Leading the Change: How Teacher Leaders Can Reshape School Music Programs

Sharon Selinger Band Program Director, Music Production Teacher, Digital Music Librarian

Pine Crest School, FL

When I think about great leaders, I think about the commitment they’ve made to do better, be better, and to keep on keeping on until they’re happy with the outcome. It’s that same perseverance, drive, and determination I’ve found in myself.

Whoever said teacher leaders needed to be—or even wanted to be—administrators?

As the band program director at Pine Crest School—and a teacher leader managing our band and orchestra iPads across two programs and campuses—the challenges never cease. I’ve learned to find comfort in the growth zone. I can feel uncomfortable and still be okay with it.

Embracing Growth and Collaboration

Collaborative planning has been the best part of my studies in my master’s program. Learning, growing, and sharing with others has become a passion of mine. Why wouldn’t you want to help a colleague learn to do something more efficiently?

Continuous learning allows me to stay current with best practices in education and technology. Learning how to be efficient and using new tools has led to improvements and impressive results—outcomes that continue to inspire my love for both learning and teaching.

Leadership Beyond Titles

As a natural-born leader and extrovert, I love challenges and courageous conversations. I thrive on brainstorming and idea sharing. With the incredible support of my school, I’ve continued my education, gaining deeper insights into teacher leadership through my master’s program.

I was also given the opportunity to explore our school behind the scenes through our leadership program (GOAL), developed by our school’s president. These experiences have helped me focus on meaningful change—like streamlining our digital systems and boosting efficiency.

Gone are the days of tracking down lost music pages or standing endlessly at the copier. No more sorting stacks of sheet music. It’s amazing!

Technology, Music, and the Future of Education

It wasn’t easy at first. I spent an entire summer learning our new digital platform for iPads and digital scores. It may have been the most challenging summer of my life—but someone had to take the leap.

As a music teacher for over twenty-five years, I’ve recently studied various aspects of music technology, including the integration of electronic music, music theory apps, and self-guided practice tools. I bring a cutting-edge approach to music education, helping students engage deeply with their instruments—both in and out of the classroom.

One of the most exciting ongoing projects has been integrating virtual reality (VR) into the music learning experience. With VR, students can:

● Conduct a virtual live orchestra

● Study music theory in the metaverse

● Practice rhythmic patterns in immersive environments

It’s been a year of research, training, and conversations with companies like Meta, working to determine the best practices for using VR in the classroom. I’ve also partnered with SoundTree and Audiofusion to continue expanding our music technology toolkit.

With limited instructional time, these tools support and enhance what we do in our classrooms, helping students learn more effectively and creatively.

A Call to School Leaders

To all the administrators out there:

● How do you see the role of teacher leaders as assets to your school community?

● In what ways can you elevate their work so they feel valued and appreciated?

● How can you better support teacher leaders to create real, impactful change in your

schools?

---

Sharon Selinger serves as the Band Program Director, Music Production Teacher, and Digital Music Librarian at Pine Crest School, FL. https://www.pinecrest.edu/