MEET THE GPOC BOARD:
Kaitlin Beck
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Kaitlin Beck is in her ninth year teaching K-5 general music at DC West Elementary School in Valley, Nebraska. Outside of the school day, she sponsors ukulele, recorder, and drum clubs, as well as serving as the Youth Choir Director at Urban Abbey. Prior to teaching at DC West, Kaitlin worked as the Associate Director of Choirs for the Omaha Children’s Choir and Music Director for the Alleluia, Amen! Children’s Choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Education with an emphasis in K-12 vocal music from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a Masters of Arts in Music Education with an Orff Schulwerk concentration from the University of St. Thomas. Kaitlin has completed her Orff Schulwerk and World Music Drumming certification levels and actively pursues additional development in both disciplines. She presents at the local and national level and is often inspired by the connections between movement, literature, and the visual arts. Kaitlin lives in Omaha and can be found enjoying a cup of coffee with friends and family, reading a good book, and snuggling with her cats Opal and Otis.
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Kathleen McBee is in her tenth year with Elkhorn Public Schools teaching K-5 general music at West Bay Elementary. Kathleen graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor's in Music Education in 2016 and is currently pursuing a Masters in Music Education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. She has completed all three levels of Orff Schulwerk at UNL and all three levels of Kodály at UNO. Kathleen presents at the local and national level where she enjoys presenting on Orff-inspired programs, planning techniques, and the integration of mindfulness and breathwork in the classroom. In her free time, Kathleen likes to teach and practice yoga, read books, and go on runs. She lives in Omaha with her husband, Jesse, and her three rescue dogs, Stu, Winston, and Leo.
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Kathleen McBee
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Emma Shaner
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Emma Shaner is entering her 10th year teaching music as a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has taught PreK-8th grade general music at Meridian Public Schools and K-4 general music at Plattsmouth Community Schools where she directed two shows with the Disney Musicals in Schools Program through Omaha Performing Arts. Emma will be starting her 7th year at Cody Elementary in Millard Public Schools where she teaches PreK-5th grade general music, and sponsors after school Art Club. Emma has completed three levels of Orff-Schulwerk training, all from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Level I of World Music Drumming at Nebraska Wesleyan. This will be Emma’s 7th season serving on the Great Plains Orff Chapter board. When out of the classroom, Emma enjoys crafting, tending to her plants, gaming with her spouse Brad, and being dog mom to Billie.
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Lori Mills has taught PreK-8th general music in her 11 years of teaching. Throughout those years, Lori directed a 4th-8th choir for 7 years, and was the director for 3 junior high musicals. Lori earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a dance minor from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She also received her Master’s degree in Music Education from UNL. Lori has completed all three levels of Orff Schulwerk, and level 1 of Kodály. In her free time, Lori likes to play tennis and go on long bike rides. |
Lori Mills
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Anne Malsam
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Anne Malsam is in her sixth year of teaching K-5 general music in Omaha Public Schools. Outside of school, she acts as the music director and choreographer for the Disney Musicals in schools program. Anne has completed her Orff Schulwerk Training I and II from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Prior to working for OPS, Anne has been Music Director for the Cherub Children’s Choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln. This will be her fifth year serving on the board, and third year serving as publications editor. Anne received a Master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Concordia University. In her free time, Anne likes to sew, cook, write letters, and spend time with her family and friends.
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Janet Howles
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Janet Howles is starting her 10th year of teaching and is currently at Morley Elementary school in LPS. She holds a BA and MM in clarinet performance from Florida State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln respectively, a teaching certification through the University of Nebraska-Kearney, and has completed Orff levels I-III. In addition to teaching K-5 general music at Morley, she conducts the school choir and leads Morley’s Orff Ensemble. Prior to joining the team at LPS, she taught in Milford, Columbus-Lakeview, and as adjunct professor of clarinet at Doane University. Janet will begin serving this year as a District Specialist Mentor with LPS and is a Member-at-Large of the Great Plains Orff Chapter. She is also a member of the American Orff Schulwerk Association and Nebraska Music Education Association. When she’s not teaching at school, Janet enjoys playing clarinet in the Waverly Area Community Band and spends as much time as possible with her husband and 2 boys.
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Michael Stinman currently serves as the General Music Specialist (PK-5) and the Middle School Jazz Band director at Treynor Community Schools in Treynor, Iowa. This is his 11th year at Treynor and 15th year teaching overall. Always seeking out new educational opportunities, Michael loves finding creative ways to make a connection with his students through music. Michael earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Hastings College, and is currently working toward a Master's degree in Music Education. In addition, he has completed Levels I-III and a Master Class in Orff-Schulwerk from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as well as Levels I-IV of Kodály from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. In 2019, Michael received the Charles E. Lakin Outstanding Teacher Award. Michael is currently the Program Chair for the local Orff chapter: Great Plains Orff Chapter. He is a proud member of AOSA (American Orff-Schulwerk Association), OAKE (Organization of American Kodaly Educators), and is also Past-President of the local Kodály chapter: Plains States Kodály Organization (PSKOR.)
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Michael Stinman
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Jake Consbruck
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Jake Consbruck is the K-5 Music teacher at Kenwood Elementary in Kearney Public Schools. He will be starting his 8th year of teaching. Jake graduated from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln in 2019 with his Bachelor's in K-12 Music Education, and has a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University. Jake has completed Levels I, II, and III of Orff-Schulwerk at UNL, and Level I of World Music Drumming at Nebraska Wesleyan.
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Sarah Elker currently teaches K-5 general music at Riley Elementary School in Lincoln, Nebraska. She also directs the choir and folk dance club. She holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Eastern Illinois University (2010) and a Masters Degree in Education from Morningside University (2016). Prior to teaching in Lincoln, she taught in Sioux City, Iowa for ten years and she taught kindergarten in Seoul, South Korea (2011). Sarah has completed training for Orff Levels I, II, and III, and Conversational Solfege. She has additional training in World Music Drumming and First Steps in Music. She recently presented at NMEA. Sarah is happy to be a member of AOSA (American Orff-Schulwerk Association), and FAME (Feierabend Association for Music Education). In her free time she loves to read, walk her dog, Clover, and play board games with her husband, Eric.
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Sarah Elker
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Jaquelyn Havranek
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Jaquelyn Havranek is the K-5 music specialist at J. Sterling Morton Elementary in Millard Public Schools where she also directs a 4th and 5th grade choir, is a co-director of the district’s Orff Schulwerk Honors Ensemble, and fosters a passion of making music accessible to all types of learners. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Vocal Music Education from Wayne State College in 2014 and her Master of Music degree with a specialization in Music Education from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln in 2020. Jaquelyn has completed levels I-III of Orff Schulwerk certification, is an active member of the Great Plains Orff Chapter, and also holds level I certification of Kodaly and World Music Drumming. Jaquelyn and her husband, Stewart, reside in Omaha with their three kids Nola, Eliza, and Eddie and their English Bulldog, Beanz.
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Amanda Courtney is the K-6 music teacher at Patriot Elementary for Papillion-La Vista Community Schools. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education in the spring of 2026, and will be starting her first year of teaching. She has completed Levels I and II of Orff Schulwerk at UNL. This will be her second year on the board, and her first year in the role of Secretary. In her free time, she likes to play pickleball, crochet, and spend time with friends and family.
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Amanda Courtney
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