Music is the medium, and helping students feel seen and valued is the goal. This is the fuel behind Maize Elementary School teacher Katie Todd’s music instruction to kindergarten through fourth grade students.

Katie earned her Bachelors of Music Education in 2012 from Kansas State University. She continued her education by pursuing a Masters of Music Education degree at her alma mater, graduating in 2017. Todd is in her twelfth year of teaching and currently teaches in Maize USD 266, where she is admired by colleagues, parents, and students alike.

Katie finds much of the inspiration for lessons from her time spent with her two young daughters, Olivia and Charlotte, and her husband.Being a mother gives her insight into what families need from their educators to help them connect and bond. Additionally, she teaches private oboe lessons, is a New Teacher Mentor, and collaborates with Kansas State University to support new and future Elementary Music Teachers. In January of 2024 Todd was recognized as a Music for All: Advocacy in Action award winner for the Elementary Excellence category. She received this for her efforts over the past three years to connect students and their families with Kindie music artists through their grade level performances. She was also selected as the 2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year Nominee for USD266.

In August of 2024 Katie released her first single Chickadee under the artist name “Katie T”. Her entrance into the Kindie music world came after encouragement received from friends and family as well as members of the Children’s Music Network. She was fortunate to work with Bret Turner and Ian Walters of The Tallest Kid in the Room on this release. The song can be heard on all streaming platforms.

Katie loves building relationships with her students and families and is passionate about helping them connect to each other and finding a deeper understanding of themselves through music. This quote can be found on the wall of her classroom: “ This is why I teach music…not because I expect you to major in music, not because I expect you to play or sing all your life, not so you can relax, not so you can have fun, but so you will be human, so you will recognize beauty, so you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world, so you will have something to clog to, so you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more good. In short, more life.” - author unknown

Chickadee by Katie Todd

Tell Me What Happened features the music of Susan Salidor.

More information about Susan Salidor can be found at her website

Get Susan Salidor’s One Little Act of Kindness Children’s Book

Get Susan Salidor’s I’ve Got Peace in My Fingers Children’s Book