Director of Fine Arts

Dr. Michael Raiber

Fine Arts Leadership

In the 2023-24 school year, Dr. Raiber started his 41st year as a professional educator. He has enjoyed 13 years teaching public school in Missouri and Oklahoma prior to 25 years in collegiate ensemble leadership and music teacher education at Oklahoma State University, The University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City University. In addition to these positions, Raiber has also served as the Director of Teacher Support and conductor of Orquesta Esperanza at El Sistema Oklahoma. In 2019, Dr. Raiber returned to his roots as a public school music educator and opened Mustang Central Middle School in Mustang Oklahoma as an instrumental music educator. In 2022, he accepted the position as Director of Fine Arts for Mustang Public Schools.

Dr. Raiber has presented at conferences nationally and internationally on topics ranging from music teacher identity to student leadership development. He has authored many publications. His most recent include a chapter on large ensemble leadership as youth development in Music Learning as Youth Development (2019). He also authored a chapter on developing effective dispositions for music teaching in the New Oxford Handbook on Music Teacher Education (2019). In 2022, the second edition of his - along with his co-author Dr. David Teachout - popular introduction to music education text, From Music Student to Music Teacher: A Professional Approach was published. Dr. Raiber was honored to be inducted to the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 2021.

Dr. Raiber received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Tulsa and his Ph.D. in music education with an emphasis in conducting from the University of Oklahoma. He lives in Norman, Oklahoma with his wife Lisa and is proud grandfather to Theo and Eliza!