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
Meghan Johnson has been part of the JAMM family for 10 years. She has a private string studio and also teaches general music during the school day. 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 12 years.
Program Director
Lorrie Heagy (Strings, Songwriting & Music Technology) is the Program Director of JAMM and the music teacher at Glacier Valley. Lorrie began the JAMM program after receiving the Yale School of Music Distinguished Music Educator award and returning to Juneau as one of ten Sistema Fellows to bring the very successful El Sistema program to the United States. In 2011 Lorrie won Alaska Teacher of the Year. 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.
Community Engagement Coordinator
Meg Rosson (Violin) 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; after school, Lindsay is the site supervisor and lead teacher for Auke Bay's violin program. Under Lindsay's leadership, Auke Bay's program has expanded from one to two orchestras, which meet 4 days each week. Next year Lindsay hopes to expand to a full selection of orchestral instruments! In addition to teaching music, Lindsay serves as Principal 2nd Violin of the Juneau Symphony Orchestra.
Rebecca Ricker (Riverbend)is currently the music teacher at Riverbend Elementary. She has been teaching general music, band, and orchestra in Juneau public schools since 2009. Rebecca played an instrumental role in expanding the JAMM programs to both Riverbend and Auke Bay Elementary schools. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education, with a K-12 endorsement, from the University of Minnesota and holds a Masters in Music Education from Vandercook College of Music, Chicago, IL. When not teaching Mrs. Ricker enjoys spending time with her 3 children and playing violin alongside her son in the Juneau String Ensemble.
Susie Denton (Movement) is the P.E. teacher at 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 and offers dance and creative movement classes in JAMM
Juneau Community Teaching Artists
Franz Felkl (Strings) 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
Henry Colt (guitar and banjo) comes to JAMM with a background in social-emotional learning, having previously served as a teacher of middle school SEL in Maine. At Bates college, he earned an anthropology degree while performing with the American String Ensemble. Since moving to town one year ago, Henry has enjoyed becoming part of Juneau’s vibrant folk music scene. He is particularly excited to help shape JAMM’s new bluegrass curriculum.
Janice Hurley (Modern Dance) received her teaching credentials from the University of Minnesota and her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts from Jacksonville University in Florida. She has taught in both academic and performing arts venues. Since moving to Juneau, Janice has participated in projects with Northern Lights Junior Theatre, Theater at Latitude 58, Juneau Lyric Opera, Orpheus Project and Perseverance Theatre. She was the Artistic Director of Juneau Dance Theatre from 2004 through June of 2011. In May, 2015, Janice received her Master of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Development in the Performing Arts from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Sam Roberts (cello and guitar) is a certified music teacher and double bass player with a background in jazz and improvisation. He earned his Bachelor's of Music from Humboldt State University and his Master's of Art in Teaching from the University of Alaska Southeast. Sam has performed on bass and percussion in a variety of contexts and styles including jazz, classical, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, and Javanese gamelan. He aims to inspire students to work hard, be creative, take risks, and have fun (and loves when his students inspire him to do the same). When not hanging out with kids or playing music, Sam is usually reading, writing, baking, running, or splashing around in a creek somewhere.
