Our Staff

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Maggie Krick earned her B.A. in Music Education from The College of New Jersey. She began her teaching career in Hillsborough and has been a teacher in the district for over 25 years! Ms. Krick is the proud mother of her two children Cassie and Ryan. In her free time, you can find Ms. Kick running, spending time with friends and family, and walking her two Bichon Frise puppies, Yummy and Cupcake.

After receiving his B.A. in music education from William Paterson College, Mr. Miller worked the the Hamilton and Trenton schools for a few years before coming to Hillsborough in 1996. Mr. Miller has been at Amsterdam for over 25 years! When he is not teaching the students at Amsterdam, he is often playing guitar for musical productions all over the central New Jersey area. Mr. Miller is recently remarried (July 10, 2021) and enjoys spending time with his boys Evan and Jonathan. 

Lisa Reifschneider holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the College of New Jersey where she studied voice and piano. She has continued her music education taking many courses at Westminster Choir College as well as being an active participant in the Philadelphia Area Orff-Schulwerk Association. She has taught general music at Woodfern Elementary School in Hillsborough, NJ since 1991 and enjoys being a choral singer and soloist with the chamber choir, Cantus Novus performing in venues throughout the year. She occasionally performs in community musical theatre, and enjoys gardening and spending time with her family.

Ms. Scheer earned a B.A. in French from Rutgers University and a Master of Music Education from Westminster Choir College. She began teaching vocal music in the Hillsborough public schools in 2004. Ms. Scheer has taught music to pre-school through 6th grade and served as director of the Auten Road Intermediate School extra-curricular choir for six years. She currently teaches at Hillsborough Elementary School where she enjoys incorporating her love of languages and dance into her music lessons. 

Mrs. Webb is a graduate of Marywood University and holds a BA in Music Education. She taught vocal and general music to students in Pre-K through grade 5, as well as musical theater in the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District for 11 years before joining the Hillsborough Township Public Schools in 2023. A long-time volunteer Cantor at her hometown church in Monmouth Junction, Mrs. Webb realized her love of singing and leading at an early age and has been making music daily ever since. Mrs. Webb is thrilled to work with her fellow music educators in Hillsborough Township and is always eager to work with the young minds of the community. Outside of the classroom, you can find her on a walk with her husband and two children, cooking or baking at home, or asking Alexa to play Disney classics.

Bryan Cook graduated from The College of New Jersey in 2021 with a Bachelors in Music Education. Mr. Cook joined the Hillsborough team in 2022 to teach Band at Auten Road Intermediate School. He is also involved with the Hillsborough High School Marching Band and Brass Ensemble. When not teaching, Mr. Cook actively plays trumpet for community groups and musicals. Other hobbies include playing golf, playing video games, and watching the New Jersey Devils!

Jennifer Downs graduated from Montclair State University in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in music education. She began her career in Hamilton Township teaching beginner strings in grades three through five. In 2021, Miss Downs received her master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University. When not teaching, Miss Downs can be found creating music, reading, spending time with her family and cats, and enjoying all things Disney! 

Jayden Fusco graduated from The College of New Jersey in 2023 with a Bachelor's in Music Education where he studied saxophone, an instrument he has loved since starting it in fifth grade. Prior to joining the Hillsborough team in 2025 to teach Band at Auten Road Intermediate School, Mr. Fusco has been a band director at Point Pleasant High School and Clara Parker Intermediate School. Mr. Fusco has also served as the New Jersey Manager for all-state ensembles through the New Jersey Music Educators Association and enjoys performing for numerous musicals throughout the state. Mr. Fusco also has marching band experience, working as both a visual tech for John P. Stevens High school and as the woodwind correspondent and visual director for Brick Memorial High School. His other hobbies include teaching marching band and woodwind ensembles,  playing video games, and loving all things Disney-related.

Jen Ketrow graduated from Berklee College of Music, where she studied voice, guitar, and songwriting. In 2022, she earned a master’s degree in Music Technology from Southern Utah University. Her music compositions have been featured on radio, TV, and film, allowing her to connect with audiences in diverse ways.

In addition to her work as a musician, she has taught music to students of all ages, from pre-k through college, sharing her passion for music with every grade level.

Whether in the classroom, the studio, or on stage, Ms. Ketrow is dedicated to creating and sharing music that leaves a lasting impact.

When she's not teaching, she enjoys working on garden art projects, rebuilding guitars, and mastering new recipes in the kitchen. 

Ms. Lansberry has been an integral part of the ARIS Instrumental Music Department since 2004. Ms. Lansberry has a B.M. in Music Education from The College of New Jersey and a M.Ed in Educational Leadership from Rider University. She began her teaching career as an Elementary General Music Specialist for Brick Township and has taught all levels grades K - 12 including Instrumental, Choral and General Music. Ms. Lansberry peforms profesionally with the Eastern Wind Symphony and has a private studio of high acheiving middle and high school students. She also enjoys editing music for dance and skating competitions and is an avid Disney fan! Ms. Lansberry lives in Robbinsville with her husband, her daughter and their 3 1/2 pound puppy. 

Shannon Leff graduated from Montclair State University in 2024 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. She completed her student teaching in the Bridgewater-Raritan School District, working with fifth and sixth-grade students in general music and chorus. In 2025, she went on to earn her Master of Arts in Teaching, also from Montclair State University. She joined the Hillsborough music team in 2025 and looks forward to sharing her passion for music with her students and school community.

Outside of the classroom, Ms. Leff performs as a soprano in the parish choir at Christ Episcopal Church in Bordentown. She enjoys attending musicals—both local and on Broadway—and occasionally takes the stage herself. In addition to her passion for music, she’s an avid NFL fan who also loves baking, reading, and traveling to new places.

Tracey Baker has been teaching general music at Hillsborough Middle School since 1996. She is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ where she received her Bachelor's of Music degree in Music Education. Mrs. Baker co-founded and directed Musical Theatre Troupe at HMS from 1998 to 2005 and directed Drama Club at HMS from 2017 to 2020. She is a sponsor for the annual Teen Arts Festival for Somerset County every May representing Hillsborough Middle School in the areas of vocal and instrumental performance, dance, acting, and videography. Mrs. Baker resides in Long Valley, NJ, with her family, sings soprano at St. Luke Parish in Long Valley since 2013, and enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and shopping.

Mr. Barry is a former Hillsborough student who graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree in 2022. Ryan’s great experience in Hillsborough’s band program led him to want to teach music, and he began his teaching career at the Weehawken Public School District. Here, Mr. Barry taught 5th and 6th grade band and general music, and was also the assistant Weehawken marching band director. Mr. Barry also works with the Hillsborough High School marching band as a brass/visual technician which he has done for several years. Mr. Barry is a trumpet player who still enjoys playing through various gigs and community ensembles and is super excited to work at Hillsborough Middle School! Mr. Barry’s other passions include aviation (holds a private pilot’s license), computers and cars! 

After earning her BA in Music Education from The College of New Jersey, Mrs. Coates started her teaching career in Hillsborough teaching elementary music. Currently, she is one of the band directors at the middle school and has been teaching 7th and 8th-grade band, jazz ensemble, and the high school pit orchestra since 2006. Most recently, Mrs. Coates earned her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership: Instruction at The College of New Jersey in 2017. Mrs. Coates enjoys participating in many other musical endeavors both in and outside of school, including performing in The Eastern Wind Symphony, performing in various musicals, and staying active on the state level through the Central Jersey Music Educator's Association where she organizes the Elementary Honors Band Day with over 400 elementary band students. Mrs. Coates currently resides in Hillsborough with her husband Tom, their son, and their dog, Gus. 

Mr. Joseph Gall has been the String Orchestra teacher at HMS since September 2011. After graduating from The College of New Jersey in 2010 with his Bachelors of Music degree, Mr. Gall served as a long term substitute teacher in the Cherry Hill Public School District filling in a maternity leave position before finding himself in Hillsborough. Since then, Mr. Gall has enjoyed evolving the Orchestra program over the years and looks forward to continue doing so in the future. Mr. Gall has enjoyed participating in many other musical endeavors both in and outside of school, including performing in the pit orchestras for various musical productions held at HMS as well as HHS and maintaining an active private lesson studio for violin and viola students. In 2017, Mr. Gall completed his graduate school studies and earned his Master's Degree in Education from The College of New Jersey. Mr. Gall currently resides in Flemington with his wife Larissa and their infant son Logan, who keeps everyone smiling while we enjoy being together. 

Noël McCormick graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westminster Choir College in 2018, and has experience teaching choral music and music theory for grades 3-12 in public school, churches, and community choirs. She is passionate about teaching musical literacy through choral music. Mrs. McCormick sings professionally as a soprano in the St. Thomas Consort at St. Thomas Church Fifth Ave., NYC, Lux Choir for the Episcopal Church at Princeton, the Adult and Schola Cantorum choirs at Trinity Church Princeton, and the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir. She is in the choir for the Netflix movie Maestro, starring Bradley Cooper, of which the soundtrack won a Grammy Award in 2025. Outside of music, Mrs. McCormick loves tennis, aviation, and art museums. She lives in Princeton with her husband Mike and mischievous orange cat, Penelope.

Beth Nichols began her teaching career in Hillsborough Township in 1999. As a teacher in Hillsborough Township, Beth has taught both instrumental and general music at ARIS and HMS. After successfully implementing a brand new Ukulele curriculum in the 6th-grade general music program., Ms. Nichols moved to her current assignment teaching in our middle school general music program.

Beth is a graduate of The College of New Jersey with a BA in Music Education. While in school she studied flute with Dr. Dent Williamson and voice with Dr. Suzanne Hickman and performed in various instrumental and vocal ensembles. After graduation Beth continued to study flute with notable teachers such as, Davide DiGiaccobe, Peggy Schecter, Harold Jones and Karou Hinata. Beth is a member of the Eastern Wind Symphony and continues to perform throughout the area. 

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Nicholas Clipperton started his teaching career in 2013 and has been the Associate Director of Bands at Hillsborough High School ever since.  Mr. Clipperton earned his Bachelor of Music in Percussion degree with an emphasis in conducting from The College of New Jersey. While at The College, Mr. Clipperton privately studied conducting and score study with Professor Roger McKinney.  Mr. Clipperton studied Percussion with William Trigg at the College of New Jersey.

Mr. Clipperton is the Principal Percussionist of the Eastern Wind Symphony. In addition to performing with the Eastern Wind Symphony, he also regularly subs for the Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonietta Nova.

During his tenure in the Hillsborough school district, Mr. Clipperton’s concert ensembles have received numerous Superior & Excellent ratings for their performances. In addition to working with all the curricular ensembles at Hillsborough High School, he is also the Music Theory and Music Technology instructor and serves as the Chapter Faculty Advisor of the Hillsborough High School Tri-M Music Honor Society.  Mr. Clipperton very much looks forward to further developing the level of musicianship and performance in all members of the Hillsborough High School Band Department.

Cassandra (Cassie) Krick is a former Hillsborough student who began dancing when she was 2 years old. She earned a B.A. from Rider University, where she studied Dance Studies, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Special Education. In her time at Rider, she was an Andrew J. Rider Scholar and recipient of the Certificate of Outstanding Achievement in Elementary Education as well as the Mildred S. Hawkins Endowed Scholarship for Dance. 

Miss Krick began her teaching career in co-teaching elementary classrooms in Clark Township as well as Hillsborough Township.  

Outside of school, you can find Miss Krick teaching dance to students ages 2-70 in various dance styles. She also loves reading, going to NYC to take dance classes, choreographing, and spending time with her wonderful friends and family.

Ashley Mathews has been teaching Choral Music since her graduation from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts in Choral Music Education in 2016. She also graduated from Montclair State University’s John J. Cali School of Music with her Master of Arts with a conducting supplement in Choral Music Education in 2021.  She has taught grades K-12 in Bloomfield, Ridgewood and Newton Public School Districts prior to her appointment as the Director of Choral Activities at Hillsborough High School. Ashley is active in the high school and collegiate a cappella communities serving as a Director, Clinician and Adjudicator for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella competitions. Prior to teaching she sang a cappella professionally and has been featured on four studio albums which have received rave reviews and awards from the Contemporary A cappella Recording Awards (CARA), VoicesOnly and Best of Collegiate A Cappella (BOCA) compilation albums. Outside of school, Mrs. Mathews stays busy singing with Madison based, Harmonium, volunteering and spending time with her golden retriever, Buddy. 

Sarah Mederos has been teaching Orchestra at Hillsborough High School since 2008. She received her Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University with a concentration in Stringed Instrument Music Education and has earned graduate course credits in Music Education through Rutgers University. She is active in the string education community and served as President of the NJ chapter of the American String Teacher's Association from 2016-2018. Additionally, Mrs. Mederos maintains a private violin and viola studio outside of school and has prepared students to perform in venues such as Carnagie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. She currently lives in Readington Township, NJ with her husband Rob, her daughter Avacyn, and her dog Lilly. 

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Ms. Trumpy is excited to join Hillsborough’s talented team of music educators after recently graduating magna cum laude from The College of Jersey with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. During her time at TCNJ, Ms. Trumpy was an active leader in the TCNJ trumpet studio, participating in the Jazz Band, Trumpet Ensemble, and the Wind Ensemble, where she served as principal trumpet for three years; was named winner of TCNJ’s 2023 Concerto Competition, earning the prestigious opportunity to perform the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto with the TCNJ Orchestra; and, participated in the 2025 College Band Directors National Association Intercollegiate Band. She was also fortunate enough to study conducting privately with Dr. Eric Laprade and had the privilege of conducting both the TCNJ Concert Band and Wind Ensemble in concert performance.

Outside of the concert setting, Ms. Trumpy is very active in the marching arts with Drum Corps International, having marched with both the Cadets in 2023 and the Bluecoats in 2024 when the group won a world championship. Currently, Ms. Trumpy is on the brass staff with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. In addition, Ms. Trumpy loves the art of dance, having participated in two dance organizations at TCNJ where she served as a student leader and teacher/choreographer in both of these groups for three years. Ms. Trumpy is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota Professional Music Fraternity and Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society.