mark [r] mercer

originally from a small city outside akron, ohio, mark currently teaches vocal music in grades 4-12 to over 700 students in a public school district north of boston, ma. mark received his bachelors of music education from the university of cincinnati-college conservatory of music in 2004 and is currently in the process of completing his masters in music education at kent state university. in addition to his teaching, mark spends many hours directing show choirs, chamber choirs, ensembles, musicals and more. most recently, mark has musically directed fiddler on the rood, annie, les miserable, bye, bye birdie, into the woods, rent: school edition, and more. mark also has played piano for 22 years and plays professionally at gigs in boston, ma from time to time.

aside from his currently work, mark plans to one day manage and teach at a professional music school for high school students that prepares them for a career in the performing arts. mark believes that the educational system in our country has taken the wrong approach to learning in the past few decades. when the "no child left behind" act was put into effect, we (the government) did the opposite of what we should have been focusing on. children today are subject to tests, test, and more tests. they have state mandated states so drilled into their brains that they have forgotten how to be creative and innovative with their thinking. instead of "no child left behind," the united states has left the child behind and made cookie-cutter machines that will eventually break down and be left behind.