President Elect
Matthew Falch
10 Years Experience
Bachelors at Evangel University
I have worked in music education in several different capacities. At one time or another, I have taught band and choir and the junior high and high school levels. I believe that my experience may provide perspective that would aid the board in making decisions. My personnel skill would, I believe, be a benefit to the board as well. During over a decade of work in education, I have been able to form strong relationships with a large and diverse group of administrators and fellow educators. I genuinely enjoy people, and I enjoy collegial rapport with others, even during difficult situations. In closing, I have great appreciation for the work of the East Central board in the work that they do for our students. My students have benefited from their tireless efforts over the past decade. Many of the veteran educators who have previously served have encouraged younger directors to step into leaderships positions. I am not sure if I still qualify as 'younger,' but I believe that this is an appropriate time for me to explore these opportunities. Given the high number of incredible educators we are blessed to work with, I know that the board will have great leadership whomever is elected.
HS Band VP
Jacob Bubb
9 Years of Experience
University of Missouri - Kansas City
MMEA HS Band VP - 2 years
In the last two years I have been able to provide growth for our district by facilitating straightforward audition processes and effective communication. I have also been able to coordinate with top-tier clinicians to provide rewarding experiences to the high school band students in EC7. I have a lot to offer the district, and I look forward to the opportunity and challenge of making processes better for this district.
Nick Webb
10 Years of Experience
BME - Southeast Missouri State University
I would love the opportunity to serve as the HS Band VP for this district. I have experience with organizing events for honor bands and festivals. While only being a part of this district for 4 years, I feel that I can rely on that experience to enhance what we are doing. I want to make sure that we continue to advance music in the right direction for all of our students in our district.
HS Choral VP
Michelle Jokerst
21 Years Experience
Bachelors in Music Education from University of Missouri-Columbia, Masters in Music Education from University of Missouri St. Louis
I was previously the East Central High School Choral Vice President from 2012-15 and took over the position for East Central High School Choral Vice President in Fall of 2023.I would like to serve as the East Central High School Choir Vice President because I enjoyed serving in the past. It gave me a chance to meet new people and work closely with other directors in our conference. I also feel that I am organized and can get information to directors in a timely manner.
HS Jazz VP
Dennis Mayberry
16 Years of Experience
BME at University of Missouri-St. Louis and MME In Progress at Lindenwood University
I have always wanted to serve. I am hopeful that I can be a productive member and help to continue to improve the quality of education and educational experiences in our district and statewide as well. I feel the students and teachers in district #7 represent the absolute best in the state. It is our job to make sure everyone knows it. I want to be a part of that mission statement.
MS Band VP
Matt Filer
11 years experience
Bachelors - Southeast Missouri State University
For the past 11 years, I have enjoyed teaching middle school instrumental music. For two years, I served as the Middle School VP of the Southeast District. During that time, I learned a great deal about how to organize and effectively run a festival on the scale of All-District Band, and how much the directors appreciated clear communication about the audition process. I believe that this previous experience will serve the district well.
I believe that the most formative years are that of the middle school musician. It is during this time that students receive the foundations for what they will become as musicians. In joining the board, I plan to focus on the Middle School All-District Band auditions and performance, to give our students the best possible experience.
As a member of the board, my focus will be to serve the directors in the East Central District, and enable them to better serve their students. Clear Communication, consistent judging criteria, and the introduction of a rotation of audition materials will not only help our directors know what to expect, but help our students understand and value the process of auditioning for All-District Band.
Joey Mustermann
10 Years of Experience
Bachelors and Masters - University of Missouri
As a member of the Board, I plan to carry out my duties using methods we have found to be successful while keeping an open line of communication with directors regarding any ideas for improving our process. My view on the Board positions is that they exist to carry out what the teachers within the District feel will provide the best opportunities to our students.
For several years, I have taken on many different roles during the high school and middle school All-District Band audition processes and have seen many things that have worked great as well as things that could be better executed in order to give everyone involved the best possible experience. I would like to prioritize communication, timely distribution of information, and consistency of the middle school audition process. Doing so will allow directors to have a say in decisions, quickly receive information our students need both before and after the audition, and will allow us to better prepare our students to have a good audition experience.
MS Choir VP
Kelly Pippin
MS Jazz VP
Mari Porter
9 Years of Experience
Bachelors of Music Education, Southeast Missouri State University
I would like to serve as a part of the East Central District board to help support and improve the opportunities available to our district students. I was lucky to have a great jazz education as a student in this district and I would like to keep that tradition alive.
Elementary VP
Sheila Baer
25 years of experience
BA= Goshen College, Goshen, IN
MA=UCM, Warrensburg, MO
St. Louis AOSA, VP, President, Past president; St. Louis Kodaly SLAKE, treasure, president; MMEA, VP- Early Childhood/Elementary, 2023-24 & 2020-2022 MKMEA, co-chair of St Louis Conference, 2020-2022
Matthew Falch
10 Years Experience
Bachelors at Evangel University
I have worked in music education in several different capacities. At one time or another, I have taught band and choir and the junior high and high school levels. I believe that my experience may provide perspective that would aid the board in making decisions. My personnel skill would, I believe, be a benefit to the board as well. During over a decade of work in education, I have been able to form strong relationships with a large and diverse group of administrators and fellow educators. I genuinely enjoy people, and I enjoy collegial rapport with others, even during difficult situations. In closing, I have great appreciation for the work of the East Central board in the work that they do for our students. My students have benefited from their tireless efforts over the past decade. Many of the veteran educators who have previously served have encouraged younger directors to step into leaderships positions. I am not sure if I still qualify as 'younger,' but I believe that this is an appropriate time for me to explore these opportunities. Given the high number of incredible educators we are blessed to work with, I know that the board will have great leadership whomever is elected.
HS Band VP
Jacob Bubb
9 Years of Experience
University of Missouri - Kansas City
MMEA HS Band VP - 2 years
In the last two years I have been able to provide growth for our district by facilitating straightforward audition processes and effective communication. I have also been able to coordinate with top-tier clinicians to provide rewarding experiences to the high school band students in EC7. I have a lot to offer the district, and I look forward to the opportunity and challenge of making processes better for this district.
Nick Webb
10 Years of Experience
BME - Southeast Missouri State University
I would love the opportunity to serve as the HS Band VP for this district. I have experience with organizing events for honor bands and festivals. While only being a part of this district for 4 years, I feel that I can rely on that experience to enhance what we are doing. I want to make sure that we continue to advance music in the right direction for all of our students in our district.
HS Choral VP
Michelle Jokerst
21 Years Experience
Bachelors in Music Education from University of Missouri-Columbia, Masters in Music Education from University of Missouri St. Louis
I was previously the East Central High School Choral Vice President from 2012-15 and took over the position for East Central High School Choral Vice President in Fall of 2023.I would like to serve as the East Central High School Choir Vice President because I enjoyed serving in the past. It gave me a chance to meet new people and work closely with other directors in our conference. I also feel that I am organized and can get information to directors in a timely manner.
HS Jazz VP
Dennis Mayberry
16 Years of Experience
BME at University of Missouri-St. Louis and MME In Progress at Lindenwood University
I have always wanted to serve. I am hopeful that I can be a productive member and help to continue to improve the quality of education and educational experiences in our district and statewide as well. I feel the students and teachers in district #7 represent the absolute best in the state. It is our job to make sure everyone knows it. I want to be a part of that mission statement.
MS Band VP
Matt Filer
11 years experience
Bachelors - Southeast Missouri State University
For the past 11 years, I have enjoyed teaching middle school instrumental music. For two years, I served as the Middle School VP of the Southeast District. During that time, I learned a great deal about how to organize and effectively run a festival on the scale of All-District Band, and how much the directors appreciated clear communication about the audition process. I believe that this previous experience will serve the district well.
I believe that the most formative years are that of the middle school musician. It is during this time that students receive the foundations for what they will become as musicians. In joining the board, I plan to focus on the Middle School All-District Band auditions and performance, to give our students the best possible experience.
As a member of the board, my focus will be to serve the directors in the East Central District, and enable them to better serve their students. Clear Communication, consistent judging criteria, and the introduction of a rotation of audition materials will not only help our directors know what to expect, but help our students understand and value the process of auditioning for All-District Band.
Joey Mustermann
10 Years of Experience
Bachelors and Masters - University of Missouri
As a member of the Board, I plan to carry out my duties using methods we have found to be successful while keeping an open line of communication with directors regarding any ideas for improving our process. My view on the Board positions is that they exist to carry out what the teachers within the District feel will provide the best opportunities to our students.
For several years, I have taken on many different roles during the high school and middle school All-District Band audition processes and have seen many things that have worked great as well as things that could be better executed in order to give everyone involved the best possible experience. I would like to prioritize communication, timely distribution of information, and consistency of the middle school audition process. Doing so will allow directors to have a say in decisions, quickly receive information our students need both before and after the audition, and will allow us to better prepare our students to have a good audition experience.
MS Choir VP
Kelly Pippin
MS Jazz VP
Mari Porter
9 Years of Experience
Bachelors of Music Education, Southeast Missouri State University
I would like to serve as a part of the East Central District board to help support and improve the opportunities available to our district students. I was lucky to have a great jazz education as a student in this district and I would like to keep that tradition alive.
Elementary VP
Sheila Baer
25 years of experience
BA= Goshen College, Goshen, IN
MA=UCM, Warrensburg, MO
St. Louis AOSA, VP, President, Past president; St. Louis Kodaly SLAKE, treasure, president; MMEA, VP- Early Childhood/Elementary, 2023-24 & 2020-2022 MKMEA, co-chair of St Louis Conference, 2020-2022