BOARD MEMBERS

Brittany Ward

President

Brittany graduated from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI with a Bachelors of Music degree in 2010. She earned her Masters of Music in Music Education with a Kodály emphasis at Holy Family College (formerly Silver Lake College) in Manitowoc, WI in 2020. She is certified in the Kodály approach, as well as John Feierabend's First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege. Brittany completed her Level 1 Orff-Schulwerk training in 2021 at Lakeland University in Plymouth, WI. She began teaching in 2010 and is currently teaching K-4 general music in the Grafton School District. Brittany has been a member of the AWAKE board since 2017 serving as a member-at-large before becoming secretary, treasurer, and now president. Her favorite part of being on the board is coordinating the AWAKE choral festival and making connections with other music teachers.

Linda Ruona

President-Elect

Linda has over 20 years of experience teaching PK-12 General and Choral music. She is currently teaching general music at Grant Elementary in Sheboygan and also serves on faculty at the Lakeland University summer Kodaly graduate music program and summer music camp. She is a 2003 graduate of UW Oshkosh with a Bachelors of Music Education and a 2009 graduate of Silver Lake College with a Masters of Music - Kodaly Emphasis.

Caitlin Dahl

Secretary

Caitlin joined AWAKE in 2024. She earned her Bachelors of Music Education from Winona State University in 2015 and her Masters in Music Education with a Kodály Emphasis from Colorado State University in 2022. She began teaching elementary general music in 2015. Currently she is teaching K-5 music in the Elmbrook School District t in Brookfield, WI. She looks forward to contributing to AWAKE's success and working closely with the board to support the organization goals.

Kaye Schmitz

Treasurer

Kaye has received her Masters in Music Education with a Kodaly Emphasis from Lakeland University, as well as, Orff 1 & 2 training from Lakeland University. She has brought students to the choral festival the last 2 years. She is interested in providing opportunities for music teachers to network and grow. She would also like to provide opportunities for interested students to develop their singing skills, technique and experience exposure to great repertoire and participation in a larger size group at our AWAKE Choral Festival.

Naomi Fitz

Member-at-Large

Naomi has been bringing students to the AWAKE festival for the past few years. She is a choir teacher in the Menasha School District. Most of her teaching experience is with middle and high school age choirs. She completed Kodaly Level III and a Masters degree in Music Education at Silver Lake College. She looks to provide opportunities for students and teachers to experience music together.

Lee Kim

Member-at-Large

Lee Kim joined AWAKE in 2024. She earned her Bachelor of Music-vocal in South Korea and her Master of Arts in Education from California State University, San Bernardino. She has continued her professional development through Orff Schulwerk and Kodály teacher education, completing Orff Schulwerk Level II at Lakeland University and earning Kodály Level III Certification through the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Lee began teaching music in South Korea in 2008 and has continued her teaching career in both South Korea and the United States. She is currently the K–4 Music Teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in the Port Washington-Saukville School District in Wisconsin. She is passionate about creating joyful, engaging music experiences through singing, movement, folk dance, instruments, and creative music-making. She believes every child is musical and strives to foster a lifelong love of music through sequential, child-centered instruction.