Brianna Thomas

I have a Master's in music education and teaching certification from the US. I currently live in Seoul, South Korea and have been working as a public speaking instructor.

Debate and Public Speaking Instructor 

Leader’s Academy, Gangnam, KR

May 2022-Present

While an employee at Leader's Academy, my duties include curriculum planning, textbook writing, and instruction. Regarding curriculum, I have planned debate, speech, and English courses in addition to writing quarterly textbooks for each subject which comes from my experience with educational planning. Instruction includes both private lessons and larger class sizes. The students I teach successfully compete successfully at both domestic and international levels utilizing knowledge around current events, historical figures, and influential leaders which reflects organized class management and subject knowledge.

Assistant Debate Coach

George Mason Debate Team, Fairfax, VA

June 2019-May 2022

Duties include managing a team of 40 debaters, scheduling lectures throughout the year, presenting lectures, coordinating a mentorship program, collecting feedback from team members, scheduling sessions to improve debate skills such as speaker drills, implementing changes in team culture, and coaching various divisions at regional/national tournaments. I worked with ‘performance speakers’ who utilized play monologues, music, and acting to present their ideas. In addition, I would regularly give lectures on prominent figures of social movements to improve a student’s advocacy skills. These experiences allowed me to showcase classroom management and instructional skills with students successfully performing in response.

Debate Instructor

Victory Briefs Institute, Los Angeles, CA

July 2019-August 2020

VBI is an organization that offers summer debate camps for students to develop skills. My duties include mentoring debaters throughout the camp session to track their personal growth, judging practice debates, leading a daily lab of 8-12 students to improve public speaking skills, begin topic specific preparation, and learn how to create strategies. This experience offered many collaborative opportunities between students and teachers which reflects my dedication to cooperative qualities.

Music Teacher

Prince William County Public Schools, Virginia, USA

August 2019-May 2020

I worked with two secondary schools during the fall semester. Each consisted of at least 300 students. Duties include providing classical vocal training to the students, developing weekly lesson plans, giving lectures on various musical concepts, developing choreography, planning concerts, conducting, and attending administrative meetings. In the spring semester, I worked primarily with elementary school students with similar duties from above.

Marketing and Communications Intern

CulturalDC, Washington D.C.

May 2018-August 2018

CulturalDC is a non-profit arts organization that supports innovative artists and makes their work accessible to diverse audiences. My duties included running the marketing department, developing press releases, managing social media accounts, planning, and executing advertising, and updating press contacts. The skills gained here contributed to marketing skills for concerts, fundraising, newsletters, and music competitions.

Cultural Competency Assistant

Center for Multicultural Enrichment, Lynchburg, VA

August 2017 – May 2018

The Center for Multicultural Enrichment is an organization committed to the exploration, promotion, and understanding of the cultural differences that exist on a university campus

while simultaneously highlighting and connecting the similarities. Responsibilities include planning events for cultural heritage months attended by at least 1,000 students, compiling and analyzing research of campus cultural policies, leading dialogues on cultural issues, and supervising the work of 30 community service volunteers.

Education and Community Engagement Intern, Washington Performing Arts, Washington DC; May 2017-August 2017

Washington Performing Arts is a Non-Profit arts organization that has created profound opportunities to connect the DC community to artists in both education and performance for over 50 years. Responsibilities include drafting contracts, filing invoices, documenting performances, compiling reports, and organizing materials for the summer intensive music training for the 50-member Children of the Gospel Choir with children form 9-18 years of age. Projects include developing a social media plan for 2017-2018 performance season with

over 50 shows and community programs, compiling materials for a new curriculum in

DC Public Schools, ‘DC KEYS,’ which is an educational approach for elementary music

instruction.

Music Teaching Assistant

New Covenant School, Lynchburg, VA

January 2017-May 2017

Duties include lesson planning for 6 classes a week, leading 20-35 student ensembles through rehearsal, administering assessments to document growth, and planning events for performances. 

Academic Tutor

Jubilee Family Center, Lynchburg, VA

September 2016-December 2016

Duties include lesson planning for weekly reviews, working with 30 students two times a week on homework, developing a reading list to guide students through, and planning activities to review academic material.

MM Music Education, 3.85 GPA

George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

2020-2022

Coursework included curriculum development, piano skills, psychology of music, music philosophy, cultural studies, and various elements of teaching. All of which provided the foundation for effective communication, instruction, cultural competency, leadership, as well as a solid foundation for pedagogy development.

BM Music Education, 3.76 GPA

Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

2015-2019

I studied Music Education with a concentration in Choral Studies. My primary instrument was voice with piano as a secondary. Coursework included weekly private lessons, solo recitals, ensemble performances, music theory, music history, music technology, and various elements of teaching. All of which provided the foundation for effective communication and instruction, rehearsal management, organized leadership, as well as a proficiency in technology programs. Published Work includes the following: "For the Culture: The Importance of a Critical Social Theory within the Music Education Classroom".