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GPS Music Educators Reach a High Note

GPS Music Educators Reach a High Note
Tristan Chavez
Anne Kelley photo with hand bells

On August 11, 2025, Greenfield Elementary School’s Anne Kelley, a K-6 General Music, Choir, and Handbells teacher, was awarded the Carl Wiltse Scholarship at the Bay View Week of Handbells convention in Bay View, Michigan. Kelley attended the convention to connect with advanced bell-ringers to better support her students at Greenfield Elementary.

The Bay View Week of Handbells is an intensive, five-day event held on the shores of Lake Michigan. Kelley was selected for the Carl Wiltse Scholarship in part for her extensive experience and her role as Chair-Elect for Handbell Musicians of America. The scholarship gives Kelley an opportunity to continue collaborating with advanced handbell musicians from around the world, which will provide her with knowledge and inspiration she will bring back into her classroom.

"We are all incredibly proud of Ms. Kelley for her hard work," said Robin Fine, the Administrative Assistant at Greenfield Elementary. "This honor is very much deserved, and she has come back with lots of cool things to teach our Gators!"

Students playing string instruments

Kelley’s achievement is one example of Gilbert Public Schools’ commitment to providing students with a high-quality and expansive music education from Pre-K through 12th grade. At the end of the 2024-2025 school year, GPS was awarded the Best Communities for Music Education in the nation by the NAMM Foundation for the sixth consecutive year. Over those six years, many GPS music educators have also been recognized for their exceptional work, including:

  • Jill Humphreys, GPS Governing Board: 2025 G. Van Diest Music Advocacy Award, Arizona Music Educators Association
  • Sara Duce, Greenfield Junior High: 2025 O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award, Arizona Music Educators Association
  • D.J. Spetz, Highland High: 2024 Outstanding Administrator, Arizona Music Educators Association
  • James Hudson, Gilbert High: 2023 Arizona Music Educator of the Year, Arizona Music Educators Association
  • Jenny Nichols, Ashland Ranch Elementary: 2023 Outstanding String Orchestra Teacher, Arizona Strings Teacher’s Association
  • Cynthia Seagraves, Neely Traditional Academy: 2023 O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award, Arizona Music Educators Association
  • Crystal Payne, Campo Verde High: 2023 O.M. Hartsell Excellence in Teaching Music Award, Arizona Music Educators Association
  • Dr. Krista Cox, Campo Verde High: 2021 Outstanding Administrator, Arizona Music Educators Association
  • Jenny Nichols, Ashland Ranch Elementary: 2020 Arizona Music Educator of the Year, Arizona Music Educators Association
  • Tim Cannon, South Valley Junior High: 2020 Outstanding Administrator, Arizona Music Educators Association

Greenfield Junior High’s Sara Duce will also be recognized in November 2025 at the Country Music Awards as the only recipient in the southwestern United States of the CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence Award.

To learn more about music education at Gilbert Public Schools, visit GilbertSchools.net/Music.