Elise morant

I was born in Dallas, Texas. When I was 5, my family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where I lived through high school.

I completed my first two years of college at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. At the time, I was in a band with musicians who still lived in Arkansas, and we were beginning to tour more regularly. Even though I was attending school in Dallas, I was constantly traveling back and forth to Arkansas to rehearse, perform, and hit the road.

As my music career continued to grow, I transferred to the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where I completed my junior and senior years.

I moved to Nashville in 2011 and, other than a six-month stint in Brooklyn, have been based here ever since!

My full name is Sarah Elise Davis Morant. My parents have always called me Elise, though. I was named after two important women in my family- my grandmother, Sarah Sandra, and my mother, Robin Elise- so my name is a combination of theirs.

Prior to 2020, I was a full-time musician for almost a decade. When the pandemic shut everything down and I could no longer work in the same way, I began exploring other interests. I felt a calling to pursue teaching.

Over the years, I had taught songwriting classes and guitar lessons to children, and those experiences showed me how much I enjoyed working with young people. So, I decided to go to graduate school and begin a new path.

I earned my master's degree in 2023 and have spent the last three years teaching full-time with MNPS.

I will be teaching third grade at A New Leaf. I see my role as both a mentor and a guide, using nature as an anchor for exploring all aspects of learning.

My goal is to help students develop curiosity, confidence, and a love of learning while ensuring they receive the knowledge and skills they need to meet state standards and be well prepared for fourth grade.

My middle school guitar teacher was a huge mentor in my life. He was the first person who encouraged me to share the songs I had been writing with others. He recorded my first demos, and that opened up a whole new world for me. It has always reminded me how much impact a mentor can have on a young person's life.

My grandfather is one of my heroes. He was a college football player, then spent more than 30 years as a cancer doctor while also running a cattle farm. He was married to my grandmother for 60 years and stayed by her side throughout her seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. He recently finished his eleventh book of short stories. I paint all of the covers for them, which has become a pretty cute collaboration between us. He rides motorcycles, drinks whiskey, and is passionate about Native American history. He is straightforward, honest, hardworking, and always helping others. Now 89 years old, he spends his time volunteering and traveling the world.

Lastly, Willie Nelson is a musical hero of mine. I admire him for both his songwriting and his singing. His music feels timeless and comforting to me, and his career is a reminder that authenticity can have a lasting impact.

At this point in my life, I feel like I am constantly changing. I am always learning and getting to know myself more deeply.

The career change from musician to teacher was a huge shift for me on almost every level. This coming school year will be my fourth year as a full-time teacher, and it has been a complete contrast to life as a touring musician. The experience has changed me in so many ways.

One of the biggest things I've learned is how much I enjoy working with children. Teaching can be incredibly challenging, but it is also deeply meaningful and important. It is a tremendous responsibility that I do not take lightly.

Another way I have changed is through gardening. My husband and I began gardening in 2020. What started as a few planters with tomatoes and jalapeños in the backyard has grown into something about twenty times larger. Growing food has fundamentally changed me. It has helped me become more connected to nature, more aware of the world around me, and more spiritual in many ways. What excites me most is realizing how much there is still to learn. I hope to continue growing in knowledge and experience, with the long-term goal of becoming self-sufficient. I don't think I will ever be the same after opening my eyes more deeply to the natural world.

These days, I spend most of my free time creating my children's series, Elise's World Show. Beyond that, I love going on Mexican food dates with my husband, painting, visiting used bookstores and Great Escape, working in my garden, writing songs, reading, and spending time with my pets. I'm currently really into fermenting or dehydrating food. I love hanging out with my stepdaughter and staying connected with my eleven nieces and nephews.

Music is probably my first artistic language. I am a songwriter and guitar player, and I spent eight years working as a professional songwriter on Music Row in Nashville. My music is on all streaming services under Elise Davis.

I also love to paint. Painting is a completely different creative experience for me and gives me another way to express ideas and emotions. You can see some of my artwork on Instagram @elisedavisart.

More recently, I have been exploring storytelling through children's media. My husband and I write, act, animate, and co-produce a children's series called "Elise's World Show." We recently received a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission to help support the creation of new episodes, and I am really excited about the projects we are currently working on. The show can be found on YouTube @elisesworldshowshow.

I enjoy eating healthy, nourishing food most of the time. I love cooking, gardening, and learning about nutrition, so food is something I think about a lot.

That said, about once a week my husband and I go out for my favorite cuisine: Mexican food. I love queso, salsa, street tacos, mole enchiladas, fajitas, tortilla soup… I could go on and on. My passion for Mexican food runs very deep!

I also absolutely love dark chocolate. What a gift to the world. 

This question is hard for me because I am one of those people who is kind of in love with every color. However, if I had to choose one, it would be coral, a pinky-orange coral.

I have always loved warm, Southwestern, earthy tones. There is something about coral that I find soothing and beautiful. I never seem to get tired of it.

I would love to go on a tropical wildlife expedition in a Spanish-speaking country.

I just completed three years as a full-time public school teacher. During that time, I learned a great deal about the kind of educator I want to be and the type of learning environment I believe helps children thrive.

I believe children benefit from being able to move, explore, spend time outdoors, and learn through hands-on experiences. I see nature as one of our greatest teachers.

I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to teach at A New Leaf, where learning in and from nature is encouraged and valued. Being able to use the natural world as an anchor for academic learning feels deeply aligned with my educational philosophy. Knowing that I get to help children learn in this way is what most ignites my passion for the coming school year.