Instructors and Staff

Lauren Summa teaches music at Melba Passmore Elementary in the Alvin Independent School District, where she has been recognized as both district and campus Teacher of the Year. She is an active presenter for school districts and music education organizations at the local and state levels. Lauren has extensive experience serving students in specialized behavior programs and has taught in Title I schools throughout her career. Passmore Percussion was an Invited Elementary Performing Ensemble for the Texas Music Educators Association in 2018.  Lauren is the current Vice President and Elementary Division Chair of TMEA. Lauren is an active member of AOSA and TGCOA and serves both organizations in positions and committees. She teaches Basic Level I for the Jackson State University and Alvin ISD Levels courses.  Lauren is a founding member of Casulana, the Women’s Choir of Houston and she sings with her son and future daughter-in-law in the Alvin Community Chorus Lauren lives in Alvin, Texas, with her family.

Karen K. Benson serves as the Professional Development Director for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA), where she is also a Past President and former National Conference Chair. Karen taught grades PreK-5 for 33 years, including 29 years in the Millard Public School District in Omaha, Nebraska, where she also directed the school’s choir and the district’s Orff Schulwerk Honors Ensemble.

Karen continues to teach AOSA Teacher Education Level Courses at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Alvin Independent School District. Additionally, she serves as an instructor for supplemental Orff Schulwerk seminars and AOSA chapter workshops, a guest lecturer for collegiate music education classes, and adjunct faculty for the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Ashland University.

As a performing musician, Karen plays saxophone, performs on recorder with the Renaissance Thyme Recorder Consort and violin with The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha, and sings in the Sing Omaha Master Chorale.

Shelly Smith has been teaching for 35 years. Shelly was a contributing author to Artful-Mindful-Playful in Action. Shelly teaches movement and recorder at several AOSA Teacher Education Certification courses and has served as a workshop clinician at numerous professional development music conferences, school districts, and AOSA regional chapters. Shelly has served as a Regional Representative for the AOSA National Board of Trustees, the Curriculum Oversight Review Committee and the Digital Mentorship Committee.