Biography

Deb Wagner is an instructor in the Music Education program with nearly four decades of teaching experience. She spent over 35 years as an elementary music educator for Westerly Public Schools in Rhode Island, following two years of teaching in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she also instructed in the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center’s “Artist Studio Days” program. A dedicated leader in the field, she is a lifelong member of the Rhode Island Music Education Association (RIMEA) and served on its General Music Council.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Wagner has directed diverse music programs, including instruction in singing, ukulele, guitar, beginning band, chorus, musical theatre, and drumming. Notably, while teaching at Springbrook Elementary School, she and her students were named the Rhode Island state winners in the national Oscar Mayer Talent Search, earning a $10,000 award for their performance of the “WienerSong.” She utilized the prize funds to establish a schoolwide African drumming program.