Middle School Vice President Candidates

Brittni Kelly has been a choral music educator at the middle school level for 9 years. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and completed her Master of Music degree from Southern Methodist University. Brittni has held leadership positions throughout her district and region, including the Lewisville ISD 6th Grade Honor Choir Coordinator, Region 2 MS Vocal Coordinator and Treasurer, and Fine Arts Department Chair on her campus. She is an active member of TMAA, TMEA, and TCDA and was awarded the TCDA Young Director of Distinction Award in 2021. Most importantly, Brittni is a passionate choral music educator that finds magic in middle school-aged students. She believes that she is first a teacher of humans and that choral music is merely the extraordinary content we have the honor of using to teach, guide, and help students become the best versions of themselves.

If Elected: Middle school choir directors are magicians. To turn a room full of unruly pubescent boys into a small sight-reading army is nothing short of magical. We really have the best job in the world working with the best, weirdest, most awkward, loving small humans, but this is a challenging time to be an educator. We as a society and an education community are navigating some tough but long overdue conversations and topics—conversations that have the potential to change the course of our profession, our teachers, and the way we interact with our students for the better. I believe in TCDA and in this position because as leaders in our profession, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to make sure we, along with our content, teaching methods, practices, performances, are truly representing and serving all Texas teachers, students, and communities. I love teaching, I love my students and colleagues, and I love being a choral music educator. It would be an honor to serve in the role of MS/JH Vice President and as part of the already fantastic, courageous leadership that we have in the Texas Choral Directors Association.

Marie Parisot Olsen is enjoying her ninth year as head director at Arnold Middle School in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. A graduate of Baylor University, she is in her eleventh year of teaching, all of which have served Title I programs. Mrs. Parisot Olsen was selected as Arnold Teacher of the Year in 2022. She also served as the CFISD Elementary Choral Festival clinician and conductor in 2022. In 2017, 2018 and 2021 her choirs were commended through the Mark of Excellence National Choral Honors series. In 2018 her Tenor Bass Chorale was selected a Mark of Excellence National Winner. She served TMEA as Region 27 MS/JH Treasurer for 5 years and currently serves TCDA as Region 27 representative. Mrs. Parisot Olsen resides in Houston, TX with her husband Brent and their fluffy kitties, Tormund Giantsbane and Quiche. She enjoys her book club, corny Netflix Christmas movies, and visiting Disney World!

If Elected: TCDA has provided me with countless educational experiences and meaningful friendships these past ten years. If elected:

• I will listen to, hear, and appreciate your input. I genuinely feel that all feedback is important to running an outstanding organization. TCDA is made up of bright, passionate choral educators and our middle school educators are invaluable! I hope to connect with you and continue to grow together as a community. 
• I will continue to develop the TCDA All-State choir experience. Last convention I was given the opportunity to help coordinate the choir and because of that opportunity, I am in the unique position of being able to foresee potential needs for future conventions. I strongly believe the All-State Choir is an important musical moment for both students and educators.
• I will focus on finding middle school appropriate clinics and reading sessions. It is essential that we find repertoire and clinics that reflect the needs of our middle school division.

I am honored to be nominated for MS Vice President and it would be a great privilege to serve the TCDA community that has supported me throughout my career.

Theresa Pritchard taught for 12 years at Austin Academy for Excellence in Garland ISD before opening Vista Ridge Middle School in Keller ISD in 2017, where she is enjoying her 18th year of teaching. Mrs. Pritchard is a cum laude graduate of Texas A&M at Commerce  where she also earned her Masters Degree in Secondary Choral  Education in 2014.  In addition to being a sought after adjudicator and clinician, she is the artistic director of the Keller ISD 5th/6th Honor Choir, who performed at TMEA in 2021.  Her research on the male changing voice  was published in the American Choral Directors Journal in  December of 2017, and her publications Snap Cards and Snap  Cards 2 have become a staple in choral classrooms across the  United States. Mrs. Pritchard is a member of ACDA, TCDA, and  TMAA.  Her greatest accomplishment, however, is her incredible daughter, Makenna.

If Elected: My first year of teaching, I remember feeling ashamed when a colleague asked why I hadn’t gone to TCDA. Having grown up in poverty, I felt ashamed to say I just couldn’t afford to go. Since then, I haven’t missed a convention and vowed to always make the most of every opportunity to grow. TCDA has been an integral part of that growth and I knew that, given the chance to help others that might feel “less than”, I would answer that call.  I think that anyone who knows me knows I’m super cool (not really, I’m a goofy nerd) until I feel like someone is being mistreated, underrepresented, or marginalized in any way. Then, I fight hard to right the wrongs I see.  

I also think anyone close to me would tell you I’m a problem solver, compassionate to a fault, open-minded, and a lifelong learner.  I see those qualities as attributes that would make me a useful member of the board and a fierce advocate for “the least of these.”  If you think all of those qualities would make me a good MS/JH Vice President, I would be honored to have your trust and your vote.