Elise Hackl (she/her) is an accessible music teacher near Chicago, working with neurodiverse individuals of all ages. Elise is a lifelong learner- with research centered on training and preparation for accessible classrooms. Elise is a proud alum of Illinois State University (BS in Music and Special Education), Concordia University Chicago (MA), and Wichita State University (MME). Currently, Elise is in the home stretch of her principal certification. Elise’s main focus in her research is training and preparation for accessible classrooms. In 2018, Elise was nominated for the Illinois State Board of Education “Those Who Excel” Teacher of the Year program, receiving an award of merit. Elise has presented multiple sessions at NAfME (2015 & 2016), and her contributions can be found in music journals around the Midwest. Elise has also contributed chapters for GIA’s  Portraits of Music Education and Social Emotional Learning, Teaching with Heart  (edited by Scott Edgar, 2021), and for the Oxford University Press resource Teaching Music to Students with Special Needs: A Practical Resource (by Alice Hammel & Ryan Hourigan, published in 2017). Elise has many articles available through MusicconstructED, ILMEA, NAFME, and more.  Elise serves as a coach in Illinois centered on accessibility in music education and social-emotional learning and is a founding member of the Music for All “Music SEL Support Team.” In her free time, Elise currently serves as a judge and producer for the International Championships of High School and Collegiate a Cappella and enjoys traveling around the world with her partner Rob.