Clinician Detail

Peggy Rakas - Biographical Information

After a successful career teaching instrumental music in North Merrick, NY, Peggy Rakas now serves as an adjunct professor of music education at Hofstra University. In addition to her academic role, she is a clinician for MakeMusic Cloud and the founder of Teaching Positivity, an initiative offering positive psychology workshops for educators, staff, and students. Peggy is also a certified Heroic Life Coach specializing in positive psychology. She has presented at numerous conferences, including the Eastern Division Conference, the New York State Music Conference, the Ohio Music Educators Conference, and for NAfME, the New York State Council of Music Administrators, and MakeMusic Cloud. She is also a highly regarded presenter of professional development workshops for school districts across Long Island. Throughout her career, Ms. Rakas has earned several honors, including the Nassau County Scope Teacher of the Year Award and two separate recognitions as Teacher of the Year in Merrick, NY. She was also nominated for the Disney American Teacher Award and the New York State Teacher of the Year. Ms. Rakas is the founder and coordinator of the Harry Chapin Practice-a-thon, a nonprofit organization that has raised funds for food banks across Long Island since 2008. A proud graduate of Bowling Green State University and Queens College, Ms. Rakas continues to support educators and students through her work and passion for positive psychology and music education. You can learn more about her work at TeachingPositivity.com.