2025 | MMEA Mentoring Conference: Mentors & Presenters
11th annual mmea mentoring conference
september 14-15, 2025 * Tan-tar-a conference center
2025 Mentoring Conference
Mentors & Presenters
Elizabeth Betts
Elizabeth Betts is currently in her fourth year as Director of Bands for the Fayette School District in Fayette, Missouri. She has taught the past 15 years in small, Missouri schools- many of them spent teaching PreK-12 Music. She has been involved with the MMEA mentoring program for six years, and is a member of MMEA, NafME, and MBA. Elizabeth resides in Fayette, Missouri with her husband and two children.
Sarah Cook
Sarah Cook is in her 21st year teaching vocal music at Lafayette County C-1 School District in Higginsville, Missouri, where she teaches grades 6-12. Mrs. Cook studied at the University of Central Missouri where she completed both a Bachelors in Music Education with a vocal emphasis and a Master of Arts in Music Education with a conducting emphasis. She serves as pianist for Central Christian Church in Higginsville. In 2017, she received the MCDA Outstanding Director Award for West Central Missouri, and in 2021, she was chosen as the Lafayette County C-1 District Teacher of the Year . Mrs. Cook serves the WCMMEA as the Secretary/Treasurer, and enjoys mentoring and speaking to new music teachers.
Patrick Dell
Patrick Dell teaches choir at Ft. Zumwalt West High School, where he, his students, and his coworkers, enjoy a wonderful sense of community. Previously, he taught grades 4-12 in the Hermann School District, where his choirs performed twice at the Missouri Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. Patrick has led the vocal track of the MMEA mentoring program since its inception, and continues to contribute professionally through yearly presentations and the authoring of sight reading practice and assessment materials for various organizations and schools. As a pianist, Patrick has performed as an accompanist and a soloist throughout the country and abroad, for various universities, conferences, tours, and organizations. He remains in demand as an accompanist for high school and collegiate soloists and ensembles, and enjoys pinch-hitting for anybody singing Erlkönig. He has also earned all of the three gold star cups at the 200cc difficulty level in Mario Kart 8.
Kyle Donnelly
Kyle Donnelly is currently the Assistant Band Director at West Middle School in Columbia, MO, where he teaches beginning & intermediate brass & percussion classes and co-directs the 8th grade band. Additionally, he assists with the Hickman High School Marching Band. Prior to this position, he served as the Assistant Band Director in Boonville, MO for 8 years, where he taught grades 5-12 band classes, and the Band Director/Music Teacher in Pilot Grove, MO for 1 year, where he taught all K-12 music classes. He has served as a mentor through MMEA since 2014 & has presented multiple clinics at the Missouri Music Educators Association conference & the Missouri Bandmasters Association Summer Convention. He holds undergraduate degrees in music & business from the University of Missouri & a master’s in music education from Central Methodist University. He currently resides in Columbia with his wife, Melanie, and their daughters Karis (7) and Gwen (3). He holds professional memberships in NAFME, MBA, and the International Tuba Euphonium Association. He serves as the coordinator for Columbia’s annual Tuba Christmas performance & and is a National Board Certified Teacher.
Daniel Henderson
Daniel Henderson began his cello studies at the age of 10 in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. He received his Bachelor’s degree in cello performance from the HARID Conservatory of music where he studied with Johanne Perron. He received his Master of Music degree in cello performance from the University of Florida where he studied with Mark Tanner. Mr. Henderson was twice the recipient of the Cello Fellowship Award for the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada. During his time in Banff, Daniel studied with legendary cellist Aldo Parisot.
Mr. Henderson currently serves as the Director of Orchestras for the School District of Clayton. This school year marks the third time the Clayton High School Symphonic Orchestra has been invited to perform at the Missouri Music Educators In-Service Workshop/Conference under Mr. Henderson’s direction. Prior to teaching in Clayton, Mr. Henderson taught secondary orchestra in the Fairfax County, Parkway, and Pattonville School districts. Mr. Henderson is also an active free-lance musician in St. Louis, MO, where he lives with his wife Katie (an elementary strings teacher in the Parkway district) and his two violin-playing daughters.
Jodi Kratzer
Jodi Kratzer teaches vocal music at Fort Zumwalt North Middle School and previously served as the Middle School Choir Vice President for St. Louis Metro District 8. She holds a degree in Vocal Music Education from Concordia University Chicago, has earned her Level II Certification from the CME Institute for Choral Teacher Education, and received Outstanding District Director awards from the Missouri Choral Directors Association in 2018 and 2022. She also worked as the Vocal Music Director for the City of O’Fallon’s teen summer musical in 2017 and as Choir Manager for The St. Louis Children’s Choirs from 2009-2014. She is an active member of ACDA and NAfME.
James Melton
James Melton is the Associate Executive Director at MSHSAA, leading work on Music Activities. He began this role in July of 2023. James provides support in the areas of eligibility, bylaw interpretation, transfers, and the sport of Tennis. Before coming to MSHSAA, James was a vocal music educator and arts administrator for 23 years with Columbia Public Schools. A lifelong advocate for arts education, a vocalist, and Missourian (a Spoofhound through and through), James is proud to be able to support and serve every music educator and student through participation in competitive and evaluative music experiences. Contact him at the MSHSAA Office – 573-875-4880 or james@mshsaa.org
Aaron Neff
Aaron Neff is the music teacher at Arcadia Valley High School. Aaron received his degrees from Mineral Area College and at Central Methodist University. He is currently working on his Master’s degree from Central Methodist University. As an advocate for music education, Aaron has played a pivotal role in organizing school concerts and community events for his students.
Christopher J. Sacco
Chris Sacco is currently the Director of Bands for the Logan-Rogersville School District, where he instructs all High School Band activities, as well as 6th-8th grade brass students. Prior to Logan-Rogersville, he spent 16 years at Ava, where he served as the Associate Director of Bands and co-directed with his wife Sarah. During his tenure at Ava his Concert and Jazz Bands received superior ratings and top placements every year at various festivals. The High School Symphonic Band attained 15 consecutive superior ratings at their State Assessment. Mr. Sacco’s applied students consistently received superior ratings at both the District and State level. The overall program more than doubled in size and success since Chris and his wife arrived in 2008. They have had students perform in the District Bands, State Band, Missouri Lions Band, Macy’s Great American Marching Band, Army All-American Marching Band, the Citrus Bowl, and the Bands of America Marching Band.
Chris is a two-time recipient of the National Citizenship Education Teacher Recognition Award as well as the Loyalty Day Award by the VFW. He is also a recipient of the John East “Spirit of Orpheus” Mentor Award for his work with young music educators throughout the South Central region of the state. His professional affiliations and memberships include MMEA, NAfME, MBA, MOAJE, and Phi Beta Mu. Chris currently serves as the MMEA President. He has also served as the MMEA Jazz VP, the SCMMEA Band VP, and the Event Coordinator for the South Central Conference Honor Band. He is also an active MSHSAA adjudicator.
Chris currently holds an Associate of Arts degree from Jefferson College, a Bachelor of Music Education from Missouri State University, and a Masters in Secondary Education from Drury University. Outside of music education, Chris enlisted in the Missouri Air National Guard in March of 2000, where he completed an Associate of Applied Science degree in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. While serving 12 years in the 131st Civil Engineering Squadron, he was active during Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom, where serving in various locations throughout the Middle East.
Vicky Scott
Vicky Scott is a Senior Instructor of Music Education at Missouri State University. In addition to teaching Music Education Methods courses, her professional duties also include supervising student teachers, advising music education students, and serving as faculty advisor to NAfME-C and Student MCDA. She is program director and instructor of The Kodaly Institute of the Ozarks at Missouri State University, which offers intensive training in the Kodaly Methodology for PK-12 music teachers.
Prior to her full time position at Missouri State, Vicky enjoyed a thirty year career teaching elementary vocal music in the Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, MO. She served on curriculum development and review committees multiple times and also served as professional learning clinician for the Springfield Schools elementary vocal music faculty.
Vicky earned her Bachelors in Elementary Education and Music in 1986 and Masters in Secondary Music Education in 1989. In 2009, she earned her Kodaly Certification, a culmination of successful completion of three levels of Kodaly Methodology training. She has served as guest clinician for elementary honor choirs in the Springfield area. Vicky has provided professional learning presentations for MMEA, MCDA, SCMMEA, Kodaly of the Ozarks, university student organizations, and school music faculty.
Vicky served two terms as Elementary Vice President of the South Central Missouri Music Educators Association, multiple terms on the Executive Board of the Springfield National Education Association, one term as Repertoire and Resource Chair for University Youth and Student Activities of the Missouri Choral Directors Association, and President of Kodaly of the Ozarks.
Chelsea Silvermintz
Chelsea Silvermintz, a band director in the Lindbergh School District, teaches high school students in Freshman Band, Concert Band, Woodwind Choir, the Spirit of St. Louis Marching Band, and the musical pit orchestra. Under her direction, the Freshman Band has earned exemplary ratings for 15 consecutive years. Additionally, Chelsea teaches beginning clarinet while working closely with all woodwind students at Lindbergh’s two middle schools.
Chelsea served as MMEA Band Vice-President from 2020-2022. She also served the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association District #5 as High School Concert Band Vice-President, President, and currently serves as Past-President. She holds membership in the National Association for Music Education, Missouri Music Educators Association, Missouri Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Missouri Women Band Directors Association.
Chelsea is a lifelong learner and deeply appreciative of the wealth of knowledge shared by her friends and colleagues, both here in Missouri and across the country. She lives in Chesterfield with her two boys and husband Ben, who is the choir director at Parkway Central High School.
Rene’ Spencer
Rene’ Spencer taught Missouri public school students for 31 years and is an adjunct instructor at Missouri Southern State University and instructor for the Kodaly Institute of the Ozarks at Missouri State University. Her teaching assignments have included secondary vocal and instrumental music, K-6 music, and teaching at the university level. Rene’ teaches elementary music courses, music theory, and flute at MSSU and has served as both an in-service and honor choir clinician throughout Missouri and Arkansas. She served as Elementary Vice-President for MMEA, founding president of the Kodaly of the Ozarks chapter of OAKE and is a member of the MMEA mentoring team.
Rene’ earned her BME in music education from Southwest Baptist University, her masters in instrumental music education from Missouri State University, Orff Level 1 certification from Missouri State University, and Kodaly certification from the University of Central Missouri.
Chris Sprague
After thirty years, Chris Sprague retired in July of 2022. She spent the last twenty-seven years at Bradleyville, a small rural school in southwest Missouri serving 220 students in grades K-12. Her teaching assignments included Band 5-12, K-8 general music and Vocal Music 9-12. During her tenure at Bradleyville her bands received numerous accolades, including selection to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference in 2014 and multiple years of “straight 1” performances at the MSHSAA All-State Large Ensemble Festival. Chris is currently serving as the Mentoring Chair of the Missouri Music Educators Association and previously served as MMEA President. She has also been heavily involved in the MMEA Mentoring Program for new teachers since its inception. She is an active clinician, adjudicator, and mentor. Her hobbies include fishing with her husband Matt and gardening, and she is a 45+ year fan of the Kansas City Chiefs.