SOTA FACULTY & STAFF
Megan Rose-Houchins
Assistant Principal
Megan hails from Seymour, IN, and earned her BFA in Acting/Directing from Northern Kentucky University. She spent many summers as a company member with the outdoor drama, UNTO THESE HILLS, in Cherokee, NC. She also toured the Southeast with the children’s theatre company RAGS TO RICHES. After moving to Atlanta in 2003 she attended Columbus State University to earn her teaching certificate in Drama while working as a stage manager with Atlanta Shakespeare Company. She is a founding member of The Weird Sisters Theatre Project, with whom she has worked as a producer, actor, and business manager. Her favorite roles with the Weird Sisters were in DESDEMONA, A PLAY ABOUT A HANDKERCHIEF and ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS. Megan twice directed the one-woman show THE 12 DATES OF CHRISTMAS and the one-woman show ERMA BOMBECK: AT WIT’S END for Aurora Theatre. Megan was last seen onstage as Adriana in the Atlanta Shakespeare Company’s production of TWELFTH NIGHT and as Colleen in Aurora Theatre’s production of RIPCORD. Megan taught theatre in Henry County and Butts County before coming to Central Gwinnett High School as the Fine Arts Academy Coach in 2016. She recently earned her M.Ed in Educational Leadership at Georgia State University.
Tiffany Brown
Counselor
Tiffany Brown is a Certified Professional School Counselor as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She earned her B.A. in Human Development as well as an M.A. in Professional Counseling. She has been working in GCPS for 15 years and has been the Counselor for the Fine Arts students of Central Gwinnett since 2014. She is a married, mother of three (all of whom graduated from Central Gwinnett) and grandmother of one. She is also a Certified Pilates Instructor and loves teaching Pilates in her spare time. She has been a proud member of the Lawrenceville community since 1996.
Renato Ferreira
Art & Design
Mr. Ferreira earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from the University of Georgia, both his Master of Arts and his Specialists in Curriculum and Instruction at Piedmont College and is currently working on his EdD in Curriculum and Instruction at Piedmont College; projected to be completed in the summer of 2023. Prior to teaching at the School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School, Mr. Ferreira taught in Columbus, Georgia at the Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts and in Athens, Georgia at Fowler Drive Elementary School. While working in Athens, he met his wife, Elizabeth Ferreira. Mr. Ferreira is not only an art teacher but also a working artist having displayed pieces in exhibitions at the Columbus Museum of Art, Atlanta High Museum of Art, and the Lyndon House’s annual juried exhibition where he was awarded the L. David Dwinell Photography Award. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, participating in any kind of physical activity, and watching the latest Marvel movie or TV show with his wife.
Allison Biggs
Art & Design
Allison Biggs is a potter and folk artist who challenges her students to make real-life connections through art. Currently based in Lilburn, Allison has been making pots since 1995. Her functional pottery received commissions internationally and by local organizations including the University of Georgia, the CDC, and Atlanta Community Farmers Markets. Since earning her B.A.S. in Studio Pottery and her Master of Arts in Art Education from Piedmont College in 2005, Allison has taught ceramics at the Hudgens Center and pioneered local art projects that celebrate tradition and community. In March 2021, Allison established the Free Little Art Gallery of Lilburn; a mailbox-sized museum that encourages the free exchange of tiny art.
Jason Collier
Art & Design
Jason Collier is a Visual Arts Educator with 25 years of experience at Central Gwinnet High School. He is trained in a wide range of studio skills, teaching techniques, and leadership roles. In his career with GCPS he has taught Visual Art Composition I & II, 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Drawing and Painting, Fine Arts Survey, Graphic Design, Photography, Digital Photography, Computer, Applications in Art, Pottery, Sculpture, Crafts, Printmaking, and Independent Study.
Shanice Holt
Art & Design
Ms. Holt graduated from South Gwinnett High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Studio Art with a focus on Photography and Printmaking from Florida State University and a Masters of Science in Art Education from Florida State University. Ms. Holt also received a Tier 1 Educational Leadership Certificate from University of West Georgia. She has taught middle school with Atlanta Public Schools, high school art overseas in Beijing, China, and high school art at Discovery High School. She also worked previously as a real estate photographer. Ms. Holt loves screen printing, painting, traveling to different countries, and reading.
Sahirah Dean
Art & Design
Sahirah Dean earned her Bachelor of Studio Art from Spelman College and her Master of Art Education degree from Georgia State University. She has been teaching for 18 years and has experience working in and helping to grow Art Magnet Programs in Fulton County. She worked as Fine Art Support Teacher in Fulton County, Curriculum Writer, and Lesson Plan Developer for Fulton and the State of Georgia. Sahirah has taught Drawing and Painting, Ceramics, Photo, Jewelry, Sculpture, and has achieved a 100% pass rate with her AP Students each year. In 2020, she was trained to be an AP Reader with College board and started working as a Virtual Professional Learning Lead for 2D Art with GaDOE. In this capacity, she presents lesson plans and teaching strategies to help support teachers around the state of Georgia on the GaDOE Community Portal. She is married to a wonderful husband and has 2 children that also go to school in Gwinnett County.
Herbert Jackson
Band
Herbert Jackson was raised in the metro-Atlanta area and is a proud GCPS alumnus, graduating from South Gwinnett High School. After high school, Mr. Jackson graduated Magna Cum Lade from Central State University in Wilberforce, OH, with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education. As a student, Mr. Jackson served as principal horn in the university's wind ensemble and section leader for the Invincible Marching Marauders. Mr. Jackson is also a proud alum of Boston University, where he received his Masters of Music in Music Education with an emphasis in Diversity and Culturally Relevant Pedagogy. While residing in the Dayton, OH, area, Mr. Jackson taught band and choir at Trotwood-Madison Middle school. During his tenure the choir performed at various Ohio School Board Association meetings and conferences as well as performing a Christmas program for the ABC network. Mr. Jackson has been the Director of Bands at Central Gwinnett High School for three years. Under his direction, the band ensembles have performed and participated in several community events and earned Excellent and Superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluations (LGPE). The Black Knight Marching Band, one of the highlights of the band program, has won several Class AA awards in local band and drumline competitions. Mr. Jackson is also a recipient of several awards including, the Conn-Selmer Institue Scholarship, GCPS "Shine," Fox 5 Atlanta Teacher of the Year Nominee, and CGHS Coach of the Month. Mr. Jackson's affiliate organizations include: Mu Phi Epsilon International Professional Music Fraternity Inc., Gamma Eta Chapter, -District Director EC1, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Rho Beta Sigma Chapter, and Minority Band Director Association.
Lonnie E. Davis, Jr.
Dance
Lonnie is a highly sought-after dance educator and choreographer, teaching all over the U.S. and abroad. Some engagements include serving as faculty, guest teacher, and/or choreographer for The International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference, Alabama Dance Festival, Emory University, The Atlanta Girls School, Roswell Dance Theatre, Kennesaw State University, Pure Performance-Sydney Australia, Dance Canvas-Atlanta, Agnes Scott College, The Landing Dance Centre-Vancouver BC, Georgia Ballet, Ballet Dalton and the Creative Arts Guild, Atlanta Dance Theatre, Gainesville Ballet, Dance ALIVE National Ballet, University Missouri KC, Brenau University, Ohio University-guest lecturer ("Dance as a Profession"), Project Dance NYC-ATL, Alabama State University, Ruth Mitchell Dance Theatre, and Refuge Dance Company. Lonnie recently had the pleasure of creating a new work for Kansas City, MO based Wylliams Henry Contemporary Dance Company. He also traveled to Leeds, UK, where he was invited as a guest instructor for England's premier contemporary dance company, Phoenix Dance Theatre. As an adjunct faculty (2006-2016), Lonnie taught jazz and modern technique at Cobb County Center for Excellence in Performing Arts (CCEPA) at Pebblebrook HS. His choreographic work was recognized and selected to open the 2014 Gala concert at the National High School Dance Festival. Mr. Davis spent 10 years adjudicating the Georgia Governors Honors Program's State finals and one summer on faculty at Valdosta State University. He has participated for the past 8 years as a judge in Gwinnett County's GHP auditions and is a regular instructor for the annual Gwinnett County Dance Day. For over a decade, Lonnie has been instrumental in developing the optional disciplines curriculum teaching modern, contemporary, musical theatre, and jazz within Atlanta Ballets open school, Adult division, and Academy levels. Lonnie has also spent the last 5 years as adjunct faculty teaching modern technique at the renowned DeKalb School of the Arts. Currently, Mr. Davis is on faculty at the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. Mr. Davis received some of his training while on scholarship at the American Dance Festival and the Ailey School. As a performer, Lonnie continued to dance and train with esteemed companies such as Dayton Contemporary Dance Co, Giordano Dance Chicago, and Wylliams-Henry Contemporary Dance Company. As a concert dancer, Mr. Davis danced works by several notable choreographers, including Gus Giordano, Margo Sappington, James Truitte, Rod Rodgers, Kevin Iega Jeff, Sean Curran, Talley Beatty, Leni Wylliams, and Lester Horton. He also traveled the world performing in some of the most advanced Broadway revues and productions at sea with Royal Caribbean Productions, Norwegian, Carnival, and Celebrity Cruise lines. Mr. Davis recently returned to the stage in a reconstruction (from Labanotation) of the Lester Horton modern dance masterwork, "The Beloved." Recently, he completed beginner through advanced Horton Pedagogy teachers training at the Ailey School. His extensive and diverse background is the framework in which he uses to create and educate.
Jasmine Roberts
Dance
Jasmine Roberts received her formal dance training from the Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, where she was a fellowship student. She has danced professionally with the Dance Theatre of Harlem DTB Ensemble, Ballethnic Dance Company in Atlanta, Dance Canvas and The Atlanta Dance Connection. She has had the opportunity to perform internationally and work with many outstanding choreographers such as Nathan Trice, Dwana Smallwood, Scott Rink, Debbie Allen, and Hinton Battle among many others.
Ms. Roberts is an American Ballet Theatre-certified teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has worked with Elliot Feld’s Ballet Tech, Alvin Ailey's Arts In Education and at Atlanta Dance Canvas as a teacher and choreographer- as well as at various dance studios throughout the southeastern region of the U.S.
With over 20 years of experience as a dance professional, Jasmine uses her years of teaching and performance experience to provide personal ballet training and coaching for beginners through skilled dancers. Ms. Roberts is passionate about helping each dance student find their unique path while guiding them on their journey. She aspires to create and inspire confidence, humility, perseverance, and commitment, by motivating dancers to live and dance with joy and artistry.
Emily Gilliam
Dance
Emily Gilliam is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer currently based in Atlanta, GA. She began her training at Heather Wayne's Performing Arts under the direction of Heather Wayne. She trained vigorously in jazz, ballet, modern, tap, hip hop, and contemporary. After graduating high school she moved to Pittsburgh, PA to get her BFA in Jazz Dance and minor in business management from Point Park University. Her training and explorations have led her to perform in works created by Jason McDole, Kiesha Lalama, Joshua Manculich, Kiki Lucus, Garfield Lemonius, Mark Burrell, Martha Nichols, Kyle Abraham and many more. She has worked and performed with Cherrise Wakeham’s professional contemporary dance company, Project 7 performing in the 2016 ACE award winning show “SHE." Emily is currently a member of RISK contemporary dance company under the direction of Brady Michael. She has had the opportunity to travel across the world performing as a backup dancer for “BAD ROMANCE: A tribute to Lady Gaga.” In addition to performing, Emily is also an educator at SOTA (School of the Arts) at Central Gwinnett High School and Heather Wayne’s Performing Arts where she spreads her love through teaching and choreographing.
Marc Baldwin
Music Technology
Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Marc Baldwin has been performing, producing and educating for over twenty years. Growing up with rock, jazz and hiphop influences, Marc performed around the Southeast until deciding to take his music knowledge to the next level by entering the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNC-A). At UNCA he received a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance/Composition. Studying complex music theory made Marc into a proficient musician and moving to Atlanta was a natural chord progression. Since becoming an Atlien Marc has had the honor of working with many influential companies, like the Atlanta Hawks as the NBA’s first live in game band! He also created good vibrations for Sony Records, the Atlanta Braves and the Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marc produces high quality music and sound design through his production company, Musical Mindz. He has had a multitude of song placements on several TV networks, created soundscapes for gaming companies, and provided corporate audio for Georgia Pacific and Home Depot. And you can’t forget the numerous local artists Musical Mindz has inspired over the years. Baldwin is also an avid endorser of music education. For the past fifteen years, he has been teaching guitar with the The Atlanta International School and Music Technology at SAE Institute. His education endeavors include being the director of the Day Jams Rock Day Camp as well as traveling the United States, South America and Africa with the American Music Abroad program, which brings creative awareness to diverse cultures regarding American music and society. Marc recently earned his Masters in Music Technology from Southern Utah University.
Daniel Jenkins
Orchestra
Daniel Jenkins originally comes from the strange and distant land of Kansas City, Missouri, where he began studying violin at the age of 7. In his undergraduate years he focused on violin and composition at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and New York University. He also did postgraduate work in music education at Georgia State University. He started teaching violin lessons and directing school orchestra programs in the Atlanta Metro area around 2003 and has been directing the orchestra program at CGHS since 2013. Though his background is primarily in classical violin, Daniel enjoys improvising and performing in a variety of other genres and aspires to include more musical creativity alongside traditional orchestral music.
Nathan Pillsbury
Guitar
Nathan Pillsbury comes to us from Athens, Georgia, where he has been a band director and music educator for the last decade. He earned his bachelor's degree from Truett McConnell University. He is an instrumentalist with a background in Classical, Jazz, and Church music. He is a bass specialist, holding down the low end, supporting others in the music making process. Whether playing woodwinds, brass, or strings he will be found playing the largest and most unwieldy instrument. Nathan is also an instrument repair technician and runs his own repair shop dedicated to keeping quality working instruments in the hands of students and musicians.
Vincent Sneed
Piano
Vincent Sneed has been a music educator in public schools in Georgia for the past 21 years. He has taught both high and middle school which included teaching concert band, jazz band, chorus, music history, music theory, music appreciation, piano, and guitar. Sneed has taught voice and provided music for churches across the state for the last 25 years. He was a featured speaker for a TedX talk at Northwestern University in April of 2024. In 2012, he was selected as the Teacher of the Year for the Muscogee County School District in Columbus, Georgia, Star Teacher in 2013 as well as teacher of the month on numerous occasions. Additionally, he teaches piano lessons to all ages and conducts masterclasses on jazz improvisation to aspiring young jazz musicians. His graduate school work included research into the influence of the blues on all modern popular music genres. He is a currently a member of the National Association for Music Education and Georgia Music Educators Association. He lives in Gwinnett County with his wife and son.
Lilliangina Quiñones
Theatre
Lilliangina Quiñones is a Puerto Rican/Dominican American theatre artist and educator based in Atlanta, GA. She holds a Bachelor’s degree specializing in Theatre and Arts Administration and a Master's in Theatre Education from Columbus State University. She comes to School of the Arts with fifteen years of experience as a performer, teacher, and diversity practitioner. Mrs. Quiñones maintains a robust schedule performing in regional theaters throughout Atlanta and has been part of Suzi Bass Award winning productions such as, In The Heights at Aurora Theatre and Titanic at Serenbe Playhouse. She is especially passionate about new works and believes that theatre should reflect the diverse and colorful world in which we live. To this end, she has supported new works through involvement with Atlanta Musical Theatre Festival, Latinas In Media, and Working Title Playwrights. Additionally, she is represented for film and television by People Store, Inc. As an educator, she served as IB Theatre and Film Teacher and International Thespian Society Troupe Director at North Atlanta High School. Her students have received awards and accolades from the Shuler Organization, Georgia Thespians, Governor’s Honors Program and have gone on to train at NYU Tisch and Boston University. Mrs. Quiñones takes great pride in her ability to foster a culture of compassion and belonging within educational arts programs. She believes that human connection and trust are essential for the development of young artists and have the power to shift the theatre industry towards a more inclusive future. An alumna of the National Association of Independent Schools’ Diversity Leadership Institute, she has facilitated conversations on anti-bias education both at the local and national levels. She has served in facilitation and advisory roles for the National People of Color Conference, Georgia Thespians, Aurora Theatre, Alliance Theatre Education Advisory Board, Georgia Department of Education, Atlanta Public Schools Fine Arts, and the Coalition for Race & Equity in Atlanta Theatre. She lives in Mableton, GA with her husband, three daughters, and cute little Yorkie, Chico.
Lilliangina.Quinones@gcpsk12.org
Emily McClain
Theatre
Emily McClain is a professional playwright and theatre educator. Prior to joining the theatre faculty at School of the Arts she taught theatre at Buford High School, Grayson High School, and opened the theatre program at Archer High School where she was proud to direct 4 Region Championship One Act Play productions during her time there. Emily is a member of Working Title Playwrights and the Dramatists Guild and she currently serves as Board President for Gwinnett Classic Theatre. She is a passionate advocate for the fine arts and continues to mentor new playwrights through her work with Essential Theatre as their education associate and playwriting teacher. Her play SLAYING HOLOFERNES was co-winner of Essential Theatre’s New Play Festival and received a world premiere production in 2019. The Pumphouse Players held readings of MY BROTHER’S SECRET KEEPER and PARADISE, STAYED. She was a featured playwright with Elephant Room Productions for her play CHEEK BY JOWL. CHEEK BY JOWL was also featured as Essential Theatre’s Bare Essential Reading Series in October 2020. Her full length comedy JULIE’S PLACE was selected for the JOOKMS Spotlight Series in July 2020. Her tragedy TERMINUS ANDRONICUS was a finalist at the New American Shakespeare Center “Shakespeare’s New Contemporaries” competition in 2019. Her Risk Theatre play CHILDREN OF COMBS AND WATCH CHAINS was named a finalist for the Risk Theatre International Competition in August 2020. Her short plays have been staged at many professional theaters across the country including Mississippi, California, Wisconsin, Virginia, New York, and numerous venues here in Georgia. Her historical drama COPPER ANGEL will be presented by borderless productions as an audio drama in January 2021. Quarantine Players will feature MY BROTHER’S SECRET KEEPER and CHILDREN OF COMBS AND WATCH CHAINS as audio dramas later in 2021. She is published through Smiths Scripts and Stage-Rights and more of her work may be found on New Play Exchange.
Michael Tarver
Theatre
Michael Tarver has worked at theatres all over Atlanta doing a little bit of everything. He has been an actor, director, stage manager, TD, carpenter, Marketing lead, producer, and probably many other jobs he's struggling to recall now. He is a graduate of the Aurora Apprentice Company, holds bachelor's degrees in theatre, and public relations from Georgia Southern University, as well as a Master's of Theatre Education from Columbus State University.
Andrew Graham
Voice
Andrew Graham received his bachelors and masters degrees from Columbus State University with an emphasis in choral conducting and voice. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University. Most of his years teaching high school were in Gwinnett County Public Schools where he has taught chorus, musical theater, piano, and AP music theory. He has taught private voices lessons in opera and musical theater at MOTH Music, Sunrise School for the Fine Arts, and The Rankin Arts. Andrew was the musical director for many musical theater productions including Phantom of the Opera, The Wiz, and Little Shop of Horrors. As a performer, he has had lead roles in opera and musical theater including Amahl and the Night Visitors, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Godspell. He has also performed with the New York Empire Brass, Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, and the Columbus Symphony. He has acted as an adjudicator for the Governor’s Honors Program, Literary, and All-State Chorus.
Christopher Barbee
Voice
Christopher Barbee, conductor, baritone, and music educator is one of the choral directors on the vocal faculty at the Gwinnett County School of the Arts. Prior to SOTA Chris received his master’s degree in choral conducting from Louisiana State University where he studied conducting under Dr. John Dickson and Dr. Trey Davis as well as voice under Dennis Jesse. While at LSU he served as assistant conductor for the LSU Tiger Glee Club and as the choir director at St. Alban’s Episcopal Chapel at LSU. The recipient of a Fulbright Research/Study Grant, Chris spent a year studying choral conducting with Māris Sirmais, orchestral conducting with Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, and voice with Ansis Sauka at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga, Latvia while carrying out research relating to Latvia’s tradition of folk music and system of music education. While in Latvia Chris was also a member of the internationally recognized and award-winning Youth Choir “Kamer…” (While…) and was assistant conductor of the Carnikavas community choir “Veja Balss” (wind voice). He received his bachelor’s degree in music education from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama where he studied under Dr. Philip Copeland and sang with the international award-winning Samford A Cappella Choir. While completing his bachelor’s degree he worked as the choir director, voice teacher, and music theory teacher for the Birmingham music education non-profit organization “Scrollworks” and as choir director at Homewood Cumberland Presbyterian Church. As a professional baritone he currently sings with the new-music ensemble “Red Shift” based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana who’ve been invited to perform at national and international choral music conferences such as the College Music Society Conference in Vancouver, Canada as well as premiering Shawn Kirchner’s “A House On High: A Sacred Harp Fantasia” and has recently joined the roster of vocal artists for the Atlanta based Professional Chamber Ensemble, “Kinnara”. After completing his graduate coursework Chris was part of the founding arts faculty that opened and established the vocal/choral program at Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts in Columbus, Georgia and most recently served as choral director at Pace Academy in the metro Atlanta area. Choirs under his direction have consistently received Excellent and Superior ratings at GMEA’s Large Group Performance Evaluation. Chris maintains an active interest in choral, orchestral, and operatic repertoire as well as being a strong advocate for new music, regularly seeking out new opportunities for artistic collaboration with vocal and instrumental musicians as well as across the spectrum of artistic mediums outside of music. He is very excited to be a part of building the program here at SOTA and helping grow and equip the young musicians of tomorrow to participate and seek excellence in choirs for the rest of their lives. When not teaching, or collaborating with other musicians Chris enjoys foraging, gardening, cooking, and hiking with his dog, Lili.
Carol Taylor
Voice
Carol M. Taylor has, for decades, appeared before audiences as a solo performer as well as a dynamic group participant and conductor. For most of her life, she has immersed herself in all levels of musical and theatrical presentation, engaging in a performing career as an accomplished vocalist, conductor, organist, and pianist. From the early age of sixteen, when she first directed various choral groups, her love for music and her commitment to teaching others about music led her to embark upon an entire career in public music education. Throughout those years, she taught elementary and middle school general music courses and chorus; high school chorus, guitar, music history, music theory, and musical theater; and college chorus and courses in beginning conducting. Outside the classroom, she has extensive experience with adult choirs. Dr. Taylor’s philosophical approach to the art of singing is based on healthy singing production, no matter the musical genre. Breath, body, mind, and sound must connect and coordinate in order to produce the most beautiful and desirable vocal sound. This philosophy ensures that her students will enjoy lifelong healthy singing without the threat of vocal injury. She is widely recognized and credentialed as a vocal specialist. This creates for her a demand in the musical field as a clinician, vocal coach, and voice teacher. She is also a head adjudicator with the Georgia Music Educators Association, enabling her to offer positive suggestions for vocal growth to choirs and singers during Large Group Performance Evaluation events. Dr. Taylor earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Organ Performance from the University of Georgia, as well as a Master’s Degree in Choral Music from Georgia State University. While serving as a graduate assistant, she attained a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Choral Conducting, Vocal Performance, and Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Georgia. She taught grades 1-12 in Georgia’s Dekalb and Clayton Counties, and in Shelby County, Tennessee, she taught grades 6-8. In Gwinnett County, Dr. Taylor taught at Duluth Middle School, Meadowcreek High School, Mill Creek High School, and Mountain View High School. Dr. Taylor has worked as a University Supervisor in Music with Georgia Southern University since 2016. She also serves as a church musician, as she has done for most of her adult life. Dr. Taylor is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, and the American Choral Directors Association. In addition to her work as a professional musician and teacher, Dr. Taylor has trained extensively as an actor and voice-over artist. She is a SAG eligible actor with film and TV credits which include a variety of television shows and movies, particularly Homicide Hunter, Dead Silent, Murder Calls, Swamp Murders, Coins for Christmas, Goosebumps, The First Five Years, The Duff, Selma, Wibbly Wobbly Chair, The Other Side, Love Ruth, and Losing Stella.
Laurie Tossing
SDMC
Laurie Tossing is the Student Data Manager at the School of the Arts. She comes to school with sixteen years of experience in the role, first at Sweetwater Middle School, and more recently, at Moore Middle School right here in the Central Gwinnett Cluster.
In addition to years of service in GCPS, Ms. Tossing is also an accomplished opera singer. Having received a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance at Arizona State University, she went on to participate in the Janiec Opera Company in Brevard, North Carolina. Since moving to the Atlanta area in 2000, she has performed in dozens of productions with The Atlanta Opera, Capitol City Opera, Atlanta Concert Opera, and ATLVocalite. She has even participated in such unusual programs as The 24-Hour Opera Project and ImprOper, a comedic improvisational opera troupe based out of Dad’s Garage Theater.
Some of her favorite roles include Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro, Katisha in The Mikado, Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette, Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the title role in Ravel’s L'enfant et les sortilèges.