Lisa Ott currently teaches 5th and 6th grade general music and 7th and 8th grade chorus at Nevada Middle School. Prior to her work at Nevada she taught vocal/general music and high school Spanish for the Ballard Community School District. She completed her undergraduate work at Simpson College receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with an emphasis on instrumental music and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. She completed her Masters of Music in music education at the University of Northern Iowa. Mrs. Ott completed her graduate research on "The Effects of Sociocultural Instruction on the Multicultural Music Preferences of Middle School Chorus Students". Prior to her time spent at Ballard Mrs. Ott had a successful summer music studio in which she taught voice, piano, and a variety of instrumental lessons to elementary through high school students. She also worked on marching band staff at Winterset High School for seven years. In the past, Mrs. Ott has spent time judging for the Iowa High School Speech Association and directing church children's choir. Mrs. Ott has choreographed for show choirs, color guards, and musicals. She is passionate about teaching beyond the notes into the history, culture, and literature of each musical journey.
Mrs. Ott is currently the executive secretary for the Iowa Music Educators Association. She served four years as Central District chair for the Iowa Choral Directors Association and is currently planning the Summer Symposium professional development for ICDA. She has also served as the 5/6 OPUS chairperson, hosted multiple honor choirs, started a choral clinic for middle schools in Central Iowa, and helped implement a music literacy festival for area students. She is passionate about the 6th grade music pathways and adaptive music class she teaches at Nevada. She enjoyed guest conducting for the NWI honor choir and the Bruce Norris Choral Festival. Lisa and her students presented a middle school choir demonstration session on implementing music literacy techniques at the 2018 IMEA conferences. Mrs. Ott has been a guest presenter at the 2009 AEA TIC conference and 2009 Iowa Choral Directors Symposium in the areas of music technology and the Iowa Core Curriculum. She has also given presentations on musical topics at the 2019 ICDA symposium, for students at UNI, ISU, Central College, and the Ballard and Nevada School Boards. In 2007, Mrs. Ott started an extra-curricular after school choir, called the Choral Connection which was collaboration between Huxley park and rec and the Ballard school district. Each year her students raised money for a world outreach project, most recently participating in Heifer International. Her students have been involved in OPUS honor choir, Midwest Children's Choir Festival, Celebrate Singing Festival, Lite 104.1 Holiday Idol, and the ICDA 5/6 and 7/8 honor choirs.
Lisa spends her outside of school time with her husband, four sons Trevor, Carver, Oliver, Porter, and their mischievous golden doodle.
Mrs. Ott is currently the executive secretary for the Iowa Music Educators Association. She served four years as Central District chair for the Iowa Choral Directors Association and is currently planning the Summer Symposium professional development for ICDA. She has also served as the 5/6 OPUS chairperson, hosted multiple honor choirs, started a choral clinic for middle schools in Central Iowa, and helped implement a music literacy festival for area students. She is passionate about the 6th grade music pathways and adaptive music class she teaches at Nevada. She enjoyed guest conducting for the NWI honor choir and the Bruce Norris Choral Festival. Lisa and her students presented a middle school choir demonstration session on implementing music literacy techniques at the 2018 IMEA conferences. Mrs. Ott has been a guest presenter at the 2009 AEA TIC conference and 2009 Iowa Choral Directors Symposium in the areas of music technology and the Iowa Core Curriculum. She has also given presentations on musical topics at the 2019 ICDA symposium, for students at UNI, ISU, Central College, and the Ballard and Nevada School Boards. In 2007, Mrs. Ott started an extra-curricular after school choir, called the Choral Connection which was collaboration between Huxley park and rec and the Ballard school district. Each year her students raised money for a world outreach project, most recently participating in Heifer International. Her students have been involved in OPUS honor choir, Midwest Children's Choir Festival, Celebrate Singing Festival, Lite 104.1 Holiday Idol, and the ICDA 5/6 and 7/8 honor choirs.
Lisa spends her outside of school time with her husband, four sons Trevor, Carver, Oliver, Porter, and their mischievous golden doodle.