JAMM's team-teaching model is practiced both in-school and after-school for a reason: it encourages creativity, builds community among teachers, and ensures accountability. JAMM classrooms pair a certified teacher with a community artists. Each provides a different strength while learning from one another. This model serves as embedded professional development and models to our students the importance of collaboration.
JAMM AFTER-SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS Executive Director
Sandy Fortier is an arts education and nonprofit leader with more than 15 years of experience supporting music education and creative opportunities in Juneau and across Alaska. She moved to Juneau in 2009 to work with Juneau Jazz & Classics, later taught music in local schools and in her private studio, then returned to arts nonprofit leadership, where she co-founded Juneau Jazz Fest. Sandy also serves as executive director of the Alaska Arts Education Consortium, supporting educators statewide. She holds degrees in music education and arts administration and believes deeply in music as a tool for learning, confidence, and community connection.
Program Director/ After School Instructor
Meghan Johnson has been part of the JAMM family for 12 years. She has a private string studio and teaches orchestra at Floyd Dryden Middle School. Meghan holds a Bachelor's and Master's in Performance from the University of Idaho and a Master's in Education, with a K-12 Music Endorsement, from the University of Alaska Southeast. In 2020 Meghan also participated in the Foraker Group's Executive Leadership Intensive. When Meghan is not teaching strings, she enjoys performing; Meghan has served as principal cellist of the Juneau Symphony for 14 years.
Founder/ Ḵúx̱dei Yea Nas.ax̱ Director
Lorrie Heagy is the music teacher at Sítʼ Eetí Shaanáx̱ Glacier Valley Elementary School. In 2010, she created/founded Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) after completing the Sistema Fellowship at the New England Conservatory. In 2014, Aanyaanáx̱ (Ray Wilson) adopted her into the Tlingít Kiks.ádi clan. She holds up the Ancestors name of his sister, Gax̱.áan.san and her memory by using it. In 2018 Lorrie completed her PHD in Education with a concentration in Learning, Instruction and Innovation and was awarded an honorary doctorate in education from the University of Alaska Southeast that same year. In 2019 Lorrie received the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching to study in the UK and research global music education models that support student creativity, agency and identity. Lorrie completed an Indigenous Language Teaching Certificate at the University of Alaska Southeast and a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Language Revitalization at the University of Victoria in 2023. Lorrie is also faculty at the Longy School of Music.
Community Engagement Coordinator/ Auke Bay After School Lead Instructor
Meg Rosson moved to Juneau in 2019. Originally from the UK, Meg’s musical journey includes performing on four continents, and she loves the power of music to bring people together across cultures. Meg plays viola in the Juneau Symphony, and also enjoys hiking and skiing with her husband and three kids.
Juneau School District Instructors
Lindsay Clark (Auke Bay), a Juneau local, returned home in 2015 to pursue a Master's in Education. Lindsay holds a Bachelor's in Performance and a Master's in Education, with a K-12 Music Endorsement. Lindsay currently teaches general music at Auke Bay during the school day. In addition to teaching music, Lindsay serves as Principal 2nd Violin of the Juneau Symphony Orchestra.
Franz Felkl (Kax̱dog̱oowu Heen) was born and raised in Juneau where he started the violin with local teacher Mr. Guo-Hua Xia. He continued his studies with Linda Rosenthal in High School and went on to receive two Bachelor Degrees in Violin Performance and Music Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he studied with Dr. Kathleen Butler-Hopkins. He received his Masters at Lynn University Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, FL under the tutelage of Elmar Oliveira. Mr. Felkl is the Concertmaster of the Juneau Symphony and has previously held positions with Florida Grand Opera, Miami City Ballet, Palm Beach Symphony, and was second violinist of the Amernet String Quartet, Ensemble-In-Residence at Florida International University
Jia Jia Maas (Sitʼ Eetí Shaanax̱ Glacier Valley) is a local clarinetist and pianist. She is the music teacher at Sít' Eetí Shaanáx̱ Glacier Valley Elementary School and a JAMM teacher. Through the JAMM program, she is also one of the lead teachers for the Ḵúxdei Yaa Nas.áx̱ program. She received her Bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and her Master’s degree in Music Education from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. On the side, Jia Jia also runs a private music studio called Juneau Keys and Reeds, offering private clarinet and piano lessons for students of all ages. In the local community, she enjoys playing with the local Community Band, Taku Winds, and various chamber ensembles.
Teaching Artists
Elena Levi (Violin) Elena began studying violin at the age of 5, and went on to receive two bachelor degrees from Boston University College of Fine Arts in violin performance and music theory/composition. While studying in Boston, Elena participated in the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Intensive Community Project, a program which provides free private instruction for underprivileged youth orchestra members. She went on to study under Missy Mazzoli and Nancy Wu (assistant concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera House) in New York City. After spending a year studying and teaching private and group violin, viola and piano lessons in NY schools, Elena came to Juneau to continue her teaching career and to share her compositional works with a more intimate, tight-knit community. Elena manages to include much of her music theory training with even beginner students, allowing even her youngest students to analyze a musical structure and overall form. Elena is currently building a reputable private studio and performs with numerous local musical organizations.
Roby Littlefield(Língit Langauge) has been teaching the Tlingit language at the secondary and college level for over 20 years in Sitka Alaska. She learned Tlingit from fluent speaking Elders and lived at the family fish camps doing traditional activities in the summers. Roby joined the JAMM team in 2020 to help develop the language curriculum to be used in the Tlingit violin program. She has since continued to participate in the JAMM classrooms through Zoom. She monitors, reviews, adds to and supports the teachers “live” in the classroom.
Samantha Georg (Guitar) teaches 2nd grade at Sitʼ Éeti Shaanax̱ Glacier Valley. She is new to JAMM and the Juneau area, and is thrilled to be part of such a great program that empowers the youth. “JAMM combines so many things I love: teaching, music, and feeling like part of a community. Music brings people together.” Samantha and her husband moved to Juneau from Florida and have enthusiastically traded in their sunscreen and sandals for hiking boots and raincoats.
Susie Denton (Staff Coach) is the former P.E. teacher at Sitʼ Éeti Shaanax̱ Glacier Valley. Ms. Denton has a BSEd and certificates in K-8 special education and physical education. Ms. Denton enjoys integrating reading skills and math concepts through movement. Ms. Denton has offered dance and creative movement classes in JAMM; she is currently coaching new staff and pre-service teachers.
Yux̱gitsy George Holly (Língit Dance and Drumming) is a Deg Xitʼan songster and educator. He works to uphold his own language of Deg Xinag from Western Alaska while supporting the revitalization of the indigenous languages of the places he lives. George was adopted into the Tlingít Kaagwaanaan clan of Southeast Alaska in support of his work and life and presently is using his talents to lift the Lingít language in Juneau, Alaska.
High School & CollegeTeaching Assistants
Jacquelyn Davis is sixteen years old and a high school junior; she is new to Juneau but has lived in Alaska for about four years now. JQ has been playing the cello for nearly five years, and she absolutely adore music. JQ has previously played the piano, and taken numerous voice lessons. This year she will start learning how to play the double bass!Some of her hobbies include making earrings, reading books, writing stories, and hiking around outside with my family. JQʼs favorite trail here so far has to be the Ice Cave Trail; she has hiked with her dad all the way to the glacier together and that was really cool!
