A Miami-Dade music teacher just won a Grammy Award. Here’s why
South Florida public schools and one of its teachers got a shoutout at the nationally televised Grammys.
Jennifer Jimenez, band director at South Miami Senior High School, won the Recording Academy’s Music Educator Award at Sunday night’s ceremony held in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS.
“We are proud,” Miami-Dade Public Schools said in a statement Monday. “Her dedication to her students and her program reflects the excellence we value.”
Jimenez has led the music program at the school for 19 years. The award recognizes a teacher who makes “a significant and lasting contribution to the music education field and demonstrates a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools,” the Recording Academy said in a statement.
“Throughout her teaching career, Mrs. Jimenez has served as a standard-bearer for excellence, community building, and music education advocacy. Her firm belief that ‘band is the family that you choose’ has led her and her students to build a unique community that uplifts and inspires students and families.” the academy said.
She was chosen from a list of 10 finalists and 15 semifinalists.
Jimenez is from Nebraska and graduated from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, where she was inducted into the Band Hall of Fame, according to the Recording Academy. She went on to earn a master’s degree in music education from Florida International University’s Wertheim School of Music.
Under her leadership, the South Miami Senior High band has performed at Carnegie Hall and at two Super Bowls.
“She has supported aspiring teachers by being a clinical supervising teacher and has supported her colleagues through district and state presentations, serving as an adjudicator, and through her active roles in the Florida Bandmaster’s Association and a charter and state board member for Women Band Director International’s Florida chapter,” the Recording Academy said.
Jimenez lives in South Florida with her husband, Desi, their children, Noah and Eden, and their puppy, Obi-Wan, according to the academy.
Along with the award, Jimenez will receive $10,000 and a matching grant for South Miami Senior High’s music program.
This story was originally published February 2, 2026 at 11:38 AM.
