Fulton County Schools: Music Therapy since 1991
About a dozen music therapists gathered around the AMTA-Pro podcast microphone during the AMTA conference in Atlanta to talk about their work in the public schools in Fulton County, Georgia. The Fulton County music therapy program started in 1991 under the direction of Amber Weldon-Stephens, and continues to expand and to impact not only the lives of the students, but also teachers, classroom aids, therapists, families, and the community as a whole. Click to listen to this lively conversation, and check the text for information about the speakers, about the structure of the music therapy program in the Fulton County Schools, the website connection, and about other details of interest.
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Music Therapy In Fulton County Schools
AMTA-Pro Podcast
May, 2012
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In 1991, the Fulton County School System created its music therapy program with a single music therapist. Now, Fulton County has thirteen music therapists working with about 1000 students in 35 schools. In 1998, the county became an approved American Music Therapy Association National Roster internship site. The music therapy program is funded and supported through the music department of the Fulton County Schools. Music therapists working in the county are required to hold Georgia teacher certification in music as well as board certification in the field of music therapy. The music therapy department proudly supports the Fulton County School System’s mission to educate students to be responsible, productive citizens who through continuous learning will be able to adapt to an ever-changing, global society.
Music therapists work in conjunction with classroom teachers and related professionals to address the goals and objectives that are stated in the individual education plans (IEP) of each student. Specifically, music therapists use music and music based interventions to target student needs. As a member of the interdisciplinary team, each music therapist carefully reviews the IEP of each student as part of the treatment plan process. After assessing each student, a music therapist will design music therapy sessions for small groups based on client needs. Finally, a music therapist will discuss session results with the other members of the interdisciplinary team.
Populations Served by Music Therapy
Mild/Moderate/Severe/Profound Intellectual Disability
Students with Autism
Hearing Impaired
Orthopedically Impaired
Speech & Language Disorder
Special Needs Kindergarten
Special Needs Pre-Kindergarten
Severe Emotional/Behavioral Disorder
Music Therapy Goals
Goals for most music therapy sessions include the use of music interventions to:
Promote academic learning
Provide sensory experiences
Stimulate creativity and imagination
Enhance mobility training
Improve communication
Music Therapy Objectives
Skills are addressed within objectives specifically designed for each intervention.
These may include:
Establishing eye contact
Strengthening balance and coordination
Increasing expressive communication
Responding appropriately in social settings
Increasing independence and self-direction
Types of Music Therapy Interventions/Activities
Music improvisation
Moving to music
Song writing
Music performance
Learning through music
Instrument exploration
Receptive music listening
Music Therapy Internship Program in Fulton County Schools
The Fulton County Schools Music Therapy Department has been a National Roster Internship Training Site of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) since 1998, supervising nearly 60 interns. We are proud to offer extensive and diverse training with a variety of student populations and all age levels, from preschool through high school.
The clinical training director is Amber Weldon-Stephens Ed.S, MT-BC. Each intern is under the primary supervision of a music therapist at a home school (to whom s/he will report and primarily communicate re: clinical issues), plus several music therapists at additional schools. Interns are selected through an on-site interview/live audition process. The internship generally lasts from the Friday after Labor Day to the last week in March. Interns progress from observing/co-leading sessions to leading an entire caseload.
http://www.fultonmusictherapy.org/
Podcast Speakers
Marsha Lane, MMT, MEd, MT-BC
Marsha graduated from The University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s & Master’s degrees in education, and from Southern Methodist University with a Master’s degree in music therapy. She loves outdoor adventure, and has considerable experience working in psychiatric settings. Marsha has been working for the Fulton County School system for 15 years.
Missy Worden, MM, MT-BC
Missy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Millsaps College and a Master of Music in music therapy from Florida State University. She also has worked in the psychiatric setting, been published in the Journal for Music Therapy (JMT), and is active in promoting community benefits and big fun in general. Missy has been working for the Fulton County School system for 13 years.
Rachel Coon-Arnott, MMT, MT-BC
Rachel graduated from Charleston Southern University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy and obtained her Master’s degree from Georgia College and State University. She is an avid reader, animal lover, and qualitative researcher. Rachel has been working for the Fulton County School system for 7 years.
Kirby Carruth, MMT, MT-BC
Kirby graduated from The University of Alabama with a Bachelor’s degree in music therapy, and completed her Master’s degree at Georgia College and State University. Her energy, creativity, and wide-ranging knowledge of current music is a gift to her students. She has been working with the Fulton County School system for 4 years.
Jamie George, MM, MT-BC
Jamie graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and from The University of Georgia with a Master’s degree in Music Therapy. She is a versatile and gifted performing vocalist, and adept in the use of various assessment instruments. This is Jamie’s second year with Fulton County schools.
Carol Statella-Harris, MMEd, MT-BC
Carol graduated with a Bachelor’s from Furman University and a Master’s in Music Education/Therapy and Literature from The University of Georgia. Also with a background in psychiatric music therapy, she’s interested in applications of mindfulness to music therapy, and is a performing folk musician. Carol’s been with Fulton County for 11 years.
Stephanie Guest, MT-BC
Stephanie graduated from Tennessee Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy. She is active in church and community activities, and brings a deep knowledge of structure and flow to her music therapy sessions. Stephanie has been working for the Fulton County School system for 10 years.
Roy Joyner, MM, MT-BC
Roy attended Florida State University, where he received both his Bachelor’s and his Master’s degrees in music therapy. He later received his certificate in Educational Leadership from the University of West Georgia. Roy’s an avid sportsman and accomplished bassist, and keen observer of client/therapist dynamics. He has been with Fulton County schools for 13 years.
Natalie Generally, MMEd, MT-BC
Natalie graduated from Emory University with a Bachelor’s degree, and from The University of Georgia with a Master’s in music education/therapy. She’s an innovative applier of technology to music therapy, and a skilled community/professional organizer. Natalie has been working for the Fulton County School system for 6 years.
Amber Weldon-Stephens, MME, Ed.S., MT-BC
Department Head and Clinical Training Director
Amber graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in music therapy from The University of Georgia, a Master’s degree in multiple and sensory disabilities from Georgia State University and a Specialist degree in special education administration from State University of West Georgia. She began the music therapy program in Fulton County 21 years ago. Amber is on the faculty of Kennesaw State University and the UGA Redcoat Band Camp.
About Fulton County Schools (from FCS website)
Founded in 1871, the Fulton County School System is one of the oldest and largest school districts in Georgia. With a focus on student achievement and a commitment to continual improvement, Fulton has earned a reputation as a premier school system. This long history of excellence is evidenced by the many state and national honors bestowed on Fulton’s schools, staff and students.
The Fulton County School System is one of the most unique school systems in the nation. Though not Georgia’s largest school system in terms of student enrollment, it is, however, one of the largest systems in geographic area. From its southern end in the City of Chattahoochee Hills to its northernmost tip in Johns Creek, the county is more than 70 miles long. What is known as present-day Fulton County was formed by the 1932 consolidation of the former Campbell and Milton counties, making Fulton the size of three counties.
To add to Fulton’s uniqueness, the City of Atlanta has long had its own school system and its own Board of Education. These lay in the center of pre-consolidation Fulton County. During the consolidation, the schools within the former Campbell and Milton counties became part of the Fulton County School System. But the City of Atlanta maintained its separate school system, driving a physical wedge between the newly joined counties. The result is that the Fulton County School System is physically bisected by the City of Atlanta and its school system. While this wedge often leads to references of north Fulton and south Fulton, there is only one Fulton County School System.
The southern part of Fulton County is comprised of the cities of Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Palmetto and Union City. The northern part is home to the cities of Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs.
As the fourth largest school system in Georgia, Fulton has more than 12,000 full-time employees, including more than 6,800 teachers and other certified personnel, who work in 101 schools and 14 administrative and support buildings. During the 2010-11 school year, more than 92,000 students will attend classes in 59 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, 16 high schools (includes two open campus high schools) and seven charter organizations (some charters have multiple campuses but are considered one school).
As the Atlanta metropolitan area has grown, so has the Fulton County School System. Families are attracted to Fulton County because of its consistent and well-deserved reputation as a quality school system. Businesses also establish a foothold in Fulton because employees want to live and work in communities with excellent schools.
Involved, active and informed parents and community members contribute greatly to the success of the system. All schools have business partners and local school advisory councils. The system also receives support and additional resources through the Fulton Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that enhances the performance and lives of Fulton County students and faculty through innovative programs and recognition activities.
Info? Questions? Contact music therapist Amber Weldon Stephens <stephensa@fultonschools.org>