Deanna Grandstaff Named Semi-Finalist for the 2026 CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence Award
“ The pedagogical fundamentals of music haven’ t changed— a trumpet is still a trumpet— but the way children approach challenges has changed, so I realized I had to change my approach. I believe we have to teach the kids who are in front of us today, not the kids we taught 20 years ago.” anon-Mac CANON-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
During the Cecil Intermediate School Winter concert, Deanna Grandstaff was named one of four Pennsylvania semifinalists for the 2026 CMA Foundation Music Teachers of Excellence Award.
Grandstaff serves as a fifth- and sixth-grade band teacher at Cecil Intermediate, a fourth-grade band teacher at Muse Elementary, and the District’ s K – 6 music department head.
“ It felt like a full circle moment,” Grandstaff said.“ This may be my name, but it’ s all because of my students. Finding out while I was in the room with them made it incredibly meaningful— it felt like it happened exactly as it was meant to.”
The CMA Foundation Award recognizes more than 200 music teachers nationwide, with nominations divided by geographic region. Winners will receive a $ 5,000 award and will be announced in May.
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Grandstaff was a recipient of the national award in 2024, the only recipient in the history of the award from Pennsylvania, and, if chosen again, plans to relaunch her Rhythmic Resiliency initiative. The program partners with world music drumming specialist Matt Price of Drum Nexus to incorporate mental health and resilience skills into music education. It is designed to be age-appropriate, musically effective and aligned with contemporary learning styles.
“ The pedagogical fundamentals of music haven’ t changed— a trumpet is still a trumpet— but the way children approach challenges has changed,” Grandstaff said.“ So I realized I had to change my approach. I believe we have to teach the kids who are in front of us today, not the kids we taught 20 years ago.”
If named a winner, Grandstaff would travel to Nashville for a world-class professional development day, which would include professional headshots, networking opportunities and a red carpet event to celebrate the achievement.
While the honor would shine a national spotlight on her work, Grandstaff says it’ s the deep-rooted support for music at home that makes everything possible.
“ Canon-McMillan is truly the Best Community for Music Education, and that starts in elementary school,” Grandstaff said.“ We brought back the Little Mac Band and Choir Festival, and it fills the middle school auditorium to standing room only. That kind of community support is incredible. Canonsburg even calls itself‘ America’ s Small Town Music Capital,’ and that pride for music is real here.”