Meet the Teachers

Korey Coffer is the Director of Bands at Harvard High School.  He originally grew up in DeMotte, Indiana.  He went to VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 2004, his Master's Degree in Music Education in 2010, and earned his Doctoral Degree in Education Leadership in 2022 from Liberty University.  He has been the Director of Bands in Harvard since August of 2009.  He actively serves as an adjudicator for the Indiana State School Music Association and the Illinois Grade School Music Association.  He has also served as an adjudicator for the Trills and Thrills music festival at Six Flags Great America.  He received National Board Certification in 2016.  He lives in Harvard with his wife, Erika, and his four children, Melody, Coletrane, Coda and Aria.  It is his pleasure to serve in the Harvard School District.  You can visit the high school band website at https://sites.google.com/a/cusd50.org/high-school-band/ and contact him at kcoffer@cusd50.org or by phone at (815) 943-6461 ext. 2245.

 Catherine Hicks is the choir director at Harvard High School.

 Lindsey Boyette is the director of bands at Harvard Junior High and the Assistant High School Marching Band Director. She is originally from Southern California and has even been to Disneyland over 100 times! After high school, she moved to Chicago to attend VanderCook College of Music. There she received her Bachelor's in Music Education in 2007 and graduated Magna Cum Laude. In 2010, she received her Master's Degree in Music Education from Boston University. Her primary instrument is french horn, but also heavily studied trumpet and percussion. Music Education is her passion and she loves being a part of the Harvard community.

Website: https://sites.google.com/a/cusd50.org/jr-high-website/home

Phone: 815-943-6461 ext. 2320

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Christina Palomares is the choir and general music teacher at Harvard Jr. High School.

Erika Coffer is the 5th grade band director at Jefferson Elementary school and Cadet Band teacher at Harvard Jr. High.  She is originally from McHenry, Illinois.  She went to VanderCook College of Music where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 2006.  She served as the Director of Children's Ministry at Christ United Methodist Church in Rockford, Illinois from 2009-2014.  She is excited to work with the beginning band students in Harvard.  She lives in Harvard with her husband, Korey, and 4 children, Melody, Coletrane, Coda, and Aria.

After studying piano for 14 years, Oscar Gonzalez Trashorras completed his Higher Degree in Music with a specialization in piano at the Higher Conservatory. He later earned the Certificate of Pedagogical Aptitude and holds a degree in Musicology. Oscar also completed a Master’s in Bilingual Education with a focus on CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning), and he is currently pursuing a Master’s in Historical Musicology.

Oscar has more than 13 years of teaching experience. He has taught general music at the secondary level and specialized in piano at the Elementary and Professional Conservatory. Since August 2024, he has been teaching general music to fourth and fifth graders at Jefferson Elementary School, incorporating bilingual teaching methods into his lessons.

Óscar has participated in academic activities, such as presenting at the III International Congress: Education and Knowledge. He is also working on a publication focused on learning piano and English through the CLIL approach.