Meet DCMEA's Board

Joshua Krohn has been an elementary music specialist, secondary band and choral director, elementary music clinician, professional developer, and private music instructor. He earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and his PhD in Music Education from Boston University. He has also completed his work in National Board Certification for Early/Middle Childhood Music. Over his twenty-one years of teaching, he has led full-scale Broadway-style musicals, before-school orchestras, choirs, wind ensembles, guitar ensembles, recorder ensembles, theater clubs, and after-school tutoring for thousands of Washington, DC, Public Schools (DCPS) elementary students. Since 2009 Krohn has led close to 60 music professional development sessions both locally and nationally. By 2010 Krohn was leading more than 110 DCPS music teachers in quarterly professional developments. Since 2012, he has been nominated for D.C. Teacher of the Year nine times, and since 2014, he has been nominated for the National LifeChanger of the Year award three times. Krohn has also been nominated five times for a Grammy Music Educator Award and was a 2023, 2024, and 2025 quarterfinalist.  In 2016 Krohn was a District Course Chair for DCPS music as well as one of the A.C.E. Fellows for Music in DCPS. Krohn has also educated students with mild cognitive impairments through severe cognitive impairments, students with learning and emotional disabilities, and students in urban settings, and has led professional development sessions based on teaching special learners.  Dr. Krohn is also the proud parent to a beautiful daughter named Mara and was honored as the 2025 DCPS Music Teacher Of The Year.

Kristopher Ring is a contemporary Jazz trombonist, music educator, and composer from Central Florida. He currently lives in Alexandria, VA and is a full-time music teacher in washington, D.c. Kristopher's journey in music is defined not only by his technical prowess across multiple instruments but also by his unwavering dedication to storytelling through sound. His compositions, marked by evocative melodies and intricate arrangements, reflect a deep understanding of the art form's rich history while pushing boundaries to carve out his distinctive sonic identity. As an advocate for music education, Kristopher brings his passion for storytelling into the classroom, inspiring the next generation of artists by encouraging students to embrace the storytelling aspect of music, fostering a deeper connection with themselves and their innate ability to create.

Retired DCPS Music Teacher

Para Perry, retired DCPS Music Teacher, is currently working as the newest member of the Children’s Chorus of Washington (CCW). Ms. Perry brings over 40 years of experience in music education, including 34 years dedicated to nurturing students within the District of Columbia Public Schools.

Her exceptional contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the Rubenstein 2015 Excellence in Teaching Award. Under Ms. Perry’s leadership, DCPS students have had the honor of performing for various government agencies and at significant community events. Her students have also participated annually in the DC Honor Chorus and the DCPS Music Festival, consistently receiving excellent scores and positive feedback.

In addition to her achievements as an award-winning educator, Ms. Perry is a seasoned choir director and actively sings in several choirs at the historic Shiloh Baptist Church in Washington, DC, where she has been a dedicated member for 37 years. She holds a Master of Arts degree in School Administration and Supervision as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Public School Music.

Bard DC

Dr. John Peasant, Jr. (He/Him/His) is a Teaching Assistant for the Howard University “Showtime” Band program. He is also an Assistant Professor and faculty in Performing Arts (Music) at Bard High School Early College - Washington, D.C. His research areas include using digital games in the music classroom, non-traditional music ensembles in K-12 schools, and social justice within music education pedagogy. Lauded by former students and colleagues as an impactful educator, Dr. Peasant has taught music in grade levels ranging from kindergarten to collegiate settings for over a decade. 

Throughout his career, Dr. Peasant resurrected several school music programs in Jacksonville, Florida, wrote grants to finance those programs, presented research nationally, and wrote music curricula and assessments for school districts. 

He also performed throughout Northeast Florida as a musician in classical and pop settings. He has played under the baton of Frank Ticheli, Jack Stamp, Richard Saucedo, and other composers. Dr. Peasant has also shared the stage with artists such as Frankie Beverly and Maze, Kem, the Whispers, and many other R&B artists. When not on the clock, Dr. Peasant is active with his church and loves spending time with his wife and daughter.

Garnet Patterson STAY DC

Dr. Robert Roche is an instrumental music educator who has been teaching for over twenty years. His experience includes growing up in the tradition of band and drumline in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, to teaching band in Northern Virginia. Currently, Dr. Roche teaches instrumental general music to young adults for the District of Columbia Public Schools at Garnet-Patterson STAY Opportunity Academy in Washington, D.C. 

Dr. Roche earned a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Baylor University under the leadership of Dr. Larry Vanlandingham and Professor Michael Haithcock. In 2009, Dr. Roche completed his Master’s in Music Education from the University of Michigan also under the leadership of Professor Haithcock and music education expertise of Dr. Colleen Conway. Most recently, he received his Doctorate in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, while also receiving a specialization certification in Teacher Education.

Dr. Roche’s primary teachers and mentors have included Dr. Larry Vanlandingham, Professor Michael Haithcock, Morris “Arnie” Lang, and Dr. Kelly Parkes.

He is passionate about successfully guiding students in music to create a lifelong love of music. And, you will find him in his spare time creating beets, sampling sounds, and encouraging everybody to make music every day. He is inspired everyday by his lovely wife, Rachel, and their foodie beagle, Penelope the "Princess".