Meet the Team
Mickey Stisher
Travel Designer
After forty years as a public school music educator and supervisor, Mickey retired from teaching and began a second career, joining the team at Educational Destinations/Music Travel Consultants as a Travel Designer. With his entire family (wife Teri, daughters Shauna Mullins and Lyndee) having assisted ED/MTC as Tour Directors in the past, the connection is not a new one.
Mickey holds music degrees from Ball State University and Louisiana State University, and he held teaching positions including Associate Director of Bands at Jefferson City High School in Missouri, Director of Bands at Yorktown High School in Indiana and Director of Music for La Porte Community Schools in Indiana. Groups under his direction have performed in the Orange, Fiesta, and Citrus Bowl Parades and Field Competitions, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade, Disney World, the ISSMA State Concert, Jazz, and Marching Band Finals, WGI World Championship Finals, Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacer games, been named Honor Band at numerous jazz festivals, and performed at the IMEA State Conference.
Under his direction, the La Porte High School Marching Band was named the 2014 Indiana Scholastic “A” Class State Champion. Mickey is a Past-President of the Indiana Bandmasters Association, the Indiana State Chairman for the National Band Association, a two-time past President of the Indiana State School Music Association, a past Secretary of the International Association of Jazz Educators Indiana Unit, and the former Contest Director for the Midwest Color Guard Circuit. In 2006 he was named the Outstanding Indiana Bandmaster by the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, and in 2007 he was the recipient of the Chicagoland Outstanding High School Music Educator Award, presented by the Quinlan and Fabish Music Company. He was also inducted into the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Hall of Fame in 2009. He is both founder and director of the National Band Association Indiana All-Star Marching Band featured annually in the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade since 1998, for which Educational Destinations/Music Travel Consultants serves as co-sponsor.
Mickey also has an extensive background in the drum corps activity, having marched with the Madison Scouts, judged for both DCI and DCM, and taught the Guardsmen, Glassmen, and Boston Crusaders, spanning a period of nearly forty years.
Are you looking for Social Justice/Ethics Travel STEM Travel History Travel Art Travel Theatre Travel Theme Parks Travel Adventure Travel Film & Media Travel Green/Conservation Travel Language Immersion Travel Natural Wonders Travel Performance Arts Travel for your students?
At Educational Destinations, each program is custom-designed to meet your group's wishes, with no hidden costs. Our company is led by accomplished educators, dedicated to anticipating and exceeding your needs.
The Trip Account app is offered to our groups as they travel.
Included in your trip, group leaders, staff, chaperones and travelers will use the information packed, versatile Trip Account App during their travels.
Powerful Director Tools
Interactive Checklists, Pop Up Communications, Emergency Notifications.
Tools for all travelers
Live Itineraries, Group Messaging, Photo Gallery and much more.
Everything you need for your next trip.
The Trip Account app is available for iPhone and Android.
See our difference
It’s no surprise that Educational Destinations sets and exceeds student travel standards. We aim to provide the best service, communication, experience and safety for all of our groups. When researching for your travel provider, please download this PDF checklist HERE to ensure that your group is taking advantage of all of the essential building blocks of a successful, safe, and FUN trip! If you have questions or are ready to get started on your next trip, please call 800.616.1112 or request your customized quote.
Custom Designed Trips
ED will create a custom designed trip for your group that is shaped by your priorities, goals and wishes, and powered by your passions. ED is committed to listening and working one-on-one with you to build the perfect trip for your students. There are no stock trips here - just your trip.
Group Travel Specialists
Led by award-winning teachers, ED exceeds the needs and expectations of students, teaching staff, parents and administrators. ED anticipates group needs and delivers group wishes, without surprises or hidden costs. Our experience and expertise enable us to bring the best quality trips, events, experiences and opportunities to your group.
All-Inclusive Price
ED’s custom trips are cost-effective and inclusive, without hidden costs – a great value for your travelers. Charter coaches, flights, hotels, meals, sightseeing, events, taxes and gratuities are covered for each traveler. A 24/7 Emergency Contact System is included for each traveling group.
Cutting Edge Technology
Through ED's parent company, ED is the only student travel company providing its own free, secure, proprietary Music Travel App to all travelers: students, staff, parents, chaperones and administrators. Features include real time itinerary, messaging for updates, reminders and check-ins, opt-in geo-fencing and payment system.
Personal Tour Director
A signature feature of every trip is the ED Tour Director, always right by the music director’s side, managing all travel aspects of your trip: transportation, events, meals, lodging, tickets and more. Our TD’s training and management skills let the teacher focus on the students and education.
Safety is Priority #1
ED is pro-active on safety, sending the Tour Director World Aware® alerts, sharing best practices in travel safety, emergency procedures and travel hints with chaperones and staff, ensuring traveler accountability, monitoring vendor service/performance and tellng travelers of changes or emergencies with the Music Travel App.
Trusted Leader in Travel
ED is an active member of these respected travel suppliers and organizations: Walt Disney World & Disneyland, Universal Orlando, American Bus Association, National Band Association, National Tour Association, Student Youth Travel Association and more. View all ED’s partners and awards here.
Doing the right thing
ED is deeply committed to high quality educational group travel. We love what we do, and we work hard to do it better than everyone. Creating memorable performance trips that leave positive, life-changing impressions on your students and community is a privilege that we don’t take lightly. Please talk to us about your next trip.
Blog Posts
2020: Is it Okay to Travel Again?
In a world full of Covid-19 and still many unknowns about the virus and its long-term effects, Senior Travel Designer at Educational Destinations, Greg Moore tackles this difficult question. learn more
Travel with Special Needs or Dietary Restrictions
When a group is focused on its education, it is easy to overlook issues with accessibility. learn more
Top European Destinations
With the world full of fascinating educational destinations, just choosing the perfect spot for your students can present quite a challenge. Here are some of our cleints' must popular top European destinations. learn more
Getting parents involved in your educational trip.
Having parents involved in the program it a vital piece of the puzzle to be successful. learn more
Getting Groups Through Airport Security
Here’s how to get your students through security, smoothly and efficiently. learn more
Motor Coach Travel Advice for Students
Make the most of your ride with these insider tips. learn more
Choosing the right educational student group travel company.
When a student gets to experience to new locations, new cultures and new people with education being the focus, the revelations and the eye-opening impact that develop are priceless. learn more
Disney on Broadway with Educational Destinations.
Breathtaking! Amazing! Phenomenal! These are words you have probably heard time and time again from friends, family, and others when seeing a musical on Broadway. learn more
The Value of Education with a student Disney trip.
Have you ever wondered why opportunities involving educational trips to Disney are so abundant? The significance of education brought feeling and heart into... learn more
Health Tip: Preventing Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis, or deep venous thrombosis, (DVT) is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within a deep vein, predominantly in the legs... learn more
Fund Raising for your educational student trip.
Time for some heavy lifting. Before your trip becomes a reality, some homework has to be done. Don’t worry, Educational Destinations is here to help... learn more
See why teachers are giddy about happy with excited about very pleased with singing a tune about Educational Destinations...
At Educational Destinations, each program is custom-designed to meet your group's wishes, with no hidden costs. Our company is led by accomplished educators, dedicated to anticipating and exceeding your needs.