Sara Francis, Director
Sara Wells Francis is in her 21st year of teaching with Fayette County Public Schools. She received her Bachelors Degree in Applied Music/Music Education from Transylvania University and her Masters Degree in Music Theory from Northwestern University. In addition to teaching Orchestra at Hayes, she is also the Strings teacher at Athens-Chilesburg Elementary. She served on the KY American String Teachers Board, was the district String Day chairperson and was the Fayette County Honors Orchestra chairperson for eight years. She is currently the president-elect of the Fayette County Orchestra Directors' Association and the KMEA District 7 Orchestra Chair. Mrs. Francis has also been a clinician at the Kentucky Music Educator's Association Conference, a guest conductor for regional Honor Orchestras, and an adjudicator for various KMEA Assessment Festivals.
Mrs. Francis was the 2023 KMEA District 7 Teacher of the Year, 2007 KMEA District 7-11 Middle School Teacher of the Year, the 2008 Lexington Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, and the KY Chapter of the American String Teacher's Association 2016 Director of the Year. Her groups have received Distinguished ratings at KMEA Orchestra Assessment for the past 21 years and have been invited to perform at state and national conferences.
Mrs. Francis resides in Lexington with her husband John, her son Jonathan (14), daughter Emily (12), and their fur babies Evie, Luna, and Simon She enjoys advocating for Alzheimers and Dementia research, hiking and spending time outdoors, reading, and cooking. Her greatest loves are teaching and being a Mom.
Mrs. Francis was the 2023 KMEA District 7 Teacher of the Year, 2007 KMEA District 7-11 Middle School Teacher of the Year, the 2008 Lexington Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year, and the KY Chapter of the American String Teacher's Association 2016 Director of the Year. Her groups have received Distinguished ratings at KMEA Orchestra Assessment for the past 21 years and have been invited to perform at state and national conferences.
Mrs. Francis resides in Lexington with her husband John, her son Jonathan (14), daughter Emily (12), and their fur babies Evie, Luna, and Simon She enjoys advocating for Alzheimers and Dementia research, hiking and spending time outdoors, reading, and cooking. Her greatest loves are teaching and being a Mom.
Laura Summers, Associate Director
This is Laura Booher Summers' 10th year of teaching with Fayette County Public Schools. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Eastern Kentucky University, as well as a Masters Degree in Music Education from the same institution. Additionally, Mrs. Summers is the Orchestra Teacher at Brenda Cowan Elementary School.
Mrs. Summers has served as an adjudicator for Kentucky Music Educators Association Solo and Ensemble Festival. During her eight years of teaching, her groups have received Distinguished ratings at KMEA performance assessment. In addition, she has proudly served as the associate director for groups that have been selected to perform at both state and national music conferences.
Mrs. Summers resides in Lexington with her husband Bill and their toddler Wiley. She is an active member the Lexington Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, the American String Teachers Association and the Kentucky Music Educators Association. In her spare time, she reads and plans her next trip to Disney World!
Mrs. Summers has served as an adjudicator for Kentucky Music Educators Association Solo and Ensemble Festival. During her eight years of teaching, her groups have received Distinguished ratings at KMEA performance assessment. In addition, she has proudly served as the associate director for groups that have been selected to perform at both state and national music conferences.
Mrs. Summers resides in Lexington with her husband Bill and their toddler Wiley. She is an active member the Lexington Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, the American String Teachers Association and the Kentucky Music Educators Association. In her spare time, she reads and plans her next trip to Disney World!
