Cynthia lives in Gresham, Oregon, and has been teaching band at Beaumont Middle School since 2002.  Upon completion of her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Teacher Certification at the University of Oregon, Ms. Plank went on to earn a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting at the American Band College, through Sam Houston State University.

She received the Mary V. Dodge Award for Outstanding School Music Teacher for 2011-2012, has been nominated three times for the Music Educator Grammy Award, and was a quarter-finalist in 2015.  During her time at Beaumont, the bands have received over 100 awards for outstanding performances in jazz, concert band, and marching band events.

Ms. Plank is also the founder of the Portland Community Wind Band (2005), and conducted the ensemble for six years.  She has performed regularly in the Portland area as a vocalist, bassist, and flutist with the Second Wind Jazz group and serves on the board of directors for the Oregon Symphonic Band and the Portland Jazz Festival, known as PDX Jazz.  Ms. Plank is published in the series Teaching Music Through Performance - in Jazz, Volume II, and was selected as the Oregon band director for School Band and Orchestra Magazine’s 50 Directors Who Make a Difference 2016.

When she is not in the classroom, on her bike, or on stage, Ms. Plank enjoys gardening, birding, traveling with her husband Corey, and posting fun birthday memes on Facebook.