Grant writing doesn’t have to be intimidating. Najera will walk attendees through the process of writing a successful grant, including figuring out your budget, crafting an effective title, gathering the proper information, and knowing where to start the search for available grants in your area. Najera will also discuss how to avoid wording pitfalls in your grants, different types of grants available, and what to do once your grants are funded or rejected.
Melinda Najera
- Biographical Information
Melinda Najera is currently in her second year as the Director of Bands at Piner Middle School in Sherman, Texas. Previously, Mrs. Najera had the privilege to open Sherman Middle School as the Associate Director of Bands, and started her career as the Associate Director of Bands at Piner Middle School. She earned her Bachelors in Music at the University of Texas at Arlington, and her Masters of Arts in Music Education from Texas Woman’s University. During her time at TWU, Mrs. Najera served as the band graduate assistant and directed the University Band and Pioneer Pep Band. Mrs. Najera presented her graduate research at the College Division Poster Session at the TMEA Conference in 2020, and had her research published in the Texas Music Education Research Online Publication in 2021. She also wrote her first grants for graduate presentation travel while at Texas Woman’s University, and discovered a talent for grant writing. In her first two years in Sherman ISD, Mrs. Najera earned more than $40,000 in grants for instruments and supplies for the band program. She was a clinician at the 2023 Texas Music Educators Association Conference as well as the 2023 Midwest Clinic.