President

Barina Buresh-Crosland

Barina Buresh-Crosland has been the Vocal Music Director at Arlington Public Schools since 2005. She has experience teaching K-12 music, but is currently the 6-12 vocal music director.  Prior to her appointment at Arlington, she taught at Logan View and Fillmore Central. Barina has been an ACDA member since 1998, and has served NCDA as an appointed board member since 2002.  Her most recent role has been as the Senior High School ‘Small Schools’ Repertoire and Resources Chair.

Barina earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Wayne State College and a Masters in Music Education from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.  She lives in Bennington with her husband Philip, daughter Corinne, and dog Oakley.

Secretary Candidates

Susie Kearney

Susie Kearney is currently the Vocal Music Director at Omaha North High School. There, she directs the Concert Choir, Explosion! Show Choir, Mixed Chorus, and teaches class voice. Prior to teaching at North, Susie was Vocal Music Director at Benson High School in Omaha, and taught middle school chorus in her home state of South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Louisville. She has been a member of ACDA since 2012 and has attended and performed at multiple regional and national ACDA conventions.

Shelly Niewohner

Shelly Niewohner is in her 26th year teaching vocal music at Tekamah-Herman High school. There, she directs the high school choir, swing choir & vocal jazz group, the junior high choir as well as 5th & 6th grade general music classes. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University (MN), and following collegiate performances in choir, chamber singers, and “opera night”, she moved on to the Omaha Chamber Singers here in Nebraska. Her past service to NCDA includes two terms as Secretary.

Shelly and her husband, Scott, have two wonderful children, Lucas and Hayley. Lucas is currently attending the Colorado School of Mines majoring in computer programming and robotics. Hayley is a senior planning on attending Iowa State for Interior Design in the Fall. Both Shelly & her husband are not quite sure about the whole “empty nest” thing, but are looking forward to extra time for travel!