Ross M. Haney serves as the NCES Music Teacher and NCMHS Assistant Band Director of Nicholas County Schools in Carlisle, KY. His duties include planning and presenting general music lessons to his school's student body, directing students in various special musical events throughout the school year, and assisting the district's band program through the beginning band, marching band, and athletic bands.

He founded and directs the Bluejacket Singers, a completely extra curricular choir comprised of fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students which has rated Distinguished at the KMEA District 8 Choral Assessment for the past three years, Superior at the Kings Island Trills and Thrills Music Festival twice, and Gold at the Holiday World Music Festival once.

Mr. Haney holds a Bachelors of Music Education from Morehead State University (Morehead, KY), and additionally has completed training in all levels of the Kodály concept and Levels I and II of the Orff-Schulwerk approach. He has presented at state and local conferences regarding building an elementary music program and navigating the professional landscape for young teachers. He prides himself on finding any way to promote and enhance music literacy among his students, engage them in active music making, and give them the tools and experiences to be lifelong lovers of music. 

In addition to his work in Nicholas County Schools, Mr. Haney serves as the Magistrate of Nicholas County's 5th District.

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Education

Masters of Educational Technology
Morehead State University (in progress)

Bachelors of Music Education
Morehead State University

Kodály Certified Educator
The Kodály Institute of Kentucky - Lexington, KY

Orff-Schulwerk Levels I and II
The University of Kentucky - Lexington, KY
Nazareth University - Rochester, NY

Teaching Experience

2021 - Present
Elementary Music Teacher and Assistant Band Director
Nicholas County Schools - Carlisle, KY

2019-2021
Music Teacher
West Louisville Elementary School - Owensboro, KY

Leadership

President
Kentucky Association of Kodály Educators

K-5 General Music Chair
Kentucky Music Educators Association - District 8

Region B Representative
Kentucky Education Association - Central District

Magistrate
5th Magisterial District of Nicholas County

Affiliations

National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA)
National Education Association (NEA)
Kentucky Education Association (KEA)
Organization of American Kodály Educators (OAKE)
Kentucky Association of Kodály Educators (KAKE)
American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA)
Kentucky Orff-Schulwerk Association (KOSA)
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity

Awards and Accolades

KMEA District 8 Elementary Music Teacher of the Year (2024)
Nicholas County Elementary School M&M Staff Award (2024)
Youngest Magistrate Elected in Nicholas County History (2022)
Helen F. Fulbright Music Education Citation Award (2019)
​Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Collegiate Honor Award (2019)
First Recipient of the MSU Art of Music Teaching Fellowship Award (2019)
MSU Undergraduate Research Fellow (2018-2019)
Nicholas County Gold Star Citizen (2017)
Eagle Scout Award (2016)
​John Philip Sousa Award (2015)

Professional Development Presentations​

Professionalism for the Teacher: Tools for the Trade (with Dakota Burnette)
Kentucky Music Educators Association Conference (2023)
Kentucky Association of Kodály Educators Workshop (2021)
Kentucky Collegiate NAfME Conference (2021)

Building Your Program: It's Elementary!
Kentucky Association of Kodály Educators Elementary Music Summit (2022)
Kentucky Collegiate NAfME Conference (2022)

Available Presentations
Building Your Program: It's Elementary!
That Was So Fun I Forgot I Was Learning: Engaging Students Through Play
Let Me Google That: Digital Tools for Elementary Music
Professionalism for the Teacher: Tools for the Trade (with Dakota Burnette)