Music Specialist

Greetings! My name is Ann Thomas-Davis and I am excited to serve as the 2023-24 Teacher of the Year at Cascade Elementary School! I was born in Hollywood, FL and raised in Chicago, IL. I am the proud mother of 2 daughters, Ilan (24) and Anya (21), both former students of Cascade Elementary.

I consider myself a life-long learner and I am a proponent of pursuing one’s happiness and interests, because as the adage goes, “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life”.  I began my matriculation at Clark Atlanta University in 1988 as a Music Education major. After 3 years, I switched my focus to Early Childhood Education and was awarded my Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 1993 and a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction in 1996.

Although my professional career was leading me down the path of Educational Administration, my heart moved me to continue to pursue my musical interests. The stars aligned and after 16 years as a classroom teacher, I became certified in Music and was hired as the Music and Choral Specialist at Cascade Elementary in 2009.

As a K-5 classroom teacher, I always sought to tap into and connect student’s interests by incorporating music and art when and where possible. My 16 years as a classroom teacher of all subjects only served to strengthen my pedagogy as a Music Specialist and I now enjoy providing children with rounded and international musical experiences. I believe that children can be whatever they choose to be, and it is imperative to provide authentic learning opportunities that expose them to all possibilities. 

I consider it a huge honor to be able to facilitate learning that will help students uncover their hidden talents. At my 30-year mark as a teacher, I am most proud to represent Cascade Elementary School as the Teacher of the Year!