Ambassadors

Shawna Longo teaches grades 6-8 General Music (Music Technology) and serves as a STEAM Facilitator & Arts Integration Coach in the Hopatcong Borough Schools, NJ. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC; a Master of Public Administration in Arts Administration from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ; and Supervisor/Curriculum Director’s certification from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. In addition to teaching, she has also had a successful experience serving as a Music Supervisor for grades K-12. Mrs. Longo has extensive experience designing, implementing and mapping arts and arts integrated (STEAM) curriculums for grades K-12 in all disciplines. She is currently pursuing certification as an Arts Integration Specialist with Education Closet. Shawna serves on committees for NJMEA, the NJ Chapter of TI:ME, and is the Vice President of the Board of Education in the Morris Plains School District. Her awards include: TI:ME 2019 Teacher of the Year; NJMEA “Master Music Teacher” in 2018; “Governor’s Educator of the Year” at Hopatcong Middle School in 2016; and is listed in Who’s Who Among American Teachers. She is also a Google Certified Teacher (Level 1 & 2), Apple Certified Teacher, and Defined STEM Certified Teacher.

Mrs. Longo also devotes her time as an arts advocate across the Northeast. As a professional development specialist, curriculum consultant, and Arts Integration/STEAM specialist, she has extensive experience presenting various workshops. She has been featured as a guest lecturer at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, and Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ. She was the keynote speaker at The Music Den Professional Development Day in Randolph, NJ. She has also presented numerous workshops at NJMEA Winter and Summer Conferences, New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA) Workshops, New Jersey’s Principal and Supervisor Association (NJPSA) / Foundation for Educational Administration in Monroe, NJ, Texas Music Educator’s Association/Ti:ME Conference, TMI Education, and Tech & Learning Live. She has provided professional development to various school districts across New Jersey. Shawna has also worked with The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Crayola, The Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in designing statewide and national Arts Integration and STEAM professional development/curriculum initiatives. In addition, Mrs. Longo serves as an Education Closet Fellow, an Ambassador for MusicFirst, and the iSTEAM and Arts Integration Specialist for TMI Education.

Meaghan O’Connor graduated from the University of Rhode Island in May 2013, with her B.M. in Music Education. At URI, she studied with Jared Sims and Greg Dudzienski, in jazz and classical studies. Meaghan was also fortunate enough to be apart of the Art program at URI. Upon graduating, she received a minor in Visual Arts. During the 2013 summer, she was hired by The Cape Cod Conservatory & Arts Incorporation. There, she worked with the Pre-School age group as an assistant, and the music teacher. During the school year, Meaghan was also hired as the Composing Teens Music Educator through the Conservatory & Symphony, a program that teaches students how to compose melodies and a corresponding storyline to ultimately be constructed into a Symphony. She participated in this program as a high school student and worked with the town of Sandwich and their students in celebrating the town’s 375th Anniversary.

Recently, Meaghan graduated with her M.A. in Music Education through Teachers College’s INSTEP Program at Columbia University. Meaghan is currently employed at Barnstable High School in Hyannis, Massachusetts, where she teaches History of Rock and Roll and the Music Technology curriculum. She's also previously directed Symphonic Band. Upon hiring, she created the Music Technology curriculum in its entirety. Meaghan has also held the positions of: Music Director of the Spring musical, teacher advisor for Barnstable’s chapter of TRI-M, teacher advisor of Barnstable’s Heavy Metal Club and teacher advisor of Barnstable’s Hip-Hop Club. An active member in the Cape Cod music community, this is Meaghan’s fourth year as the Cape Cod Music Educators Association’s (CCMEA) Webmaster. Previously she has held the position of the High School Music Festival Concert Chair, Assistant Band Manager and Manager for the CCMEA’s All-Cape and Island’s High School Music Festival Concert Band. Meaghan was an active member of the Southeastern Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s (SEMMEA) Executive Board from 2014- 2016, holding the position of Junior District Concert Band Assistant Manager and Junior District Concert Band Manager.