Nerissa Manela
Founding Chair, PD Roundtable
Elementary General Music Teacher and Curriculum Support Specialist, Miami-Dade County Public Schools –Miami, Florida
Bio
Nerissa is a violinist, music teacher, and board-certified music therapist in Miami, Florida. She teaches elementary general music, chorus, and strings in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and works with the Visual and Performing Arts department as a Curriculum Support Specialist. Outside of school, she conducts a youth string orchestra and runs a free music therapy socialization group and mentoring program for teens and young adults with special needs. She was recognized by the Florida Music Educators Association as a 2020 Emerging Leader and is the 2021 Rookie Teacher of the Year for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.