Author | Speaker | Arts Consultant

Ashley Cuthbertson, M.Ed, NBCT (she/her), is a nationally recognized speaker, arts consultant, and the author of Music As a Vehicle: A Practical Guide to Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching in Today’s Music Classrooms.

Her work explores how the arts are a vehicle for building the skills needed for success in school, career, and life—skills like collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, leadership, and perseverance.

As the founder and principal consultant of A. Cuthbertson Consulting, Ashley partners with schools, districts, and organizations to reimagine the arts through a culturally relevant lens to build critical skills for success. She helps K-12 schools and districts develop equitable program policies, cultivate affirming learning environments, and design culturally responsive curriculum and instruction that provide pathways to success for all learners. She also works with organizations beyond education, helping them apply arts-based strategies to strengthen team culture, enhance leadership, and foster collaboration.

Described as an engaging and charismatic educator, Ashley’s professional learning programs are widely praised for their practical, actionable strategies that empower educators to make an immediate impact on student learning. Educators and leaders consistently share that her work is engaging, thought-provoking, and transformative.

Before founding A. Cuthbertson Consulting, Ashley was a dedicated PK-12 music educator, teaching general music, choral, and band in public, private, and charter schools across diverse communities. She consistently received highly effective teacher ratings, recognized for her ability to advance students’ musicianship skills while creating culturally responsive, learner-centered classrooms. Beyond the classroom, she served as a district teacher leader, supporting the growth of fellow educators, and as an adjunct professor at Loyola University Maryland and the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

A passionate advocate for arts education, Ashley serves the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) as a member of the Music Education Policy Roundtable and NAfME Equity Committee and the Virginia Music Educators Association as chair of the DEI Council. Her work is rooted in the belief that the arts aren’t extra—they are essential. Through her speaking, writing, and consulting, she continues to advocate for arts education as a powerful force for equity, leadership, and innovation.

Ashley is a Nationally Board Certified Teacher and holds a Master of Education degree from Loyola University Maryland and a Bachelor of Music degree from James Madison University. She also holds certifications in Arts Integration and the Kodály approach.

Born and raised in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Ashley enjoys attending concerts and shows, trying new restaurants, and traveling—especially anywhere with a beach.

(Photo credit: Mitchell Media Marketing)