Laura Arthur is a veteran music educator and dedicated arts advocate. She currently works as a substitute educator in music classrooms in the Portland Metro area, and serves as an instructional coach, adjudicator, clinician, conductor, and sectional coach across Oregon.
From 2019-2024, Laura served as the K-12 Music Teacher On Special Assignment (TOSA) for Portland Public Schools in Portland, Oregon. In her TOSA role, she supported all music programs at the district level through arts advocacy, creating and delivering professional development, curating curriculum, coordinating events, and instructional coaching. Before becoming a part of the PPS Visual & Performing Arts team, she ran a successful middle school music program for 12 years, directing concert and jazz band ensembles along with teaching orchestra, guitar, percussion, and general music classes.
In her role as Public Policy Chair, Laura coordinates and leads action related to advocacy with stakeholders on behalf of OMEA. She has presented at local, state, and national conferences around beginning band pedagogy, literature selection, and arts advocacy. She regularly performs on bass clarinet and bari sax, and holds degrees from the University of Oregon (B.Mus, Music Education) and Portland State University (M.Ed).
Laura is a steadfast advocate for equity, and believes that a comprehensive and high-quality music education can, and should, be accessible to ALL students. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, baking, comics, trivia, and time with family.
Laura Arthur
Public Policy Chair
Oregon Music Education Association
Portland, Oregon
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