Prairie Winds Orff Board Members 2024 - 2025

President - Niki Bernier

Niki Bernier, currently teaches elementary music at Fort Lincoln Elementary School in Mandan, ND. In addition, she serves as the instructor for Elementary Music Methods and is the Orff-Schulwerk/Kodály levels course director at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. She is an active member of the Prairie Winds Orff Chapter having served as the program chair, secretary, vice president, and is the current president. She has also been an active member of the Northern Plains Kodály Chapter having served on their board for six years as their ‘Public Relations-Member at Large.’ She was on the middle school choral staff at International Music Camp from 2013-2019 and had a blast teaching pedagogy and folk song analysis/collection in the University of Mary's Kodaly level 1 course in 2024.
 
Passionate about active music making that merges the Kodály method and the Orff-Schulwerk process, Niki creates an active classroom that focuses on singing, classroom instruments, composition, movement, and creativity. Niki is a Kodály and Orff-Schulwerk certified elementary music specialist. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education and a bachelor’s degree in Audio Production from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She graduated with a Master of Arts degree from The University of Iowa in 2011. She earned her Kodály levels certification from Minnesota State University Moorhead and Orff-Schulwerk certification from the University of St. Thomas.

President Elect - ​Lacey Jochim

​Lacey Jochim is in her 16th year of teaching elementary music.  This year marks year 11 at Red Trail Elementary School in Mandan, ND serving grades K-5.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Minnesota State University Moorhead.  She completed her Orff-Schulwerk certification through the University of Mary in 2024!  Lacey holds membership with the Prairie Winds Orff Chapter, American Orff Schulwerk Association, North Dakota United, and Mandan Education Association.  She also serves as the President for the Mandan Band Boosters.
 
Lacey has 3 amazing children: Hudson (16), Hanley (14), Greyson (11), and is newly married!!  In her free time, she works on her craft business, enjoys reading, camping, and spending time with family!

Treasurer - ​Alisha Wohl

Alisha teaches K-5 music at Sunrise Elementary in Bismarck, ND. This is her 19th year with the Bismarck School District. She received Bachelor of Science Degrees in Elementary Education, Secondary Vocal/Instrumental Music Education, and Elementary Music Education from the University of Mary in 2003. She earned her Orff Levels Training (I, II, III) from the University of Mary in 2016-2018. She is currently enrolled in the MME (Master of Music Education) program through Northern State University, Aberdeen SD.

In her free time, she enjoys reading, gardening, and having coffee dates with friends. She has been married for 18 years to Fred and they have 3 beautiful children: Annabelle (14), Brady (11), and Calista (9). She also loves visiting family and traveling back to the family farm near Eureka, SD.

​Alisha holds a membership with American Orff Schulwerk Association, Prairie Winds Orff, GIML (Gordon Institute of Musical Learning), North Dakota United, and Bismarck Education Association. She has received scholarships for Orff Levels training from AOSA, as well as scholarships for her MME program.

Secretary - ​Rachel Frank

Rachel Frank currently teaches PreK-12 music at Underwood Public School. She previously taught 5-12 Band/7-12 Choir at Divide County Schools. Rachel studied music education at Minnesota State University Moorhead and was the founding president of the university’s collegiate NAfME chapter. She completed her Orff-Schulwerk certification in 2024 and has taken World Music Drumming Level 1. Rachel is a member of NAfME, ACDA, NBA, PWO, and AOSA, and is currently serving as the West Region General Music Representative for NDMEA. She has also been teaching private guitar students for 19 years. Rachel and husband Tim have two little girls, Eleanor and Emmelin.

Program Chair - Sarah Jensen

Sarah Jensen has taught Prek-5th grade music at Saint Anne School in Bismarck for the past 22 years. She earned her Orff Levels through the University of Mary and would encourage anyone and everyone to give it a try! Sarah is a Suzuki Classical Guitar instructor as well as a Suzuki Prenatal and Baby Music Certified. She took Kodály level 1 training at the University of Mary in 2024. She has also contributed to the Quaver Music curriculum and served as a Advisory Board Member for 10 years. After school, she teaches at the University of Mary a Movmement and Music class for General Education students and teaches guitar and ukulele classes. Sarah has an obsession with glitter and can be found in her glitter room making sparkle pens for friends or hanging with her awesome husband and 4 kids after work. ​

Assistant Program Chair - ​Madeline Mortenson

Madeline is in her 7th year teaching elementary music and currently teaches for Mandan Public Schools. She received her B.S. in Music Education from the University of Mary in 2016 and her Masters in Music Ed. from Anderson University in 2023. Madeline enjoys the opportunity to do professional development of all sorts and in lots of places. She began her Orff levels training at the University of Mary in 2016 and went on to complete her Orff certification through the University of Memphis in 2022. She completed her Kodaly certification at Lakeland University in 2024 after beginning back in 2018 at what was then Silver Lake College. She is also certified in First Steps in Music and Conversational Solfege. She completed World Music Drumming Level 1 in 2021 in Kentucky and has also done Dalcroze Eurhythmics training with different instructors in Colorado and Indiana. She believes all of these approaches include wonderful tools for reaching students and loves to find ways to incorporate them as well as she can. 
Taking Orff level I at UMary and then joining Prairie Winds Orff was a huge support for Madeline as a brand new teacher. Being part of the Memphis Orff chapter was a huge support for her during a transition of moving across the country and teaching through Covid. Even when she was not teaching full time, Madeline found the resources and connections at Prairie Winds Orff to be so helpful when she transitioned back to life in ND. She cannot recommend joining a local Orff chapter enough! 
Madeline’s music involvement outside of school involves teaching Kindermusik for Northern Plains Dance, teaching private piano lessons, playing organ at church, and choreographing for Sleepy Hollow Theatre in the summer. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, biking, running, hiking, and having dance parties with her family. She and her husband Tom enjoy spending time with their daughter Clara and are looking forward to their son joining the family in late October!
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