Dr. Marcy Thurmond is a dynamic creative consultant, award-winning educator, author, and sought-after speaker with over 30 years of experience in music education and arts integration.  Her visionary leadership and dedication to student and teacher development have earned her widespread recognition, including Teacher of the Year honors in 2005, 2017, and 2022, and the distinguished title of 2023 Atlanta Public Schools Elementary Teacher of the Year.  

 

Dr. Thurmond has been a trailblazer in fostering arts-rich educational environments.  Her impact is evident through her leadership in initiatives such as the ArtsNow program, Fostering an Arts Rich Education (F.A.R.E.), and the Atlanta Public Schools Elementary Honor Chorus.  She has also played a key role in supporting and retaining effective educators by conducting professional development for novice and veteran teachers, rooted in her deep expertise and passion for arts integration.

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In 2018, Dr. Thurmond authored and self-published What’s the Cake?  Teaching Music Across the Curriculum Can Be a Piece of Cake, a practical curriculum guide that empowers teachers to integrate music meaningfully across subject areas.

Her commitment to whole-child development and creative growth led to the founding of Integrative Arts Creations, Inc., a Douglas County-based nonprofit dedicated to enhancing academic and artistic achievement through arts integration.  Through this work, she inspires and cultivates young creatives pursuing careers in the arts industry.

As the founder of Dr. Marcy’s Connections, LLC, and the host of the vibrant social media discussion platform “The Connecting Point with Dr. Marcy,” she continues to empower educators, creatives, and change-makers to tap into their unique gifts and spark transformation in their communities.

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Dr. Marcy holds a B.A. in Music from Morris Brown College, an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Coppin State University, and an Ed.D. in Teacher Leadership from Walden University.  She firmly believes that every individual has a unique purpose and the creative capacity to impact the world. Through her work, she helps others discover their passion and purpose, becoming confident, inspired, and engaged citizens of the global community.