Alumni Spotlight: Kristin Stubblefield

Kristin Stubblefield (B.A. ’19) is this week’s featured alum in our new Alumni Spotlight series for the This Week at Meadows e-newsletter. Each week, a different Meadows alum will be highlighted for their accomplishments post-graduation.

The various programs offered at Meadows not only aim to teach students the technical skills necessary to succeed in their chosen professions, but also the hands-on experience to discover what exactly that profession might be. It was the school’s unique blend of well-rounded musical and academic curriculums that shaped Kristin Stubblefield’s career trajectory.

“My professors allowed and actively encouraged me to explore all aspects of my musicianship in performing and teaching,” says Stubblefield, a graduate of the Division of Music in the music education program. “From even my freshman year, our music education professors were taking us into schools to observe music classrooms, and I was playing in ensembles every week with both upperclassmen and graduate students.”

Though she entered undergrad believing she would end up teaching band, an experience student-teaching at the elementary-level during her music education program led Stubblefield to find her passion for teaching music to young children. As a result, she currently teaches general music to over 600 students at a Title I school in Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD, from Kindergarten through sixth grade.

In addition to teaching seven classes daily, she also plans and teaches eight concert programs each year and conducts an award-winning after-school choir made up of fourth, fifth and sixth graders. She even works with other elective teachers at her school to enhance their students’ artistic experience, which was inspired by the collaboration between arts disciplines Stubblefield often saw encouraged during her time at Meadows.

“When I was at SMU as an undergrad, I didn’t realize how much the partnership between the disciplines would influence my openness to collaborate with colleagues in my current position,” she explains. “Today, I get to work side by side with an amazing art teacher and Suzuki strings teacher at my campus to create school-wide programs that showcase various art forms.”

Stubblefield is now in the Music Education master’s program at Meadows, where she is able to take more classes to further her career in elementary and choral teaching. And between her undergrad and graduate courses, she has been able to connect with a plethora of professors and peers, many of whom have now become colleagues.

“This network of music educators spans the country, and I am confident that it will help me wherever my career may lead me.”

Learn more about the Division of Music here.