My name is Mary Lou Cruz and I am thrilled to be your child’s music teacher!  This year marks my twenty-fifth-year teaching at Tarpon Springs Fundamental.  Originally from Long Island, NY, I received my Bachelor’s degree from New York University, my Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University and my Doctoral Degree in Organizational Leadership with a minor in Curriculum and Instruction from Nova Southeastern University in 2017. I have earned my Gifted Micro-Credential endorsement, and I was nominated Pinellas County Music Educator of the Year in 2018. I am a two-time “Teacher in Excellence” grant winner and I have conducted over fifty concerts in my career including winter, spring, choral, and violin recitals.

I am a staunch supporter of the arts, having been accepted into Florida Music Educator's Association's Summer Institute of 2017. My dissertation entitled, "Effects of a music literacy integration intervention on teachers' self-efficacy and proactive attitudes toward music integration in classroom instruction" was accepted into the scholarly community of the Fischler College of Education of Nova Southeastern University in September 2016.

I believe that the arts teach our children that in complex forms of problem solving, purposes are seldom fixed, but change with circumstance and opportunity.  Learning in the arts teaches students multiple perspectives and many ways to see and interpret the world.  

I look forward to working with your child to make Music grow and thrive at Tarpon Fundamental!