|
Melissa MorrisMusic Educator, Global Education Consultant,
Global Teacher Ambassador Co-Founder of Music Teachers for Global Peace FOUNDATION While it may seem as though a classroom is a small slice of the planet we live on, it is a springboard toward greater change; in the classroom, in the school building, into the homes, onto the communities and then, just maybe on through the world.
MY MISSION IS TO HELP OTHERS EXPLORE THE NOTION OF LEADING A LEARNING COMMUNITY THAT IS FOUNDED CONNECTIVITY, COMMUNICATION, CRITICAL THINKING AND CREATIVITY - tools that help to INSPIRE PEOPLE IN AN EFFORT TO empower INDIVIDUALS WHO VALUE EACH OTHER; embracing diversity and the world in which we live. . |
Melissa Morris earned her Bachelor of Music in Education at The University of Hartford’s Hartt School where she studied Classical Guitar performance and Music Education with a minor in Percussion Performance. She completed her Masters Degree in Music Education at New York University.
Ms. Morris has studied Classical Guitar with some of the world’s most accomplished performers, including Benjamin Verdery, Stephen Robinson, Andrew York, and has studied percussion with noteworthy percussionists Sherrie Maricle, Rosemary Smalls and Barbara Merjan.
Ms. Morris began her teaching career in private schools after graduating from The University of Hartford. She accepted a position with the NYC Department of Education in 1996 at James Madison High School, Brooklyn (JMHS). There she founded the Guitar and Orchestra programs and would become the Coordinator of the Music and Art Department in 2003. During her tenure at James Madison High School she would become the partnership liaison between the Bertelsmann Music Corporation and JMHS as well as receive a prestigious award for Innovation and Creativity in Teaching from Bertelsmann Music Group. She authored several grants in which she was able to partner JMHS with Hot 97's Hip Hop Symphony and the D'Addario Foundation.
In July 2006 Ms. Morris gave birth to her son, Charles, and took a leave of absence to be a full time mom. She returned to the NYC Department of Education in September 2008 as founding Director of Music for The College of Staten Island High School for International Studies (CSIHSIS). CSIHSIS is noted for its unique World Percussion Ensemble and Drum Circle Facilitator program.
In June 2014 she would become the recipient of The Distinguished Educator Award Living and Teaching on Staten Island from Wagner College and quarter finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award for 2014. Ms. Morris was named top 50 finalists for the $1M 2015 Global Teacher Prize. She takes her place with the other 49 finalists as Global Ambassador for Education with the Varkey Foundation.
Ms. Morris has traveled to Dubai yearly since 2016 to attend present at the Varkey Foundation Leadership Summit and Global Education Skills Forum.
She was flown to Abu Dhabi to take part in the Qudwa Education conference 2017 as a representative of the Varkey Foundation USA delegate.
Ms. Morris is a private education consultant and has presented at several education conferences including the Global Education Skills Forum, The Varkey Leadership Summit, the Asia Societies conferences in NYC, the National Association for Music Education Nashville Conference. She was asked to serve on a panel discussion in Philadelphia at the Global Education Forum in 2017. Most recently, Ms. Morris has become actively involved with the Country Music Associations Unified Voices for Music Education initiative.
Ms. Morris is the proud co-founder of Music Teachers for Global Peace Foundation, a 501c3 organization who's mission is to amplify peace and harmony globally by connecting music classrooms around the world and providing collaborative opportunities to students and teachers to make music together. As well as a co-founder along with fellow US Global Teacher Prize Ambassadors of the National Coalition for Safe Schools.
Most recently, Ms. Morris was awarded the 2020 Sanford Teacher Award for the State of New York .
Ms. Morris has studied Classical Guitar with some of the world’s most accomplished performers, including Benjamin Verdery, Stephen Robinson, Andrew York, and has studied percussion with noteworthy percussionists Sherrie Maricle, Rosemary Smalls and Barbara Merjan.
Ms. Morris began her teaching career in private schools after graduating from The University of Hartford. She accepted a position with the NYC Department of Education in 1996 at James Madison High School, Brooklyn (JMHS). There she founded the Guitar and Orchestra programs and would become the Coordinator of the Music and Art Department in 2003. During her tenure at James Madison High School she would become the partnership liaison between the Bertelsmann Music Corporation and JMHS as well as receive a prestigious award for Innovation and Creativity in Teaching from Bertelsmann Music Group. She authored several grants in which she was able to partner JMHS with Hot 97's Hip Hop Symphony and the D'Addario Foundation.
In July 2006 Ms. Morris gave birth to her son, Charles, and took a leave of absence to be a full time mom. She returned to the NYC Department of Education in September 2008 as founding Director of Music for The College of Staten Island High School for International Studies (CSIHSIS). CSIHSIS is noted for its unique World Percussion Ensemble and Drum Circle Facilitator program.
In June 2014 she would become the recipient of The Distinguished Educator Award Living and Teaching on Staten Island from Wagner College and quarter finalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award for 2014. Ms. Morris was named top 50 finalists for the $1M 2015 Global Teacher Prize. She takes her place with the other 49 finalists as Global Ambassador for Education with the Varkey Foundation.
Ms. Morris has traveled to Dubai yearly since 2016 to attend present at the Varkey Foundation Leadership Summit and Global Education Skills Forum.
She was flown to Abu Dhabi to take part in the Qudwa Education conference 2017 as a representative of the Varkey Foundation USA delegate.
Ms. Morris is a private education consultant and has presented at several education conferences including the Global Education Skills Forum, The Varkey Leadership Summit, the Asia Societies conferences in NYC, the National Association for Music Education Nashville Conference. She was asked to serve on a panel discussion in Philadelphia at the Global Education Forum in 2017. Most recently, Ms. Morris has become actively involved with the Country Music Associations Unified Voices for Music Education initiative.
Ms. Morris is the proud co-founder of Music Teachers for Global Peace Foundation, a 501c3 organization who's mission is to amplify peace and harmony globally by connecting music classrooms around the world and providing collaborative opportunities to students and teachers to make music together. As well as a co-founder along with fellow US Global Teacher Prize Ambassadors of the National Coalition for Safe Schools.
Most recently, Ms. Morris was awarded the 2020 Sanford Teacher Award for the State of New York .
2015The Gift Of Music |
2015-PresentMs. Melissa Morris is honored to take her place amongst the other Global Teacher Prize finalists as Global Teacher Prize Ambassador. (International Education Consultant)
"Global Teacher Prize Ambassadors are the role models who promote best practices in education and lead the way in developing future learning techniques." 2016 Concert in 2 Countries
2018 The Power of Effective Global Collaborations Amongst VTA's. & Passion Project Pitch Varkey Teacher Ambassador Leadership Summit, Dubai UAE 2018
|
Producer & Director
|