2019 Election for District Director – Louisiana Music Educators Association

District V Nominees:

Evan McAleer
Excited for the opportunity to run for the position of District Director for District V, Evan is currently in his 6th year of teaching and his 2nd year as the Assistant Band Director at DeRidder High School. Since graduating from Louisiana State University in 2012, he has not only served as both a middle and high school band director in Districts IV and V, but he has also served on the instructional staff for various Open and World Class Drum and Bugle Corps including Louisiana’s own Louisiana Stars where he currently serves as Visual Caption Head. In addition to teaching, Evan also continues to advance his own musicianship as a member of the Allumer Quartet commissioning and premiering new music for horn quartet as well as participating as both a vocalist and instrumentalist for the local musical theater productions in DeRidder, Louisiana. Evan is very thankful for the opportunity to serve District V in any way possible to ensure the best for all of our students.

Sharon Stephenson
Sharon is a retired music educator, having taught music education, chorus, and piano in the public and private schools of Calcasieu Parish for 39 years. A native of Mississippi, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music Education from Mississippi State University. She completed a +30 certification from McNeese State University. Her choirs consistently received Superior ratings at District and State Assessments. She has conducted Honor choirs and served as an adjudicator in both Louisiana and Mississippi.

Sharon has served as the LMEA District Director for District V for the past 12 years. She coordinates the vocal and instrumental LMEA activities and assessments. She chaired the middle school Honor Chorus in District V for over 20 years. She is also a former board member of Louisiana American Choral Directors Association. She has assisted at many of the State and Regional Assessments throughout Louisiana.

Sharon is also an accomplished pianist, serving at several churches, and accompanying many school choirs. Sharon and her husband Johnny live in Sulphur. They have two grown boys, and four grandchildren. She looks forward to more service to the musicians of LMEA.

District VIII Nominees:

Cheryl Corkran
Cheryl Corkran is a 35-year teaching veteran who has spent the past 25 years as Director of Bands at Greenacres Middle School. During her tenure at Greenacres, the bands have consistently earned awards and honors for their superior performances. Her first 10 years of experience were in New Mexico, Texas and Colorado.

Ms. Corkran is an active member in numerous professional organizations. She is a member of the District 8 Band Directors Association, having held multiple offices in that organization, currently serves as Executive Secretary for the Louisiana Bandmasters Association (25-year member), and in 2017 earned her 25-year pin in the Louisiana Music Educators Association.

Ms. Corkran is a professional clarinet and bass clarinetist in the northwest Louisiana area, and also serves as Adjunct Clarinet Instructor at Bossier Parish Community College. When not actively teaching, Ms. Corkran enjoys jewelry making and woodworking, along with the antics of her 6 adopted dogs and cats.

Michele Deslattes
Michele DesLattes is in her 4th year as Choral Director at Southwood High School in Shreveport, LA where she has expanded and maintained that program into one that serves as a major public relations representative for the school. Previously, she worked at Walnut Hill Elementary/Middle School for 13 years, teaching middle school choirs, piano and music appreciation and serving alongside the PTA and Administration to develop one of the largest attended Grandparent’s Day programs in the nation. For the last 10 years, she has served as the Caddo Vocal Chairperson and works as Co-Chair of the District VIII Large Ensemble Festival for the vocal division. She is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University holding a BA in Vocal Music Education. Her experience also includes serving in various churches as pianist, keyboardist, Adult Choir director, Youth Choir director and Worship Leader. Among her strengths are administrative and organizational skills, student recruitment and retention, working with other directors as an advocate for music education growing and expanding opportunities in her district for all students.