Pumps on the Podium - It’s Not About the Shoes! Amplifying the Female Role in Your Band Room
Clinic Synopsis:
Whether you conduct in pumps, flats, Dinkles, or barefoot, all people deserve space on the podium. In this session we’ll guide attendees through how to amplify the voices of people who identify as female in your band program. Attendees will be asked to draw and reflect on their own experiences, be given resources to empower themselves and others, and will learn strategies they can take back to encourage others to be change agents!
Elise Naber Allen
- Biographical Information
Elise Naber Allen is a band director at Oak Hill Middle School in Milledgeville, Georgia, and she also serves as adjunct professor of flute at Georgia College & State University. Prior to arriving at Oak Hill, she taught in the public schools of Monroe County, Georgia; Windthorst, Texas; and Jacksboro, Texas. As a flutist, Ms. Allen has performed with the Bismarck Mandan Symphony Orchestra, Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra, and as a member of the Allen Duo, a flute and saxophone ensemble committed to commissioning and performing new music.
In addition to teaching and performing Ms. Allen is committed to researching and sharing the role of women in the world of band directing. She has presented her research in the poster session at Texas Music Educators Association conference. Additionally, she has presented sessions at the Georgia Music Educators Association conference, the Women Band Directors International Summer Conference, and the National Association for Music Education National Conference. Ms. Allen has written articles for The Instrumentalist on a variety of topics, including, strategies for teaching in rural communities and practical ways to promote diversity in the band room.
Ms. Allen holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Music Education from the University of North Texas. She is currently a candidate for the Educational Specialist degree in music education at Auburn University. Ms. Allen is married to Andrew J. Allen, associate professor of music (saxophone) at Georgia College & State University.
Cecilia Clark - Biographical Information
Cecilia Clark is the Director of Bands at Woodland High School in
Cartersville, Georgia. She attended Duquesne University and received a Bachelor
of Science in Music Education. Ms. Clark's professional experience includes
Director of Bands at Allatoona High School in Acworth, GA and Assistant Band
Director at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA where she also served
as Fine Arts Department Chair. Prior to joining the faculty at McEachern, Ms.
Clark was the Director of Bands at Deer Lakes High School and Thomas Jefferson
High School. She also taught beginning band in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Ms.
Clark has served as a percussion consultant and technician for several schools
including Norwin Senior High School in North Huntingdon, PA. She was also the
Front Ensemble Instructor for the General Butler Vagabonds Drum Corps and the
Pit Caption Head for Conquest Percussion and Project Percussion Independent
Open and World Class WGI Finalists. Ms. Clark is an active adjudicator, guest
conductor and clinician. She has served on the Review Committee for the
National Association of Secondary School Principals and as a member of NAfME
Band Advisory Committee and Collegiate Council. She is now a member of the
Music for All Educational Advisory Team and the Leadership Faculty for Music
for All Summer Symposium. Ms. Clark is currently President of SLAM - The
Servant Leadership Association for Music. Her professional affiliations include
the NAfME, GMEA, PAS, NBA, ASBDA, WBDI and Mu Phi Epsilon. Ms. Clark is married
to Patrick Clark, Band Director at McCleskey Middle School.
Tiffiny Reckley - Biographical Information
Tiffiny C. Reckley is a Brooklyn-born music education veteran who blends her love for working with students and teachers as an arts administrator in the Los Angeles Metro area. Tiffiny, who often attributes her success to her foundation as a proud HBCU graduate, holds two degrees in Music Education including a Masters from the University of North Texas. In her most recent teaching position as a band director, she was humbled to receive the honor of Teacher of the Year during the height of the pandemic.
Tiffiny is extremely passionate about addressing several social justice issues impacting urban classrooms in an effort to bring inequities to light and actively work to find sustainable solutions. Her research surrounding Black female band directors in urban Title 1 schools resulted in the production of a powerful literature review that spawned an online platform devoted to the support of more Black female band directors nationwide. No stranger to spreading the word on all platforms, Ms. Reckley continues to leave a lasting impression as a band clinician, while facilitating presentations in the US and abroad, writing various publications, and as a guest on podcasts. Ms. Reckley maintains membership in several leading professional, academic and social organizations, and enjoys performing in community band ensembles. She is looking forward to continually developing The Talented Teacher which will provide consulting, mentoring, and professional development for urban fine arts educators.
Liz Savage - Biographical Information
Liz Savage is the Director of Bands at East Forsyth High School, Gainesville, Ga. Following being awarded the William D. Revelli Award from Bands of America in 1998, Mrs. Savage earned her BA in Music Education from Jacksonville State University in 2002. Since 2002, she served as Director of Bands at Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Ga; Director of Bands at Eighth Street Middle School, Tifton, GA and Director of Bands at Handley Middle and High School in Roanoke, AL. In 2007, Mrs. Savage was recognized as Teacher of the Year at Eighth Street Middle School. Under her direction, the Colquitt County “50th Regiment” Band grew from 100 to 160 members. Her bands have received consistent superior ratings at marching and concert events. Under Mrs. Savage’s direction, the 50th Regiment participated in a Mass Band at the Daytona 500 (2013), Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade (Philadelphia 2014, 2019), and the Fiesta Flambeau Parade (San Antonio 2017).
An active guest lecturer, Liz has spoken at Valdosta State University for the Tau Beta Sigma “Women in Music” Celebration, Virginia Tech for students entering student teaching, as well as the trombone studio at the University of GA discussing entering the classroom and opening a new school. Mrs. Savage presented a clinic entitled "Pumps on the Podium" at the NAfME National Conference in Maryland alongside three powerful women in music education. A sought out adjudicator and clinician, Mrs. Savage is a member of GMEA, PAGE, and NAfME. Liz is married to Aaron Savage, and they have two sons; Jaxon Rylie, and Cooper Miles.
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