |
Biloxi High School |
Biloxi |
Miss. |
| Christy Colburn |
Itawamba Community College |
Fulton |
Miss. |
| |
|
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|
| |
|
|
|
| Name |
School Name |
City |
State |
| Mark Colozzi |
Cranston High School East |
Cranston |
R.I. |
| Steve Connell |
Moc-Floyd Valley Senior High School |
Orange City |
Iowa |
| Travis Cook |
Marvin L. Winans Academy of Performing Arts |
Detroit |
Mich. |
| Cheryl Corkran |
Greenacres Middle School |
Bossier City |
La. |
| Glenn Cowen |
Upper Moreland High School |
Willow Grove |
Pa. |
| Ryan Crabtree |
Fruita Monument High School |
Fruita |
Colo. |
| Charles Cushinery |
Ed W. Clark High School |
Las Vegas |
Nev. |
| Michael Danielson |
First Avenue Middle School |
Arcadia |
Calif. |
| Adrian Davis |
Roosevelt High School |
Minneapolis |
Minn. |
| Andy Davis |
Reavis High School |
Burbank |
Ill. |
| David Davis |
Harmony Middle School |
Overland Park |
Kan. |
| Mark De Hertogh |
R.L. Paschal High School |
Fort Worth |
Texas |
| David Dehner |
Monte Vista Christian School |
Watsonville |
Calif. |
| Jamal Dickerson |
Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy |
Camden |
N.J. |
| Jeff Doebler |
Valparaiso University |
Valparaiso |
Ind. |
| Mark Duker |
Waubonsie Valley High School |
Aurora |
Ill. |
| Terry Eberhardt |
Marriotts Ridge High School |
Marriottsville |
Md. |
| Steven Edwards |
Falmouth High School |
Falmouth |
Mass. |
| Nicholas Efstathiou |
Bay High School |
Panama City |
Fla. |
| Alexandra Errico |
Springdale Elementary School |
Stamford |
Conn. |
| Eufemio Escalante |
Vina Danks Middle School |
Ontario |
Calif. |
| Krista Fanning |
Caddo Middle Magnet |
Shreveport |
La. |
| Michael Fansler |
Western Illinois University |
Macomb |
Ill. |
| Mark Femino |
Millis Middle/High School |
Millis |
Mass. |
| Anne Fennell |
Mission Vista High School |
Oceanside |
Calif. |
| John Flora |
Franklin L. Williams Middle School #7 |
Jersey City |
N.J. |
| Elizabeth Fortune |
Washington Middle School |
Seattle |
Wash. |
| Desiree Fowler |
Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual & Performing Arts |
Los Angeles |
Calif. |
| Brian Gagnon |
Fairview Elementary School |
Auburn |
Maine |
| Michael Garvey |
Lamphere High School |
Madison Heights |
Mich. |
| Sean Gavarny |
Hoboken Charter School |
Hoboken |
N.J. |
| Debbie Glick |
Alexandria Middle School |
Pittstown |
N.J. |
| Vivian Gonzalez |
South Miami K-8 Center |
Miami |
Fla. |
| Anthony Good |
Nicholas Oresko School |
Bayonne |
N.J. |
| Johnnie Green |
Lehman High School |
Kyle |
Texas |
| Randy Greenwell |
Lawrence Central High School |
Indianapolis |
Ind. |
| Janet Grice |
Fordham High School for the Arts |
Bronx |
N.Y. |
| Melissa Gustafson-Hinds |
O'Fallon Township High School |
O'Fallon |
Ill. |
| Eric Hahn |
Bangor Area High School |
Bangor |
Pa. |
| Amy Hannequin |
Derby High School |
Derby |
Conn. |
| Aaron Hardwick |
Frank W. Cox High School |
Virginia Beach |
Va. |
| |
|
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|
| Name |
School Name |
City |
State |
| Rodney Harshbarger |
Old Kings Elementary School |
Flagler Beach |
Fla. |
| Brad Hart |
Johansen High School |
Modesto |
Calif. |
| Richard Hauf |
Havre de Grace High School |
Havre de Grace |
Md. |
| Micah Haven |
Meeker Middle School |
Tacoma |
Wash. |
| Sheila Heffernon |
Northfield Mount Hermon School |
Gill |
Mass. |
| Lenora Helm Hammonds |
North Carolina Central University |
Durham |
N.C. |
| Michael Henderson |
Chase High School |
Forest City |
N.C. |
| Michael Anthony Hernandez |
Plano Senior High School |
Plano |
Texas |
| Aaron Hill Sr. |
Smithfield High School |
Smithfield |
Va. |
| Michael Hood |
Wissahickon High School |
Ambler |
Pa. |
| Robin Hopper |
Homestead Elementary School |
Eagle River |
Alaska |
| Ronald Horner |
Frostburg State University |
Frostburg |
Md. |
| Matthew Howe |
Indio High School |
Indio |
Calif. |
| Frank Hudson |
Bledsoe County High School |
Pikeville |
Tenn. |
| Ian Hughes |
Verner Elementary |
Oakmont |
Pa. |
| Ralph Jackson |
Bridle Path Elementary School |
Lansdale |
Pa. |
| Robb Janov |
Jefferson Middle School |
Albuquerque |
N.M. |
| Sarah Jester |
Northeast High School |
Pasadena |
Md. |
| Calvert Johnson |
Agnes Scott College |
Decatur |
Ga. |
| Curtis Johnson |
West Virginia Wesleyan College |
Buckhannon |
W. Va. |
| D.L. Johnson |
North Monterey County High School |
Castroville |
Calif. |
| Kyle Johnson |
JJ Pearce High School |
Richardson |
Texas |
| Jamie Johnston |
Camelback High School |
Phoenix |
Ariz. |
| Sean Kennedy |
Sandy Run Middle School |
Dresher |
Pa. |
| Demeka Kimpson |
Sedgefield Middle School |
Charlotte |
N.C. |
| Shannon Kitelinger |
San Diego State University |
San Diego |
Calif. |
| Anne Klus |
St. Paul Academy and Summit School |
St. Paul |
Minn. |
| Joan Knoernschild |
Greenfield Middle School |
El Cajon |
Calif. |
| Barry E. Kopetz |
Capital University |
Columbus |
Ohio |
| Nancie Kozel-Tobison |
Barrington High School |
Barrington |
Ill. |
| Gordon Krauspe |
Wheaton Warrenville South High School |
Wheaton |
Ill. |
| Jacalyn Kreitzer |
Cal Poly State University |
San Luis Obispo |
Calif. |
| Don Krudop |
Visual & Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School |
Virginia Beach |
Va. |
| John Landers |
Patch High School |
APO |
N.Y. |
| Mark Laughlin |
Georgia Southwestern State University |
Americus |
Ga. |
| David Leach |
Pioneer High School |
Ann Arbor |
Mich. |
| Ollie Liddell |
Memphis Central High School |
Memphis |
Tenn. |
| Susanna Loewy |
Kutztown University |
Kutztown |
Pa. |
| Jason Luciana |
Wilmington High School |
Wilmington |
Mass. |
| Jami Lupold |
Pearl Hall Elementary |
South Houston |
Texas |
| Erik Lynch |
Verona High School |
Verona |
N.J. |
| |
|
|
|
| Name |
School Name |
City |
State |
| Mark Lynn |
University of Louisville |
Louisville |
Ky. |
| Fernando Malvar-Ruiz |
American Boychoir School |
Princeton |
N.J. |
| Dean Marino |
West Port High School |
Ocala |
Fla. |
| Stevi Marks |
Glenbrook South High School |
Glenview |
Ill. |
| Christine Martin-Beutner |
Sam Houston Elementary School |
Denton |
Texas |
| Richard Maxwell |
Arcadia High School |
Phoenix |
Ariz. |
| James McCrann |
Garden City High School |
Garden City |
N.Y. |
| Lisa McCutchan |
Sandra Day O'Connor High School |
Helotes |
Texas |
| Shawna Mendez |
The Manning School |
Golden |
Colo. |
| Carlos Mendez Jr. |
Fayetteville-Manlius High School |
Manlius |
N.Y. |
| Andrea Meyers |
Douglas County High School |
Castle Rock |
Colo. |
| Jonathan Meyers |
P.S. 182Q Samantha Smith |
Jamaica |
N.Y. |
| Duane Minnick |
Briar Woods High School |
Ashburn |
Va. |
| Patrick Mitchell |
Cameron Park Elementary |
Hillsborough |
N.C. |
| Charles Morgan |
Joliet Junior College |
Joliet |
Ill. |
| Melissa Morris |
CSI High School for International Studies |
Staten Island |
N.Y. |
| Mark Mraz |
John Metcalf Junior High School |
Burnsville |
Minn. |
| Melton Mustafa |
Parkway Middle School of the Arts |
Lauderhill |
Fla. |
| Kim Neu |
Julia R. Masterman Laboratory & Demonstration School |
Philadelphia |
Pa. |
| Torrey Newhart |
Academy of Arts and Academics |
Springfield |
Ore. |
| Matthew Neylon |
Rockford Christian Schools |
Rockford |
Ill. |
| Pablo Ocanas |
Pine Shadows Elementary |
Houston |
Texas |
| Michael Ortiz |
Bellalago Academy |
Kissimmee |
Fla. |
| Frank Owens |
Centennial Lane Elementary School |
Ellicott City |
Md. |
| Thomas Paster |
Northern Highlands Regional High School |
Allendale |
N.J. |
| Sarah Payne |
Bryan Station Middle School |
Lexington |
Ky. |
| Andrew Perkins |
Fenton High School |
Fenton |
Mich. |
| Cynthia Plank |
Beaumont Middle School |
Portland |
Ore. |
| Linette Popoff-Parks |
Madonna University |
Livonia |
Mich. |
| Richard Popolizio |
Park Ridge Middle/High School |
Park Ridge |
N.J. |
| Jay Posteraro |
Mesa Verde Middle School |
San Diego |
Calif. |
| Deborah Prather |
Brownsburg High School |
Brownsburg |
Ind. |
| Edward Protzman |
Blue Valley Southwest |
Overland Park |
Kan. |
| Rosa Rabinovich |
Norman S. Edelcup Sunny Isles Beach K-8 |
Sunny Isles |
Fla. |
| Michael Raiber |
Oklahoma City University |
Oklahoma City |
Okla. |
| Mary Raymond |
Immaculate High School |
Danbury |
Conn. |
| Debra Reilly |
Springhouse Middle School |
Allentown |
Pa. |
| Shawn Reynolds |
Howland Middle School |
Warren |
Ohio |
| Jim Rice |
Inglemoor High School |
Kenmore |
Wash. |
| Erich Rivero |
Glades Middle School |
Miami |
Fla. |
| John Roberts |
Montana State University Billings |
Billings |
Mont. |
| |
|
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|
| Name |
School Name |
City |
State |
| Brian Roelandt |
Fitzgerald High School |
Warren |
Mich. |
| Robin Rogers |
Charleston School of the Arts |
Charleston |
S.C. |
| Kathy Rohrs |
Chaminade College Preparatory Middle School |
Chatsworth |
Calif. |
| Don Rose |
Curtis Senior High School |
University Place |
Wash. |
| Mara Rose |
Fleming Island High School |
Orange Park |
Fla. |
| Susan Rydzeski |
East Islip High School |
Islip Terrace |
N.Y. |
| Melissa Salguero |
P.S. 48 Joseph R. Drake |
Hunts Point |
N.Y. |
| Peter Sampson |
Whiteland Community High School |
Whiteland |
Ind. |
| Jesse Sanchez |
Westmont High School |
Campbell |
Calif. |
| Scott Schleuter |
Perrysburg High School |
Perrysburg |
Ohio |
| Glen Schneider |
Metea Valley High School |
Aurora |
Ill. |
| Adam Schultheis |
Fremont Middle School |
Las Vegas |
Nev. |
| Calvin Sexton |
Beltline Elementary School |
Lancaster |
Texas |
| Curtis Shaw |
Homestead High School |
Fort Wayne |
Ind. |
| Keven Shepherd |
Miller Grove High School |
Lithonia |
Ga. |
| Chaz Shipman |
Freeport Area Senior High School |
Sarver |
Pa. |
| Karl Siewertsen |
John H. West School |
Bethpage |
N.Y. |
| Paula Simmons |
Elwood Community High School |
Elwood |
Ind. |
| Luke Skerpon |
Bellefonte Area High School |
Bellefonte |
Pa. |
| Huber Smith |
Maplewood Middle School |
Sulphur |
La. |
| Michael Smith |
Nyack High School |
Nyack |
N.Y. |
| Nick Smith |
Hillcrest High School |
Tuscaloosa |
Ala. |
| Patrick Smith |
Pueblo West High School |
Pueblo |
Colo. |
| Ronald Smith |
Northfield Mount Hermon |
Gill |
Mass. |
| Andrea Crisara Snouffer |
West Ridge Middle School |
Austin |
Texas |
| Wilbert Solomon |
McLean Middle School |
Fort Worth |
Texas |
| Charles Somech |
Murrayville Elementary |
Wilmington |
N.C. |
| Eric Songer |
Chaska Middle School West |
Chaska |
Minn. |
| Michael Steele |
Lake Orion High School |
Lake Orion |
Mich. |
| Roxanne Stevenson |
Chicago State University |
Chicago |
Ill. |
| James Story |
Volunteer State Community College |
Gallatin |
Tenn. |
| Brad Stoughton |
Fall Creek High School |
Fall Creek |
Wis. |
| Daniel Strange |
University of Miami |
Coral Gables |
Fla. |
| Jeffrey Street |
Jesse C. Carson High School |
China Grove |
N.C. |
| Michael Struzik |
Brighton High School |
Rochester |
N.Y. |
| Loy Studer |
S. H. Rider High School |
Wichita Falls |
Texas |
| Siema Swartzel |
Arnold Memorial Elementary School |
Cleveland |
Tenn. |
| Jennifer Theisen |
Howell L. Watkins Middle School |
Palm Beach Gardens |
Fla. |
| Matthew Thomas |
River Trail Middle School |
Johns Creek |
Ga. |
| Vann Thornton |
Savannah Arts Academy |
Savannah |
Ga. |
| Amber Turcott |
Tarpon Springs Middle School |
Tarpon Springs |
Fla. |
| Vincent Turturiello |
Scotch Plains Fanwood High School |
Scotch Plains |
N.J. |
| |
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|
| Name |
School Name |
City |
State |
| Josh Tyree |
Liberty Middle School |
Cumming |
Ga. |
| Matt Vanacoro |
Fox Lane Middle School |
Mt. Kisco |
N.Y. |
| Amy Vanek |
Clarksburg High School |
Clarksburg |
Md. |
| Micah Volz |
Saint Clair High School |
St. Clair |
Mich. |
| Ashley "AJ" Walker |
Linden Hall School |
Lititz |
Pa. |
| Kristen Walter |
Dana Elementary School |
Hendersonville |
N.C. |
| Jay Wardeska |
Brunswick High School |
Brunswick |
Ohio |
| Fred Wenger |
East Middle School |
Great Falls |
Mont. |
| Ken Wiele |
Indian Trail High School and Academy |
Kenosha |
Wis. |
| Dustin Wiley |
Firelands High School |
Oberlin |
Ohio |
| Diana Wiley-Harrigan |
Sauk Elementary School |
Richton Park |
Ill. |
| Katie Wilson |
Cathedral Catholic High School |
San Diego |
Calif. |
| Kelly Winovich |
Northgate Middle and Senior High School |
Pittsburgh |
Pa. |
| Mark Wurtzel |
Pershing Middle School |
Houston |
Texas |
| James Wynne |
Jefferson Township High School |
Oak Ridge |
N.J. |
| Danny Yancey |
Martin Gifted and Talented Magnet Middle School |
Raleigh |
N.C.
|