EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVORS
Dr. Kay is a former elementary school teacher and esteemed college professor who has challenged and inspired her students throughout her career. Dr. Kay is perhaps best known for her unique and uplifting teaching methods, including the integration of music into the curricula she teaches. During her tenure at Buffalo State College, Dr. Kay was awarded numerous grants to pursue the creation of collaborative learning and conflict resolution programs for elementary-age children. Often, music was integrated into these programs, including the theme-related music written by Dr. Kay and her former husband, Dr. J. Ronald Gentile.
In the fall of 2002, Dr. Kay was awarded the prestigious State University of New York’s Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching for her innovative teaching methods. Dr. Kay was the first faculty member of the Elementary Education Department at Buffalo State College to receive this award.
MUSICAL ENDEAVORS
Music has always been a part of Dr. Kay’s life. She began playing classical piano and singing before the age of six and by age twelve was selected to be the organist at her local church. Also at that time, she began writing simple songs for the church youth choirs that she conducted.
Throughout high school, Dr. Kay sang and played the piano in numerous choral groups, and as a freshman at Indiana University was selected to sing with the prestigious Belles of Indiana. Dr. Kay continued to play and teach both guitar and piano thereafter.
Dr. Kay became interested in the concept of music therapy during her recovery from breast cancer in 1975. Music played a major role in aiding her recovery and made her aware of the potential power of this inspirational medium. After her recovery, she became a volunteer for the New York State Division of the American Cancer Society, commissioned to tell her story and how music helped her recovery. Her presentation included original songs that she sang and played on her acoustic guitar. These songs dramatically conveyed the emotions and challenges faced by cancer patients.
In 1977, Dr. Kay helped initiate a volunteer music therapy program for children with cancer at Roswell Park Memorial Cancer Institute. This program, directed by Dr. Kay, was part of Roswell Park’s rehabilitation offerings until 1979. She has continued her work in music therapy to the present time.
Dr. Kay was selected as one of the “Ten Outstanding Young Women in America” in 1977, for her volunteer work with the American Cancer Society. She traveled to Washington, D.C. to receive her award and met with Vice President Walter Mondale during her tour of the capital city. Later that year, Dr. Kay was selected by the Buffalo News as one of its “Outstanding Citizens.”
During this same period, Dr. Kay produced her first record album, entitled, “Faith, Hope, Love.” The songs in this album were inspired by the young cancer patients with whom she worked, and were written and performed by Dr. Kay.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Dr. Kay and her former husband, Dr. J. Ronald Gentile, together known as “The Genteels,” wrote numerous songs and poems that focused on concepts of peace, love, overcoming, dealing with disabilities, and the importance of teamwork and cooperation. The Genteels performed their original music locally, nationally and internationally.
With the help of musicians from the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, The Genteels produced and recorded a CD of original children’s music, entitled, “Genteel Songs and Poems for Genteel People.” They have also written two children’s operas, entitled, “The Great Horse and the Greater Horses” and “Spikey the Sparrow and His Foster Bird Families.” These operas focus on themes of dealing with physical disabilities and the plight of children in foster homes and have been performed for elementary-age children by opera companies in New York, Pennsylvania and Arizona. An elementary school curriculum was also created for each opera.
Dr. Kay currently presents a variety of workshops that focus on music’s therapeutic and spiritual power and its use in meditation and prayer. She incorporates music history into her workshops, including dramatic and inspiring stories from the lives of the classical masters.
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION ENDEAVORS
In September of 2004, Dr. Kay completed a two-year program in Spiritual Direction at the St. Joseph Center for Spirituality in Clarence, New York. Following completion of this program, she was asked to become a staff member at the Center, performing the duties of Spiritual Teacher and Spiritual Director until September 2008.
In September of 2008, Dr. Kay became an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Buffalo, whose purpose is to foster reconciliation and unity, and to confront violence and powerlessness within ourselves and within society.
Dr. Kay is also a member of Spiritual Directors International. The goal and purpose of this international organization is to provide a network for spiritual directors and those seeking directors, regardless of organizational boundaries or doctrinal persuasion. The network welcomes people of all faiths and from all communities.
WRITING ENDEAVORS
As a professor at Buffalo State College, Dr. Kay published myriad articles related to cooperative and collaborative learning, creating win-win situations by using conflict resolution techniques, improving elementary mathematics education, using computer technology effectively in elementary school settings, and integrating music into elementary school curricula. In addition, Dr. Kay was the editor and graphic designer for her department newsletter, “EER Update”.
Dr. Kay continues to write short stories and poems and is in the process of writing a fiction novel which speculates about the life and thoughts of Mother Mary as she raises and observes her son Jesus though his early years. All of Dr. Kay’s writing projects are spiritually oriented.
Click HERE to view Dr. Kay’s Curricula Vita
