Teaching has always been part of my personality. Sharing information with colleagues as a professional musician and then as an educator has been paramount to my teaching philosophy. Everyone has something of value to contribute to a discussion to which they are engaged . Music provides a unique avenue to integrate all that students are learning in their primary courses. In my music class, students are reading, figuring out life spans of composers...( shh, it's a sneaky way of getting them to do simple math problems), exploring different cultures around the world, geography and historical events. The best part is, they rarely realize that they are learning while they are having fun moving, singing, playing instruments and playing games. This year, I am incorporating more ear training and musical literacy in my lessons. By the time my students go to middle school, most of them should feel comfortable reading simple music given to them in chorus and band.

While attending regular school 6th - 12th grades in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I received my musical training at the Settlement Music School in voice, piano and theory. I earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College in Voice Performance and a Masters of Music in Opera from the Hartt School of Music through the University of Hartford in Hartford, CT.

I sang professionally in South Florida as part of the Young Artist Program and chorus at Palm Beach Opera in West Palm Beach. While singing, I taught private and class voice lessons at Palm Beach Atlantic University. I also had a private voice studio which allowed me to teach a variety of students from middle school through semi-professional voice students in both opera and musical theater.

Currently, I play piano for our church in Faison and help out with singing in a community chorus that my husband directs called the Third Century Singers in Goldsboro.

Email: mashley@sampson.k12.nc.us

Phone: 910-567-2244 ext. 35044 (Midway Elementary)

During the pandemic, I discovered a wonderful online resource called Music Play Online. I have used this program ever since. The students respond well to the songs, activities and learning resources it provides. The students are engaged in the games and consequently, they are learning how to sing correct notes and rhythms, they can identify various classroom instruments and this year will be focused more on pitched and non traditional instruments in the classroom.

Students learn the National and North Carolina Standards (based on National Standards) in note reading, rhythmic patterns, body movement, cultural and geographical studies. They also create their own rhythmic patterns and are encouraged to create simple melodies through online tools provided through Music Play Online.

This year, the 4th and 5th grade students will attend a live orchestra concert performed by the North Carolina Symphony. Once the details are worked out, I will post the information here on my webpage.

The students at Midway Elementary will also participate in two assemblies this year; Hispanic Heritage Assembly, open to just the students in October. The second will be in honor of Black History Month at the end of February. Finally, our 1st, second and 3rd grade students will perform an annual Christmas program in December - Yet to be announced... It is sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit at Midway.

Favorite Color: Blue

College Football Team: Florida Gators "Go Gators!"

Favorite Drink: Hot or Cold sweet tea

Favorite Restaurant: Village Steakhouse, Goldsboro, NC

Favorite Food: Italian

Favorite Hobby: Cooking for those I love

Favorite TV Show: The Chosen, Check it out!

Favorite Musical: Guys and Dolls

Favorite Music: I love all kinds, depends on my mood

Favorite thing to do: I love to go exploring with my family

Vacation Spot: Mountains

Favorite Opera Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Favorite Book: Biographies of Singers

Favorite Movie: Anne of Green Gables (all 3!)

Favorite Composer: Mozart ( I have a "love/hate" relationship with him, ask me why?)

Hispanic Heritage Assembly: "Collective Heritage" Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future

Christmas Musical: "TBA" - I'll post when I announce it to the students

Black History Month Assembly: "A Century of Black History Commemorations":

4th and 5th Grade: NC Symphony Performance

Kindergarten Graduation Program: May 2026

7:30 - 8:00 Cafeteria Duty

8:10 - 8:55 Planning

9:05 - 9:50 2nd Grade

10:05 - 10:50 3rd Grade

10:55 - 11:15 Lunch

11:20 - 12:05 4th Grade

12:10 - 12:45 1st Grade

12:45 - 1:30 Kindergarten

1:45 - 2:30 5th Grade

2:45 - 3:00 - Car Rider Duty