Cindy Cruz has enjoyed a 35 year career in music education and is entering her 26th year of teaching elementary vocal music and band at Pauline South Intermediate School in the Auburn-Washburn School District in Topeka. She introduced the Music Memory program at Pauline South and coached championship teams in three out of five years of competition in the state Music Memory contest held at Kansas State University. She shared the positive impact that the Music Memory program has had on her students with other educators by being a guest speaker at the K-State Music Symposium in 2006. She previously taught band in grades 5 -12 at Pomona (now West Franklin) and Marais des Cygne Valley Schools. During her career, Mrs. Cruz has served as an adult church choir member, children's church choir director, and member of community bands in Topeka and Ottawa, Kansas. She was also a parent volunteer for the Topeka West High School Band.

Mrs. Cruz grew up in Jasper, Missouri and is a graduate of Pittsburg State University. She resides in Topeka with her husband, Chris. Her daughter, Courtney, is a registered nurse at the University of Kansas Hospital. She owes an enormous debt to her childhood music teachers Roberta Probert and Larry Sanborn for their work in the Jasper R-5 Schools and to the late Robert Schott, her advisor and saxophone teacher from Pittsburg State University. Their love for the profession and their students provided the model for her lifelong adventure in music.

Book:	Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children book series)
Author:	Jane Auel
Animal:	dog
Pet:	Scooter
Subject to Teach:	Music
Subject to Learn:	Technology Applications
Vacation Spot:	Beach or Museum
Movie:	Gone With the Wind
Pop:	Caffeine Free Diet Coke
Food:	Mexican
Snack:	Anything Chocolate