CMA Foundation names 30 winners

By Pune Media On May 7, 2025

The CMA Foundation just named its 30 “Music Teachers of Excellence” winners for 2025 who span 11 states.

The foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, announced the winners in a May 6 news release. Each teacher will receive $5,000 to split evenly between their classroom or program and their personal use. The awards highlight music teachers who demonstrate instructional excellence, innovation, leadership and community impact. Half of the recipients are from Tennessee.

“Music Teachers of Excellence is about shining a light on educators who are transforming the lives of their students every single day,” CMA Foundation Executive Director Tiffany Kerns said in the release. “These teachers are leaders, mentors and changemakers, and they deserve to feel seen and uplifted by our music community. This program isn’t just a moment of recognition; it’s a way for our industry to stand behind them and say, ‘We’re with you.'”

Winners also get a year of professional development and opportunities to engage with the wider network of CMA, the release stated. That includes special access to the annual CMA Fest and CMA Awards. A red carpet gala to celebrate the winners will be held Sept. 10 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville.

Here’s a look at this year’s winners, by region.

CMA Music Teachers of Excellence: 2025

Midwest

Justin Antos, Dwight D. Eisenhower High School, Blue Island, Illinois
Jeremy Bartunek, Greenbrier School, Northbrook, Illinois
Melissa Gustafson-Hinds, O’Fallon Township High School, O’Fallon, Illinois
Dr. Kathryn Spangler, Mt. Vernon High School, Fortville, Indiana
Brandon Dittgen, Milford High School, Milford, Ohio
Hong Le, Ellsworth Hill Elementary School, Hudson, Ohio
Matthew Shephard, Meridian Early College High School, Sanford, Michigan
Eric Songer, Chaska Middle School West, Chaska, Minnesota

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

Erin Althen, West Hill High School, Syracuse, New York
Theresa Iacarino, Cromwell Valley Elementary Magnet School, Towson, Maryland

Southeast

Michael Antmann, Freedom High School, Orlando, Florida
Nick Blue, Franklin High School, Franklin, Tennessee
Chuck Brown, Head Magnet Middle School, Nashville, Tennessee
Neshawn Calloway, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Reggie Coleman, Rocky Fork Middle School, Smyrna, Tennessee
Jandrea Crum, Chimneyrock Elementary School, Cordova, Tennessee
Garrett Doo, Smyrna High School, Smyrna, Tennessee
Nicholas Efstathiou, Riverdale High School, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Marisa Frank, Explore! Community School, Nashville, Tennessee
Elaina Gallas, Mill Creek Elementary School, Nolensville, Tennessee
Jason Glashauser, South Clinton Elementary School, Clinton, Tennessee
Carolyn Hankins, Page Middle School, Franklin, Tennessee
Elisabeth Lay, Downtown Elementary School, Memphis, Tennessee
Anna Maria Miller, Hume-Fogg Academic High School, Nashville, Tennessee
Dave Petrelli, Lockeland Design Center Elementary School, Nashville, Tennessee
Allison Snyder, Hunters Lane High School, Nashville, Tennessee

Southwest

Sara Duce, Greenfield Junior High School, Gilbert, Arizona

West

Megan Perdue, Sheldon High School, Eugene, Oregon
Ethan Chessin, Camas High School, Camas, Washington
Haviland Gilbert, Lincoln Elementary School, Kennewick, Washington

Learn more

More information about the foundation and the Music Teachers of Excellence process can be found at CMAfoundation.org.

Rachel Wegner covers education and children’s issues for The Tennessean. Got a story you think she should hear? Reach her via email at RAwegner@tennessean.com. You can also find her on Twitter or Bluesky under the handle @RachelAnnWegner.

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