Recording Academy®
Jennifer Jimenez has spent nearly two decades proving that music education can be transformative, not just artistically, but personally, culturally, and communally. This Grammy Week, her impact will be formally recognized as she is named the recipient of the 2026 Music Educator Award, presented by the Recording Academy and the Grammy Museum.
Jimenez, the longtime Director of Bands and Elective Department Chair at South Miami Senior High School, will be honored during the Recording Academy’s Special Merit Awards Ceremony on Saturday, January 31. Chosen from a national pool of nominees spanning all 50 states, she was selected as the top recipient among ten finalists, with nine additional educators also receiving recognition for their work in classrooms across the country.
The Music Educator Award celebrates teachers who have made a lasting contribution to music education while advocating for its continued presence in public schools. Along with the honor, Jimenez will receive a $10,000 personal honorarium and a matching grant for her school’s music program, with funding made possible by the Chuck Lorre Family Foundation. The remaining finalists will also receive cash awards and matching school grants.
For Jimenez, the award reflects a philosophy she has lived by since arriving in Miami nearly 20 years ago. The Nebraska native studied at the University of Miami and fell in love with the music department, staying to teach following graduation. “Band is the family that you choose,” she reflected.
Her students have performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, including Carnegie Hall and two Super Bowls, while her behind-the-scenes efforts, such as securing more than $84,000 in grants, have expanded access and opportunity for young musicians.
Beyond the classroom, Jimenez is deeply embedded in the broader music industry. She mentors future educators, presents at district and state levels, serves in leadership roles within major professional organizations, and actively researches equity in music education. She also collaborates with the Greater Miami Youth Symphony to provide free and reduced-cost programs for students across the city.
A principal percussionist with the Miami Symphony Orchestra, Jimenez embodies the motto of teaching by example. The 2026 Music Educator Award honors her career dedicated to building community through music, one student at a time.
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