Vern has taught middle and high school music for 31 years, primarily in the Sequim School District, previously in the Snohomish and South Kitsap districts. His assignments include concert band, percussion ensemble, jazz ensemble and AP music theory. He earned a BA in Music Education from Seattle Pacific University. His high school groups have performed around the state, and also travel out of state each year. Their longest trip was to Moscow, Russia, when it was still part of the Soviet Union, participating in the first recognized exchange with a performing group from that area. Vern has served WMEA as an honor group manager, and the North Olympic Region as president. He was voted the region’s Outstanding Music Educator. He and his wife, Lynn, have three daughters, Megan, Mallory and Naomi, who is now an elementary music teacher.