Exciting hands-on training for Children’s Choir Workers. Experience the fun of teaching music to any age preschooler or child. Discover new ways to make choir or music time a favorite for kids! Watch the love for worship come alive! Mingle with others in similar situations! Learn to use games and toys to add more excitement to your music time! Also, a great conference for daycare workers! Features clinicians from all over the Southeast and beyond. Cost is $45.00 per person.
Clinicians
Sandy Lewis
Sandy Lewis is the Music Associate at FBC Brandon, Florida and currently the Preschool Choir Director. She has taught children from babies to 6th grade in church and school settings.
She enjoys reading, traveling, camping, playing word games, and especially spending time with her 10-month-old granddaughter.
Susan Eernisse is a veteran children’s choir director, clinician, curriculum writer and editor. She is Associate Music Minister at First Baptist Church of Gainesville, Georgia where she directs the Young Musicians Choir (grades 3-5) and Handchimes in addition to other music staff responsibilities. Additionally, Susan is Children’s Music Editor for Jubilate Music Group. Susan taught music in public and private schools for twenty years and has directed children’s choirs of all ages in churches for decades. She has taught and directed music camps and children’s choir festivals for many years. She enjoys writing children’s songs and teaching materials for children’s choirs, oftentimes in collaboration with her husband and Co-Associate, Glenn Eernisse. She is mother to two, grandmother to five, and dog-mom to one!
Susan Eernisse
Elizabeth Laube
Elizabeth Laube is a Curriculum Editor and Engagement Specialist for Celebrating Grace. Prior to coming to Celebrating Grace, she worked in the Center for Christian Music Studies at Baylor University administering a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant exploring the role that music in the local church plays in children’s spiritual formation. She holds a Master’s degree in Middle Years Education from the University of Georgia and Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of South Mississippi and is a consultant for the Cambridge International Examinations music curriculum. Elizabeth taught music and general education for twelve years in the US and the UK, working with students Pre-K through High School. Currently, Elizabeth serves in the music and children’s ministry in her local church in Waco, Texas.
Katheron Latham lives in the Chattanooga, TN area and has taught in children’s choir ministries for thirty-three years, serving churches in Alabama and Tennessee. She is currently the volunteer director of the Worship Kids Ministry at Dallas Bay Baptist Church in Hixson, TN. For several years she served as a children’s choir curriculum writer for Lifeway. She is in her eighth year as the Fine Arts Department Chair, Choral and Piano Teacher at Chattanooga Central High School. Katheron received the special honor of being named a Country Music Association National Music Teacher of Excellence Semi-Finalist in 2026. Katheron received a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance in 1991 and a Master of Arts in Vocal Music Education in 1993 (both from the University of Alabama, ROLL TIDE!) She feels called to share the gospel through music and missions, having participated in mission trips in the U.S., Costa Rica and Romania. She has been married to Chad for 35 years and has 3 adult children, a daughter-in-law and 2 grandchildren.
Katheron Latham
Whitney Head
Whitney Head is Curriculum Editor for Growing in Grace children’s music curriculum. She enjoys creating meaningful resources to help children become life-long worshippers and equipping those who work with children in the church. Whitney has several years of experience teaching K-5 music in public schools and is passionate about creating experiences for children that ultimately point them to God’s Word.
Whitney earned her Bachelor’s degree in Church Music from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and earned her Master’s degree in Music Education from Samford as well. She is certified in Orff-Schulwerk I and II. Whitney has written publications and music curriculum components for various publishers and organizations and has presented at conferences throughout the Southeast.
Whitney directs the music and worship at South Marietta Street Baptist Church in Gastonia, NC. Prior to her work with children, she served in full-time music ministry in Alabama and on the mission field in El Salvador. In her free time, Whitney enjoys finding coffee shops, playing tennis, biking, board games, and spending time with family and friends.
The grandson of an evangelist, David was exposed to the ministry at an early age. He was born in Subic Bay, Philippines and began singing in a children’s choir at age 9 and found his love for Music ministry. He studied Music Education with Voice Concentration at Southern Methodist University from 1994-1998. He began teaching Elementary Music in Mesquite ISD in 1998 where he frequently writes music for Festivals and other events. He loves to combine Orff Schulwerk principles with other art forms such as Animation, Comic Books, Theater, Dance and Content creating on social media. He is currently serving at Biblical Community Church in Richardson as Elder for Worship. He is currently in partnership with Scripture Memory Songs in the Philippines composing and producing videos of key verses in the Bible in the vernacular to help saturate the Philippines with the Word of God.
David Talaguit
Doug Rogers
State Missionary Doug Rogers came to the State Board of Missions in 1999, where he serves as Director of Communications & Cooperative Program. In addition to coordinating the State Board’s overall communications efforts, he has direct responsibilities in video production and photography. He grew up in Park Avenue Baptist Church, Titusville, Fla., where he gained an early love of music through preschool and children’s choirs, then moved to First Baptist Church, Tallahassee, Fla., where he joined his first puppet team, opening a world of possibilities for outreach and ministry. It was there that he also developed a passion for media ministry, an area he has worked in for more than 35 years. Doug and his wife, Lori, are members of First Baptist Church, Montgomery. They have two daughters and a son.
Andrea Barnard has over 20 years of experience teaching music and a passion to see her students succeed. She holds degrees in vocal performance and education and has worked with preschool and elementary choirs, in both school and church settings. She believes that the energy children bring to music is contagious! Catch the joy in her sessions by gaining practical tips, crafts, and games to unlock the hidden potential in your preschool choirs.
