LEXINGTON, Ky. (2/25/13) – The American String Teachers Association (ASTA) has recognized two outstanding music educators in Fayette County Public Schools. Mary Elizabeth Henton was chosen as Kentucky’s 2013 Studio Teacher of the Year, and Rebecca Goff was named the state’s Orchestra Director of the Year. They received the awards Feb. 8 in Louisville during the state conference of ASTA and the Kentucky Music Educators Association.
 
Henton is in her first year with FCPS, working as assistant orchestra director at Tates Creek High School, assistant at Southern Middle School and orchestra teacher at Breckinridge Elementary. She attended Eastern Kentucky University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and will receive her master’s in Music Education in May. Henton is one of the violin/viola teachers for the after-school mentoring program “Friends in Music” at Bryan Station Middle School, which is sponsored by Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras. She also started a mentoring program at Tates Creek Middle School.
 
“Working with students both as individuals and in an ensemble is always a learning experience and a challenge. I am happy to see so many students have the experience to learn and enjoy music,” said Henton, who also teaches 20 violin and viola students on her husband’s family farm in Woodford County.
 
Goff, who has been an orchestra teacher for 17 years, is currently at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and Rosa Parks Elementary – among the largest orchestra programs in town. Born in Lexington, she graduated from Lafayette High School and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville. Her master’s degree is in Literacy and Learning Theory, but her main focus has always been music. Goff taught at The Alabama School of Fine Arts and at schools in North Carolina and Atlanta before returning to Lexington. She also taught several years at Beaumont Middle, where her orchestra was invited to perform at the KMEA convention. Her high school orchestra recently received rave reviews at this year’s conference. In addition, Goff is regularly sought out to judge competitions and assessment events in other districts around the state and twice has been asked to conduct All-County Honors Orchestras in Jefferson County.
 
Goff enjoys teaching students at every level, from elementary school beginners to student teachers, and thinks every student at every stage of development offers challenges and rewards. Goff also is a firm believer that quality music education should not be a luxury for a few but an opportunity for everyone, and she is proud to work in a district that provides band and orchestra instruction in all schools.
 
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