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.
Site Supervisor
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.
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
Juneau School District Instructors
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.
Leah Jellison (Music Exploratories)is the speech language pathologist at Riverbend Elementary. She enjoys assisting with songwriting and other areas throughout JAMM. She holds a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology and minors in psychology and linguistics.
Stephanie McDermott (strings) is a certified music teacher with a background in middle school orchestra. In addition to being a JAMM teacher, she is the proud mother of a JAMM cellist
Juneau Community Teaching Artists
Bradley Saunders (strings) has produced, engineered, directed and performed with many artists around the world. Teaching music at Juneau Community Charter School since he moved here in 2019, he has been an active musician in the local music scene playing trumpet and various other instruments. Bradley trained hard in music at College of the Siskiyous, Southern Oregon University and Fresno Pacific University learning everything he could in composition and performance. He has served as guest clinician on several occasions with local bands and choirs and composed a special band piece entitled “A Juneau Fanfare” for the Juneau Volunteer Marching Band. Bradley continues his professional work as a producer and recording artist playing trumpet and singing on recordings with artists worldwide through his home project studio.
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.
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 with her husband and three kids, and is learning to ski.
Ty Wolverton (Music Tech, Songwriting, & Cello) is a cellist and composer. He taught music in secondary schools for ten years in public education between Alaska, Arizona, and Nevada before changing careers to software development. Ty currently plays cello for the Juneau Symphony and is excited to be on the teaching staff of the JAMM program.