Marna Leigh Dodson is a second year teacher in Haywood County Schools. Where she teaches K-5 music at two schools. She earned a BS and a BM in Music Education from Western Carolina University.
Marna is passionate about the arts being an essential part of a child’s education, as it cultivates creativity, interpersonal skills, and mindfulness. In her classroom Marna enjoys seeing children challenge themselves while developing musical literacy skills. Marna enjoys creating, experiencing, and performing with her students, and teaching her students to share joy through their music. Marna has had students accepted into Haywood All-County Chorus and the NCMEA elementary honors choirs.
During her time at Western Carolina University, Marna served as a Collegiate President of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), where she planned professional development events to better equip pre-service music educators for the classroom. Under her leadership the chapter was awarded the NAfME Chapter of Excellence Award. This role challenged her to evaluate short-comings in music education degree programs, leading to a passion for better professional development for pre-service and in-service music teachers.
Marna has been the recipient of the Western Carolina University School of Music Maxie E. Beaver Outstanding Music Education Award, the Western Carolina University Outstanding Perspective Teacher Award, and was a nominee for the 2024 North Carolina Student Teacher of the Year.
Marna currently lives in Waynesville with her silly dog, Sammi Clarice.