Feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of teaching? This session will help you identify hidden and obvious stressors while equipping you with powerful short and long term strategies to create a healthier, happier lifestyle. Discover how shifting your mindset can transform your teaching, even in the most challenging conditions. Take control of your well-being and reignite your passion for teaching!
Chris Grifa
- Biographical Information
Chris Grifa is the Director of Bands at Clay Middle School in Carmel, Indiana. His bands have performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and the Indiana Music Educators Conference. A frequent clinician, he has presented on practice techniques and fundamentals at national and state conferences including the Midwest Clinic. Since 2016, he has been an Educational Clinician with Conn-Selmer and has worked with Music for All as a faculty member and judge. Mr. Grifa is on staff with the Carmel High School marching band, a perennial Grand National Finalist. A former marching member of The Cadets, he later served on the brass staffs for The Cadets and Bluecoats.
He co-created Foundations: The Essential Elements for Building a Successful Middle School Band Program (GIA) with Chip De Stefano and has contributed articles to The Instrumentalist magazine. In 2021, he was inducted into Phi Beta Mu and was named Clay Middle School’s Teacher of the Year in 2024.
Mr. Grifa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a minor in trombone performance from Old Dominion University and a Master’s in Music Education from the University of Florida. Recently, he has focused on sharing personal growth strategies to help teachers build happier, healthier careers. He resides in Westfield, Indiana, with his wife Suzy, son Geno, and goldendoodle Mickey.