Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry

Biography

The 2023-2024 school year is Alexis’ twenty-first year to teach music in Rutherford County Schools. She has taught middle school general music and choir at Siegel Middle, elementary music, choir, and instrument team at Lascassas Elementary, and is currently in her third year as the general music specialist at Stewarts Creek High School where she teaches guitar, songwriting, digital music, and serves as the campus-wide percussion instructor for the middle school and high school, teaching drumline and percussion ensemble. Alexis has been named the Tennessee Association of Middle School’s Team Teacher of the Year, Siegel Middle Teacher of the Year, Rutherford County Middle School Teacher of the Year, Lascassas Teacher of the Year, Rutherford County Elementary Teacher of the Year, and was just named Stewarts Creek High School Teacher of the Year for the 2023-2024 school year. Alexis has taught music education courses at Middle Tennessee State University, Belmont University, and Trevecca Nazarene University.

Alexis is a charter member of the world-renowned theatrical percussion ensemble Music City Mystique having been a member in 1995 and 1996. Alexis graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with her Bachelor of Music in 2001. While in her undergraduate studies, Alexis marched with the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps, was awarded first place in the Percussive Arts Society College Keyboard solo competition, marched with the Band of Blue, and was selected to receive the Linda T. Mitchell leadership award. Alexis returned to Middle Tennessee State University in 2008 to begin her Masters of Art, which she completed in 2011. Alexis has proudly served as the President and Treasurer for both the Middle Tennessee General Music Education Association and the Middle Tennessee Vocal Association. She served as president of the Tennessee Music Education Association from 2020-2022 and is the current past president of the state organization. Alexis is also a proud member of the Board of Directors for ArtsEd Tennessee, a coalition of arts advocates that focus on promoting arts education policies. Alexis lives in Murfreesboro, TN with her husband, David, who works for the performing rights organization AllTrack. They have two Boston Terriers named Winnie and Maggie.