Melanie Valone is bringing her passion for music and the arts into a new role with Allen County Schools as choir director at James E. Bazzell Middle School and Allen County-Scottsville High School. Valone will also continue serving as assistant band director at AC-SH, a position she held during the 2025-26 school year while teaching music at the Allen County Intermediate Center.
The 2026-27 school year will mark Valone’s seventh year in education. Before joining Allen County Schools, she spent five years as a music teacher with Simpson County Schools.
“I’m looking forward to continuing my role as the assistant band director and moving into the role of choir director at JEBMS and ACSHS,” Valone said.
Originally from Elizabethtown, Valone graduated from John Hardin High School in 2016. She earned a degree in music education from Western Kentucky University in 2020. Valone is currently continuing her education at WKU, where she is pursuing a graduate degree in music education through the Teacher Leader program. She expects to graduate in May 2027.
Her decision to become a music educator was shaped by the influence the arts and her own music teachers had on her life.
“Growing up, I saw what an impact the arts and my music teachers had on me,” Valone explained. “I wanted to give back and show my students not only the importance of music in someone’s life, but also the importance of music and the arts everywhere for healing, growing, learning and expressing yourself in more ways than one.”
Valone remembers band and choir as places where she formed meaningful friendships and found a welcoming environment that felt like a second family. She hopes to create that same sense of belonging for her students.
“I believe every student deserves a place to feel safe and at home while at school,” she added.
For Valone, the music classroom provides students with opportunities that extend beyond learning notes, rhythms and performance techniques. It also teaches cooperation, confidence, creativity and the value of contributing to a group.
“Creating music is a learning atmosphere like no other,” Valone said. “It is truly magic in the room when all of the elements come together and everyone creates something special together to perform and share with others.”
Students and families can expect Valone to provide a fun, welcoming and engaging classroom environment. Middle and high school choir students will study the importance and development of music while strengthening their abilities as singers and musicians.
The choirs will perform a variety of musical selections and participate in programs for the schools and the Allen County community.
Valone said her experience as a music teacher and band director has shown her the importance of giving students an active role in their education.
“I have learned that student choice and hands-on learning are invaluable in the classroom,” she pointed out.
She places a strong emphasis on collaboration and teamwork, particularly because students must work together each day to prepare music for both creative expression and public performance.
“As a music teacher, band director and choir director, I value the importance of collaboration, teamwork and hands-on learning to achieve goals and enhance understanding,” Valone said.
Valone lives in Bowling Green with her two cats, Beefy and Jerky, and her dog, Mango. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, going on walks and cheering for the Nashville Soccer Club.
As she begins her new responsibilities at JEBMS and AC-SH, Valone hopes to develop students’ musical abilities while building programs where every student feels supported, valued and connected through the shared experience of creating music.