Clinician Detail

Lori Schwartz Reichl - Biographical Information

Lori Schwartz Reichl (b. 1978) is a champion of mentorship and motivation in education. She has served as a proud educator for more than two decades. Lori has successfully led secondary music programs in a rural school in Pennsylvania and two Title I schools in Maryland - one of which was assigned to corrective action for two years. She has had the opportunity to open two new buildings - Daniel Boone Area Middle School in Douglassville, Pennsylvania and Thomas Viaduct Middle School in Hanover, Maryland. In 2004, while serving as band director for Daniel Boone Area School District in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Lori received the Superintendent's Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2011, while serving as band director for Oakland Mills Middle School in Columbia, Maryland, she was a finalist for the Howard County Public School System's Teacher of the Year Award and a finalist for the 2013 Howard County Parents for School Music Educator of the Year Award. In 2017 and 2018 she supervised music education majors at Towson University during their student teaching placements throughout the Baltimore, Maryland area. In 2018, Lori designed her mentoring publications into a popular graduate course that she instructs annually at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and VanderCook College of Music in Chicago entitled "Making Key Changes: Refresh Your Music Program." These unique experiences of designing, establishing, and maintaining music programs in a variety of educational settings have permitted Lori to expand her multi-faceted career into a portfolio as an adjudicator, clinician, conductor, instructor, speaker, and writer. She enjoys invitations for conducting, consulting, and speaking engagements.Lori is the author of over 75 articles and interviews for an assortment of education publications along with several program notes for prominent wind band composers. She has conducted honor bands or presented educational sessions in 16 states - including at international conferences and performances, prepared countless K-12 professional development sessions nationwide, spoken in dozens of collegiate classrooms, and has been interviewed for 12 music education podcasts. As a journalist for Teaching Music Magazine, Lori has interviewed hundreds of respected stakeholders in education and written many featured stories. Lori is also co-author with composer Robert Sheldon of the e-resource Hit the Highest Notes: Tips from the Coordinator and Conductor for Hosting a Successful Honor Ensemble Festival. As the founder of Making Key Changes, Lori supports the mentorship of K-12 educators and the motivation of K-12 and collegiate students. She is co-founder of Women Banding Together, a global group that cultivates mentoring relationships and fosters the development of women band directors. For Women Band Directors International, Lori serves as the Maryland state chair and a member of the mentoring committee. She is also a member of the advisory committee of the Status of Women Mentoring Program for the North American Saxophone Alliance.Lori received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from West Chester University, Master of Music Education from Lebanon Valley College, and Administrator I Certification through McDaniel College. Lori is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Music Education (ABD) at Liberty University. Her research is rooted in student perspectives and effective strategies of DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access) for learners and leaders of all ages, abilities, and cultures.Lori resides near Baltimore, Maryland with her supportive husband and two amazing children. Her motto is "Embrace your uniqueness!" Learn more about how Lori is “making key changes” in education: https://makingkeychanges.com