Vivian Gonzalez is a proud product of Miami Dade County Public Schools Magnet Programs and community music organizations. A 2014 Grammy Music Educator Award Top-Ten Finalist, Dr. Gonzalez has presented at numerous state and national conferences on the topic of including students with disabilities in music classes and ensembles including the National Association for Music Education, American String Teacher’s Association, El Sistema USA, El Sistema Toronto, Little Kids Rock Modern Band Summit, Magnet Schools of America, and the Florida Music Education Association. She has served as the NAfME IN-Ovations Council Southern Representative, the FL-ASTA President, FEMEA District 1 Chair, FOA 7/8 All-State Coordinator, FSMA Independent String Representative, FMEA Conference Planning Committee, and was a member of the editorial committee for the International Journal of Music Education: Practice. Dr. Gonzalez was recognized as a featured teacher for the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanics, and named Magnet Schools of America 2016 Region 3 Teacher of the Year, National 2022 Music Teacher of Excellence by the Country Music Association Foundation, and was recently recognized as the FMEA Secondary Music Teacher of the Year and the National Federation of High Schools Section 3 Teacher of the Year. Dr. Gonzalez holds degrees in Violin Performance, Music Education, Curriculum and Instruction (Reading Education), School Leadership (K-12), and Teaching and Learning (Special Education). She is currently the executive director of Greater Miami Youth Symphony and orchestra director at Miami Arts Studio 6-12 @ Zelda Glazer, a Miami-Dade County Public School.
Professional expertise, resources, and/or connections that the candidate would bring to the board: Connections to peer organizations with a national profile
