Infused with participant engagement, humor, and extensive real-world application, The Snowball introduces educators to the Four Pillars of Success, key principles that advance success through the dynamic first years as a music teacher.
Plan and Work Towards a Vision
Connect with Support
Build Relationships
Apply Patient Determination
Participants will engage in a lively exploration of these principles while developing a framework for building success in a variety of situations.
Jeff Williams
- Biographical Information
Jeffrey D. Williams
Jeff Williams serves as a Coordinator for Secondary Music, Dance, and Theatre for the Clark County School District in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this role, Mr. Williams guides the largest school district fine arts program in the United States. Prior to this position, Mr. Williams served as director of bands at Miller Middle School in Henderson, Nevada. During his 18-year tenure, the Miller band program grew from 80 students to over 400 students participating in a variety of concert, jazz, and percussion ensembles. Under Mr. Williams’ direction, Miller bands were widely recognized for excellence in performance and earned highest honors in festivals and competitions throughout the southwest. Mr. Williams holds bachelors’ degrees in Music Performance and Education from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Music Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Mr. Williams is active as an adjudicator and guest clinician throughout Nevada and the southwest. When not making music, he can be found exploring the natural beauty of the desert southwest with his family.
Rayne Ellison is a retired middle school band director,
having served her entire career with the Clark County School District in the
Las Vegas/Henderson areas. Ms. Ellison began her teaching career at Thurman
White MS, followed by positions at B. Mahlon Brown JHS, and completed her
successful teaching at Lois and Jerry Tarkanian MS. Under her direction, each
program grew exponentially, musically, as well as in student numbers, with her
bands at each school consistently receiving superior ratings, both locally and
regionally. Ms. Ellison earned her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the
University of Nevada, Reno and a Master of Science in Educational
Administration from Nova Southeastern University. Twice, Ms. Ellison was
awarded "Teacher of the Year" for the City of Henderson (1997 and
1999). She was also honored with the "Steve Maytan Award for Service to
Music Education" (State of Nevada, 2005), and was selected in 2004 to be
featured by School Band and Orchestra Magazine as one of their "50
Directors Who Make a Difference". Currently, Ms. Ellison is focusing her
energies on the next generation of music educators by serving as the Clark
County School District "New Band Director Mentor" to all first-year
band directors. In addition to this role, she is also the co-author of “Make
It Happen!” Developing Band Method which is successfully circulating around
the US and Canada. Ms. Ellison is an active performer and maintains a private
studio on clarinet. She is also in demand as an adjudicator, clinician, and
guest conductor throughout the Southwest.