Kelsey Helton is an accomplished music educator with 11 years of experience. Currently serving as the music specialist at Silver Lake Elementary in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, she directs the school’s musical productions and the Singing Stars Choir. Kelsey is an active member of the choir and orchestra at Calvary Lutheran Church in North Richland Hills. Previously, she taught in Dickinson ISD as the lead elementary music teacher, where she founded the Silbernagel Sound Choir and received the 2023 Campus Teacher of the Year award. Kelsey was recognized as a Texas State Finalist for the HEB Teacher of Excellence Award in 2023 and featured in the Galveston Daily News 40 Under 40 list. In addition to other initiatives, she founded the Galveston County Summer Children’s Choir. She holds multiple certifications, including Orff, Kodály, and Texas certifications in Music, Art, SPED, GT, ESL, and Core Subjects (STR K-4).

Please Share Your Ideas For Assisting TCDA To Live Into The Mission And Purposes Of The Organization

Elementary music deserves to be seen as the vibrant foundation of TCDA’s mission. I propose three initiatives to make that happen.

-Elementary-Focused Sessions: Offer targeted workshops with hands-on instruments and classroom strategies that work across grade levels and after-school groups. Teachers need practical ideas they can use immediately—more “bang for their buck.”

-Statewide Professional Development: Expand opportunities through regional workshops, webinars, and conferences. Texas has amazing resources and educators; let’s showcase them and learn from one another. Teachers will feel supported and empowered.

-Strong Mentorship Program: Pair experienced educators with pre-service and first-year teachers. Elementary music can be intimidating to newcomers. I want to connect anyone seeking guidance with world-class Texas mentors—people who understand the diversity and rewards of elementary music education.

These initiatives build community, celebrate what we already have, and nurture the next generation of music educators.

I’d be honored to serve as your TCDA Elementary Vice President. Let’s make some music!

Maribel Kohles is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in music education. She has been in music education for 14 years. She is currently teaching in Barbers Hill Intermediate North a 4th-6th grade campus. Maribel’s choirs have received many awards, including multiple UIL Concert and Sightreading Sweepstakes over the span of her career, numerous UIL solo and ensemble superior ratings. Also for several years, Maribel has had students make the TCDA Honor Choirs. Her choirs at BHISN have received superior ratings every year at the Shadow Creek Choir Festival, with both choirs earning Best in Class this year. Maribel began her teaching career in Goose Creek CISD in Baytown, where she taught at Travis Elementary and later at Gentry Junior High. Maribel also taught music for two years at the Barbers Hill Pre-K Center. Her professional affiliations include being an active member of TMEA, TCDA and TMAA. Maribel is happily married to Bradley Kohles, and they have a beautiful daughter, Clarise.

Please Share Your Ideas For Assisting TCDA To Live Into The Mission And Purposes Of The Organization

First off, I would be honored and humbled to represent TCDA as your Elementary VP. As an Intermediate music and choir teacher, I share my enthusiasm of music with my students on a daily basis in a variety of ways. As Elementary VP I will take this same passion to help music teachers throughout the state grow in their programs through cross curricular activities and professional development sessions that serve the growing needs of elementary music teachers.   

I want our musical excellence to continue to thrive and grow within the choral music profession, while balancing the needs of our smallest communities, as well as our larger, well established districts. 

As Elementary VP I would like to support cross curricular instruction with music education  to better serve members in the classroom and in their choirs. With many districts cutting music programs across the state, I would like to help elementary music teachers advocate for their music and choral programs.  In addition, I would like to help teachers grow in their knowledge of quality and diverse choral literature and so much more.  

Lastly, as Elementary VP, I want to be available to listen to the concerns of my fellow members. I want to listen to what our middle school directors’ needs so we can provide them with support to produce the best singers possible. I want to listen to our community of directors and hear what they need from our organization. I want everyone’s voice to be heard.

Vicky Suarez teaches General Music and Middle School Choir at Dealey Montessori, a public school in Dallas, Texas. This is her 23rd year to teach in the Texas public schools. She holds degrees from UTArlington (Bachelor of Music), and Southern Methodist University (MM in Music Education), and is certified in Orff Schulwerk and SongWorks. Vicky has National Board Certification in Music: Early and Middle Childhood. She has presented at AOSA, TMEA, TCDA, OAKE, and at Illinois MEA. In 2025 she was the invited clinician for the Fort Worth Elementary Music Festival. She is active with her local Sigma Alpha Iota chapter, and is an officer with Kodaly Educators of Texas. Vicky lives in Richardson with husband Rob, and enjoys playing the flute in the New Texas Symphony Orchestra and the Plano Community Band.

Please Share Your Ideas For Assisting TCDA To Live Into The Mission And Purposes Of The Organization

I want to learn how to encourage more elementary music teachers to participate in TCDA: to attend conference and local professional development offerings, and to take advantage of the wealth of resources offered by TCDA. Helping teachers enjoy their work, be more successful and stay in the profession longer is a particular interest of mine. I would reach out and ask as many teachers as I can, “What can TCDA do for you? What do you need? How can we support you?” I am committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in every aspect of choral teaching. Thank you for considering me for this office of Elementary Vice President. I would be honored to serve.