Robby Burns currently teaches band classes at Ellicott Mills Middle School in Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland. He is also a professional percussionist and has an extensive studio of private students.

Robby’s use of technology within the band room and the studio is breathtakingly brilliant. He infuses all of his work with excellent choices of apps and utilities that help students learn music, both in class and during their private practice. He is generous with his skills and his learning, constantly helping other instrumental teachers throughout the school district, and running many professional development sessions on the integration of technology into the ensemble classroom.

Robby is the author of “Digital Organization Tips for Music Educators”, part of Oxford University Press’s Prestissimo Series. In this book, Robby introduces readers to the many strategies that he himself uses to streamline all the extras of being a band teacher (forms, seating charts, lesson plans, etc.) using technology, so that you can spend more instructional time on music and less on administration. He has presented on this topic at many TI:ME events and at several State MEA conferences.

Robby’s tireless devotion to his students and his colleagues makes him a stand-out educator in the spirit and tradition of Mike Kovins, in whose memory the TI:ME Teacher of the Year Award is given. Kovins was a devoted advocate for the integration of technology into music education, and the award only recognizes the very best of the best. We congratulate Robby Burns on his outstanding teaching and advocacy by presenting him this highly prestigious award.

Previous winners of the Mike Kovins TI:ME Teacher of the Year Award are Amy Burns – 2005, Karen Garrett – 2006, Michael Fein – 2007, Ace Martin – 2008, Wayne Splettstoeszer – 2009, Rick Dammers – 2010, Joe Pisano – 2011, Barbara Freedman – 2012, Richard McCready – 2013, Catie Dwinal – 2014, Will Kuhn – 2015, Marjorie LoPresti – 2016, Stephanie Sanders – 2017, Cherie Herring – 2018, Shawna Longo – 2019, Anne Fennell – 2020, Stefani Langol – 2021, Ryan Van Bibber – 2022, Heath Jones – 2023, Gillian Desmarais – 2024.