Executive Board
Jennifer Martin, President
Jennifer Martin currently serves as the Orchestra/Mariachi Specialist for Fort Worth ISD. She has also served as Head Orchestra Director at Boles Junior High in Arlington ISD and as Director of Orchestras for Midway ISD in Waco, TX. She began her musical studies as a part of her public school orchestra program in the 5th grade. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Music Education in 2003.
Orchestras under Mrs. Martin’s direction have received consistent UIL Sweepstakes Awards and Best in Class awards at festivals across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. They have also ranked among the top ten orchestras in the state in the TMEA State Honor Orchestra contest at the HS and JH/MS levels. She is in frequent demand as a clinician and judge for orchestras around the state.
Mrs. Martin was honored as an AWARE Foundation Teacher of the Year Finalist in 2022 and was the winner of the Smile Doctors Arlington Rockstar Teacher award in 2021. She holds memberships in the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Fine Arts Administrators, and Mu Omicron.
Mrs. Martin also stays active as a performer in the viola section of the Waco Symphony Orchestra, where she has shared the stage with Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Edgar Meyer, Renee Fleming, Art Garfunkel, and Lyle Lovett. When she is not teaching or performing, she and her husband Jimmy can be found around the metroplex supporting their two kids, Jaxon and Joe, in their musical and athletic pursuits.
Contact Information
4207 Crossgate Ct.
Arlington, TX 76016
(817) 814-2640
president@tmea.org
Shane Goforth, Past-President
Shane Goforth began his career as a Texas Band Director in 1996. He currently serves as the Director of Bands at North Shore Senior High School in Houston, Texas. Under his direction, the North Shore Senior High bands have advanced to the Texas State Marching Band Championships on six occasions and were a State Finalist and UIL Area F Champion in 2016. The North Shore Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago in 2017 and the Texas Bandmaster’s Convention in 2018 and 2024. The band has earned numerous and consistent UIL Sweepstakes awards and Best in Class recognitions and was named as a Commended Winner in the Foundation for Music Education’s National Wind Band Honors project. In 2023, Shane was awarded the Music Education Alliance’s William P. Foster Community Development Award for his service to his students and community.
Shane previously served as the Director of Bands at Holliday and Aubrey High Schools, where his bands competed at the Texas State Marching Band Championships and were awarded first place in the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series. He is an active adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician and has presented clinics at the Midwest, TMEA, and TBA conventions.
A native of Frisco, Texas, Mr. Goforth started his musical career under the direction of Dr. Daryl Trent and studied saxophone with Brad Leali. He continued his education, earning an Associate of Music in Jazz Saxophone at Weatherford College, a Bachelor of Music with honors from the University of North Texas, and a Master of Music in Conducting from Sam Houston State University
Shane married the love of his life, Lawren, in 1994, and together, they have six children and one awesome grandson. Shane enjoys reading, golf, playing guitar, and spending time with his family in his spare time.
Contact Information
14122 Wadebridge Way
Houston, TX 77015
(713) 516-7158
pastpresident@tmea.org
Joshua McGuire, President-Elect
Joshua McGuire serves as one of the choral directors at Rock Hill High School in the Prosper Independent School District. Prior to Rock Hill, he was a choir director at Sachse High School in the Garland Independent School District for 15 years. During his tenure at Sachse High School, choirs performed for the Music Educators National Conference, served as demonstration choirs for the American Choral Directors Association, were honored with placement at the American Classic Madrigal and Chamber Choir Festival in San Antonio and North Texas, and were consistently awarded Sweepstakes at UIL Concert & Sight Reading. Originally from Illinois, he taught at the middle school and high school levels in the Chicago area.
Mr. McGuire has been honored to serve the directors and students of Texas in various roles within the Texas Music Educators Association as a Region Vocal Chair, All-State Choir section leader, All-State Choir organizer, the TMEA Convention Vocal Division Clinic & Convention Coordinator, Area B Vocal Division Chair, and Area C Vocal Division Chair, and most recently as a Vice-President of the Texas Music Educators Association and State Vocal Chair from 2023-2025. Additionally, he has served the members of the American Choral Directors Association and the Texas Choral Directors Association in a variety of organizing and volunteering roles.
Mr. McGuire holds a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University. He is a member of TMEA, ACDA, TCDA, TMAA, TFAA, and Pi Kappa Lambda.
Contact Information
Rock Hill HS
16061 Coit Rd
Frisco, TX
(945) 678-2971
presidentelect@tmea.org
Kim Shuttlesworth, Vice-President & Band Division Chair
Ms. Shuttlesworth currently serves as the Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair for Coppell High School. Shuttlesworth is currently in her twentieth year of teaching in Texas. Shuttlesworth holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Shuttlesworth’s ensembles have received recognition each year in both marching and concert venues. Each ensemble has received superior ratings at the UIL Marching Contest, UIL Concert & Sightreading Contest, and the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Contest. Under her direction, her programs have been UIL State Marching Band Contest Finalists, Bands of America Regional, Super Regional, and Grand National Finalists, and a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Shield in 2013. Shuttlesworth’s concert bands have consistently received superior ratings. Her bands have advanced through the Texas Music Educators Association Honor Band Contest, placing 11th in 2019 for 4A with Tom Glenn High School and 6th place in 2023 and 2nd place in 2025 with Coppell Wind Symphony. Coppell Wind Symphony performed at The Midwest Clinic in 2023.
Ms. Shuttlesworth has worked with summer programs over the past 25 years, including the Music for All Summer Symposium, the Longhorn Music Camp, Western Carolina University, and the Sewanee Summer Festival. She is an active adjudicator, clinician, and consultant across Texas and the country in both marching and concert band. Ms. Shuttlesworth holds professional affiliations with the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Tau Beta Sigma.
Contact Information
Coppell High School
185 W Parkway Blvd
Coppell, TX 75019
(512) 897-8697
bandvp@tmea.org
Sabrina Behrens, Vice-President & Orchestra Division Chair
Sabrina Behrens is a passionate musician, athlete, and lifelong learner. With over 18 years in music education, she has cultivated a love for the arts that extends beyond the classroom. Sabrina is the Director of Orchestras at Travis High School in Fort Bend ISD, where she has played a key role in growing the orchestra program. In 2019, she was named Teacher of the Year for Travis High School. Her dedication to music education is matched by her personal commitment to fostering growth and self-improvement.
Sabrina earned a Master’s in Music in Double Bass Performance from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Baylor University. Her educational background reflects her commitment to excellence and continued professional development.
In addition to her teaching career, Sabrina is a member of TMEA, TODA, and NAMfE. As TMEA Region 13 Orchestra Division Chair, she played a key role in organizing auditions, clinics, and events, further supporting her dedication to music education across the state.
Outside of her professional achievements, Sabrina is an accomplished athlete who has completed three Ironman triathlons. She enjoys spending time with her husband Samuel and their two dogs, Tyler and Dakota, and together, they cheer for their favorite sports teams, including the Dallas Stars, Texas Rangers, Michigan Wolverines, Baylor Bears, and Dallas Cowboys.
An active performer, Sabrina plays with the Brazos Valley and Lake Charles Symphonies, continuing her lifelong dedication to music. Sabrina’s passion for personal growth and the arts is evident in everything she does.
Contact Information
19918 Nandina Knoll
Richmond, TX 77407
(281) 633-6300
orchestravp@tmea.org
Jennifer Gallagher, Vice-President and Vocal Division Chair
Jennifer Gallagher is in her 17th year in education in Alvin ISD. She was previously the 2008 inaugural head choir director at Nolan Ryan Junior High before opening Shadow Creek High School in 2016.
A 2008 summa cum laude graduate of the University of Houston, Jennifer was voted as the “Teacher of the Year” for her campus and was the Secondary “Teacher of the Year” for Alvin ISD in 2013-2014. She was also a state finalist for an HEB “Excellence in Education” award in 2014. Jennifer received the “Young Director of Distinction” Award from the Texas Choral Directors Association and served as Vice President for the MS/JH division of TCDA. An active leader in music education, Jennifer has served TMEA as the MS/JH vocal coordinator, HS vocal chair, and Region XVII President. She has also served on the TMEA IDEA committee. She is the former TMEA Area H vocal chair.
An active clinician and TMAA adjudicator, her varsity treble choir performed at the Bay Area Chorus Invitational in 2011, her varsity tenor-bass performed at the “Hear the Future” Invitational with the Houston Chamber Choir in 2016, and the varsity mixed choirs of Shadow Creek have performed at the University of Houston High School Invitational in both 2018 and 2022. The Shadow Creek Varsity Tenor-Bass choir was an invited ensemble for the 2025 TMEA convention and will also be the honor choir for the American Classic Celebration of Excellence festival in April 2025.
Jennifer served a three-year term on the UIL PML committee and presented staff development workshops in Aldine, Clear Creek, Pearland, Galena Park, Fort Bend, and at TMEA and TCDA conventions. She founded YOUnity Playground, a social media organization committed to connecting music educators and prioritizing their mental health. She resides with her husband John and daughters Lily & Penelope in Pearland.
Contact Information
3710 Paigewood Drive
Pearland, TX 77584
(281) 245-3865
vocalvp@tmea.org
Lauren Summa, Vice-President and Elementary Division Chair
Lauren Summa teaches music at Melba Passmore Elementary in the Alvin Independent School District, where she has been recognized as both district and campus Teacher of the Year. She is an active presenter for school districts and music education organizations at the local and state levels. Lauren has extensive experience serving students in specialized behavior programs and has taught in Title I schools throughout her career. Passmore Percussion was an Invited Elementary Performing Ensemble for the Texas Music Educators Association in 2018.
Lauren is an active member of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA) and the Texas Gulf Coast Orff Association (TGCOA). She is an AOSA Teacher Educator and teaches Basic Level I for the Jackson State University and Alvin ISD. Lauren serves as a member of AOSA’s Orff-Schulwerk Educational Programming subcommittee. She has served as President and Secretary for TGCOA.
Singing is an essential part of both her professional and personal life. Lauren is a founding member of Casulana, the Women’s Choir of Houston, under the direction of Janwin Overstreet-Goode and Neena Taylor. Additionally, she sings with her son and future daughter-in-law in the Alvin Community Chorus with Dr. Kevin Moody.
Lauren lives in Alvin, Texas, with her husband Andy, son Quen, and mom Lynn.
Contact Information
600 Kost Road
Alvin, TX 77511
(281) 585-6696 x 3126
elementaryvp@tmea.org
Crystal Gerrard-Ramirez, Vice-President and College Division Chair
Crystal Lynn Gerrard-Ramirez is Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of North Texas where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. Prior to her appointment at the University of North Texas, she held public school teaching positions in Lewisville and Grand Prairie, Texas. She holds degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington (BM), Southern Methodist University (MM), and The Ohio State University (PhD).
Dr. Gerrard-Ramirez is an active clinician, adjudicator, and researcher. She has presented at state, national, and international venues. Her publications can be found in the Journal of Research in Music Education, Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, and Equity and Excellence in Education. Her research interests include asset-based practices; issues of marginalization and underrepresentation in music education; and critical issues in music teacher education.
Contact Information
University of North Texas
College of Music
1155 Union Circle #311367
Denton, Texas 76203-5017
(682) 587-9937
collegevp@tmea.org