Staff Members, Faculty Members, Volunteers and Advocates Supported by Sponsors, Donors and Artists all make GITC into a Community Creating Change.
It is often said that "it takes a village to raise a child." Since GITC serves in many "villages," it takes everyone to bring music to learning. We are grateful for a very dedicated, capable and kind community.
If you would like to join us to open the door for music, literacy, learning and well-being, please drop us a line!
We look forward to hearing from you!
If you would like to join us to open the door for music, literacy, learning and well-being, please drop us a line!
We look forward to hearing from you!
Meet The GITC Staff!
Jess Baron
GITC Founder, Executive Director
jess@guitarsintheclassroom.org
Jess Baron founded Guitars in the Classroom and has served as its Executive Director since its inception in 1998. With multiple degrees and specialized training in music education, child development, educational therapy, and clinical psychology, plus a three-decade career as an author and teaching artist, Jess brings a multifaceted understanding of the human learning process to her work. She believes in the importance of expanding as well as documenting and evaluating the many roles music can play to advance cognitive, social and emotional growth in young people. She has published eight books in the field of music, creativity, and parenting. The most recent book is SmartStart Ukulele.
In addition to being the very appreciative mother of Elias Turner, she understands GITC to be her life's work and daily privilege.
Ms. Baron is grateful to serve with a truly remarkable Board of Directors. Together, they are responsible for the day to day management of GITC. She also works collaboratively with classroom educators and thought leaders in the fields of Literacy, Education and Arts Integration. She finds working toward their common goal to improve life and the quality of education for American students and teachers deeply inspiring. Jess is a literacy nerd (careful if you get her started), a lifelong musician, a passionate singer, a sometimes songwriter, and is genuinely inspired by everyone in the GITC community.
You can find Jess' 8 books published under her formerly married name, Jessica Baron Turner, or her full name since going solo in 2007, Jessica Anne Baron. These include all the books in the SmartStart Guitar series with Hal Leonard Publishing, The Green Songbook with Alfred Publishing, and her book for parents, Your Musical Child with String Letter Publishing.
GITC Founder, Executive Director
jess@guitarsintheclassroom.org
Jess Baron founded Guitars in the Classroom and has served as its Executive Director since its inception in 1998. With multiple degrees and specialized training in music education, child development, educational therapy, and clinical psychology, plus a three-decade career as an author and teaching artist, Jess brings a multifaceted understanding of the human learning process to her work. She believes in the importance of expanding as well as documenting and evaluating the many roles music can play to advance cognitive, social and emotional growth in young people. She has published eight books in the field of music, creativity, and parenting. The most recent book is SmartStart Ukulele.
In addition to being the very appreciative mother of Elias Turner, she understands GITC to be her life's work and daily privilege.
Ms. Baron is grateful to serve with a truly remarkable Board of Directors. Together, they are responsible for the day to day management of GITC. She also works collaboratively with classroom educators and thought leaders in the fields of Literacy, Education and Arts Integration. She finds working toward their common goal to improve life and the quality of education for American students and teachers deeply inspiring. Jess is a literacy nerd (careful if you get her started), a lifelong musician, a passionate singer, a sometimes songwriter, and is genuinely inspired by everyone in the GITC community.
You can find Jess' 8 books published under her formerly married name, Jessica Baron Turner, or her full name since going solo in 2007, Jessica Anne Baron. These include all the books in the SmartStart Guitar series with Hal Leonard Publishing, The Green Songbook with Alfred Publishing, and her book for parents, Your Musical Child with String Letter Publishing.
Ginne Meyers
GITC Director of Operations
ginne@guitarsintheclassroom.org
Ginne Meyers enjoys her work with Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom and we are so blessed by her intelligence, problem solving skills, integrity and positive personality. If you are working with us as a teacher, a staff person, a board member. a sponsor, artist, volunteer or school participant, you are bound to meet Ginne at one of our many school and community events. An ace on computer, a steady hand on operations and a love of people see her serving with GITC both in and out of the office. Once you've met her, you will never forget the sound of her laughter.
How did Ginne come to GITC? Well first off, she moved to San Diego and cleverly left Chicago winters in the past after serving as a highly esteemed administrator for Northwestern Medical Center for 8 years. Sorry, Chicago, we really love you but everyone knows that the hawk is a devil.
Newly arrived in San Diego, Ginne began volunteering with San Diego Rock and Roll Camp for Girls. Her Rock Camp friend Abby Dorsey (see below) had just been hired as GITC's Director of Media and Outreach and she knew we were looking for someone with Ginne's skills, talent and a passion for making music. Next thing you know, Ginne was learning the ropes. Fast forward to 2020 and whenever someone asks a question about how to get something done, our mantra is "Just ask Ginne!"
GITC Director of Operations
ginne@guitarsintheclassroom.org
Ginne Meyers enjoys her work with Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom and we are so blessed by her intelligence, problem solving skills, integrity and positive personality. If you are working with us as a teacher, a staff person, a board member. a sponsor, artist, volunteer or school participant, you are bound to meet Ginne at one of our many school and community events. An ace on computer, a steady hand on operations and a love of people see her serving with GITC both in and out of the office. Once you've met her, you will never forget the sound of her laughter.
How did Ginne come to GITC? Well first off, she moved to San Diego and cleverly left Chicago winters in the past after serving as a highly esteemed administrator for Northwestern Medical Center for 8 years. Sorry, Chicago, we really love you but everyone knows that the hawk is a devil.
Newly arrived in San Diego, Ginne began volunteering with San Diego Rock and Roll Camp for Girls. Her Rock Camp friend Abby Dorsey (see below) had just been hired as GITC's Director of Media and Outreach and she knew we were looking for someone with Ginne's skills, talent and a passion for making music. Next thing you know, Ginne was learning the ropes. Fast forward to 2020 and whenever someone asks a question about how to get something done, our mantra is "Just ask Ginne!"
Gail Wingfield joined the staff of Guitars in the Classroom in September, 2019 as Director of Development and recently added program manager to her duties. Her long career in the nonprofit sector includes arts administration, dance, and choreography. She has a B.A. in Performing Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an M.A. in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego.
Gail has consulted with nonprofits in San Diego, assisting with fundraising, marketing, financial assessment, grant writing, and board governance. She provided executive support, program management and development assistance to the California Ballet Association (CBA) from 2008 - 2018, stewarding donors and writing and administering grants as well as managing operations. She launched CBA’s Sharing the Art outreach program for the purpose of creating more equity and inclusion in the performing arts sector. She is currently assisting GITC’s board of directors with strategic planning.
Ms. Wingfield brings a well-rounded perspective and vast personal creative experience to her work in arts education administration. She is an esteemed ballet teacher for young students and has taught creative dance in elementary schools and coached Olympic figure skating competitors.
Gail has consulted with nonprofits in San Diego, assisting with fundraising, marketing, financial assessment, grant writing, and board governance. She provided executive support, program management and development assistance to the California Ballet Association (CBA) from 2008 - 2018, stewarding donors and writing and administering grants as well as managing operations. She launched CBA’s Sharing the Art outreach program for the purpose of creating more equity and inclusion in the performing arts sector. She is currently assisting GITC’s board of directors with strategic planning.
Ms. Wingfield brings a well-rounded perspective and vast personal creative experience to her work in arts education administration. She is an esteemed ballet teacher for young students and has taught creative dance in elementary schools and coached Olympic figure skating competitors.
Abby Dorsey
GITC Director of Media and Outreach
abby@guitarsintheclassroom.org
Abby Dorsey joined the GITC staff in 2019 and immediately began filling our office with warmth, creativity and a sense of peace. A New Yorker originally, she brings her background in writing (she studied at Tufts) and her present day passion and talent for songwriting to her work with GITC and to the musical community. She also expands our community making soulful connections with other nonprofits with whom she volunteers. These include the Jason Mraz Foundation, San Diego Rock n' Roll Camp for Girls and Voices of Our City Choir. www.rockcampforgirlssd.org/
Abby creates GITC's enewsletters, helps with social media, MCs GITC events, supervises student interns in creative media production, and sends out our media alerts and press releases. As time allows, she will be helping more with volunteer coordination, too.
GITC Director of Media and Outreach
abby@guitarsintheclassroom.org
Abby Dorsey joined the GITC staff in 2019 and immediately began filling our office with warmth, creativity and a sense of peace. A New Yorker originally, she brings her background in writing (she studied at Tufts) and her present day passion and talent for songwriting to her work with GITC and to the musical community. She also expands our community making soulful connections with other nonprofits with whom she volunteers. These include the Jason Mraz Foundation, San Diego Rock n' Roll Camp for Girls and Voices of Our City Choir. www.rockcampforgirlssd.org/
Abby creates GITC's enewsletters, helps with social media, MCs GITC events, supervises student interns in creative media production, and sends out our media alerts and press releases. As time allows, she will be helping more with volunteer coordination, too.
David Colasin, Intern, Guitar Teacher and Office Angel!
David Colasin, is a senior at Canyon Crest Academy who came to us as a student intern and dazzled us with his skills! Although new, his dedication and support for our organization is beyond question. He is a skillful guitarist, instrumentalist and a budding guitar teacher. When he’s not assisting in a GITC training course or elementary classroom, he is busy packing and shipping instruments to schools across the country. When the work's all done, we love listening to him play guitar!
Throughout childhood, David moved multiple times across the country and he says that music served as a bridge helping him connect to every new place he went. It is because of this that David gained a deep passion for music and now helps share his love of music with Guitars in the Classroom.
David Colasin, is a senior at Canyon Crest Academy who came to us as a student intern and dazzled us with his skills! Although new, his dedication and support for our organization is beyond question. He is a skillful guitarist, instrumentalist and a budding guitar teacher. When he’s not assisting in a GITC training course or elementary classroom, he is busy packing and shipping instruments to schools across the country. When the work's all done, we love listening to him play guitar!
Throughout childhood, David moved multiple times across the country and he says that music served as a bridge helping him connect to every new place he went. It is because of this that David gained a deep passion for music and now helps share his love of music with Guitars in the Classroom.
Rodney Howard, Volunteer, Mentor, Classroom Angel and More!
Rodney Howard (left) is GITC's Lead Volunteer. He wears the hats of Tuning Archangel, Mentor and Classroom Angel. Our organization is so fortunate to receive daily support from Rodney, who is a lifelong musician, guitarist, drummer, ukulele hound, and a friend to all, from students to teachers. Thank you, Rodney, for dedicating your precious retirement hours to GITC and being someone we can count on.
Rodney Howard (left) is GITC's Lead Volunteer. He wears the hats of Tuning Archangel, Mentor and Classroom Angel. Our organization is so fortunate to receive daily support from Rodney, who is a lifelong musician, guitarist, drummer, ukulele hound, and a friend to all, from students to teachers. Thank you, Rodney, for dedicating your precious retirement hours to GITC and being someone we can count on.