TAA Talks

TAA is celebrating the power of great teaching with a special edition of the TAA Talks Podcast in honor of the 2026 TAA Foundation Teacher Appreciation Donation Sensation. Host Kami Lunsford, TAA Director of Educational Programs and Events, ponders the question Who IS my favorite teacher? Rather than tackling the impossible alone, this episode leans into the reflections from arts educators whose l...

Join Kami Lunsford, TAA Director of Educational Programs and Events, and Kiera Crite, elementary music teacher from Franklin, TN, as they explore the great assets arts educators bring to school leadership, and how leading through an arts lens is a superpower! They'll also take a closer look at what the Arts Leadership & Administration Track at the TAA Summer Institute has to offer adminis...

Close out the first semester with Kami as she chats with Chris Taylor, TAA Visual Art facilitator, about the real magic that happens in arts education classes every day in this episode - "Making Magic On Purpose: How the Arts Make a Lasting Impact." It's a great listen as you recharge and set intention for the second half of the school year! Christopher Taylor was born and raised in...

Grab a cup of coffee and join Kami as she talks with Paula Medlin, the Trio Track Coordinator for the TAA Summer Institute. They'll discuss how it really is "all about relationships" when it comes to making an impact in the arts classroom and school community. Paula gives insights on how the trio track is beneficial to everyone who works in education, and why this year's TAA Su...

Join Kami as she interviews special guest Kathy Coffey , a TAA Alumni Association member and TAA Ambassador, about the wild and wonderful world of middle school. They reflect on the tumultuous time for students and how arts education gives them tools to embrace change and express their individuality.  Kathy Coffey is a retired visual art educator whose 23-year career left a lasting impression on t...

Join Kami as she interviews special guest Pollyanna Parker about all the many resources she has learned from TAA year-round programs over the years and how they shaped her career as a theatre educator. This time of reflection will surely refresh your focus as you finish up a year of lasting connections made in your arts classrooms!  Pollyanna Parker is an experienced educator with more than three...

Join us as Emily McEneely shares how arts education classes are a big opportunity to build community and confidence and how this can be important for both students and teachers. She gives tips on how to make your department more valued and recognized and reflects on how collaboration is key for personal progress. Emily McEneely teaches PK-3 visual art at Sam Houston Elementary School in Maryville,...

Join Kami Lunsford as she talks shop with Kerry Vaughn who has some tips for cultivating a relationship with your administration and staff, some must-have resources and tools for the middle school band room, and wisdom about getting our students to commit to progress on a daily basis. Kerry Vaughn is a seasoned band director at Spring Station Middle School in Spring Hill, TN, where he has made a l...

Erica Holmes Darr encourages us to "take a breath" and explore how building community can make meaningful change in our creative spaces! Erica is a passionate and dedicated music educator who began her teaching career in 2003 after earning a degree in Vocal Music Education from Austin Peay State University. Throughout her career, Darr has taught a wide range of music classes to students...

David Reynolds, TAA Art Facilitator, shares how art gives kids "life tools" that can help them create a better world.  He also gives some really great advice for new & pre-service teachers! David has taught for twelve years and is currently the Elementary Visual Arts teacher at Moore Elementary in the Franklin Special Schools District in Franklin, TN. He serves as Commissioner for th...

Darlene Tanner, one of our West TN Regional Representatives for the TAA Alumni Association, encourages us to unlock the power of choice in fine arts classes!  She is a visual art educator who teaches K-5th Grades at University School of Jackson in Jackson, TN.  Born to missionary parents, she grew up in Japan, and her journey led her to Tennessee where she studied art at Union University.  She and...

Michelle Tripp, TAA Alumni Association Middle TN Regional Representative, reflects on the power of theatre education and shares some fruitful finds that make performances easier for directors in 2022! Michelle grew up in the Middle Tennessee area and now lives in Murfreesboro. She will begin her 25th year of teaching this upcoming school year and has taught theatre, film, and speech at Page High S...

William Bodley, Jr., TAA Alumni Association West TN Regional Representative, reflects on the 2021-2022 school year, and shares with us what strategies he's keeping and which ones he's letting go. William has served as the band director at Treadwell Middle School in Memphis, Tennessee for nine years. Originally from Mobile, AL, he attended Alabama A&M University and continued his educ...