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ignoring the professional development needed to build the capacity to guide this type of constructivist learning. For educators, consideration of “skills that are novel” as opposed to “skills that must be taught more intentionally and effectively” should inform our work to transform American education from a 20th


century factory model to a new model that allows us to utilize research


and technology to provide personalized learning for all students. What we are focused on is not content and curriculum; rather, it is our deliberate teaching of critical thinking, collaboration, and problem solving to all students.


One of the greatest strengths of the 21st century skills movement’s plan is the call for greater collaboration among teachers. As members of the Illinois Music Educators Association, a challenge we must consider is to identify the resources necessary to help our profession move as equal partners in the transformation of American education–more specifically educational reforms taking place here in Illinois. What teachers need is robust training and support, including specific lesson plans that deal with the high cognitive demands and potential classroom management problems of using student-centered methods. As an association, we must understand that collaboration for our members is challenging given the specificity of the strategies related to the craft of teaching music.


Tese challenges raise thorny questions about whether the design of today’s schools is compatible with the goals of the 21st century skills movement: Where will schools find the release time for such collaboration? Will they hire more teachers or increase class size? How will they provide the technology infrastructure that will enable teachers to collaborate with more than just the teacher down the hall? Who will build and maintain and edit the Websites, Nings, wikis, and so forth?


As my term on the IMEA Board of Directors comes to an end in January, I leave posing more questions than ever– questions that bear consideration as the board continues its work to consider how to best serve the needs of membership in this climate of educational change. Over the past fifteen years that I have served on the board, I have been fortunate to work with colleagues who have been intelligent, insightful, dedicated, and hard-working on behalf of IMEA. While the faces have changed over the years, the level of thoughtful dedicated service remains as strong today as ever.


On a personal note, during the past six years since I was elected as IMEA President, my life has taken professional turns that I could not have imagined. Despite my transition from the classroom to the main office, my daily work as a school administrator continues to be informed by my life’s work as a music educator. As I reflect on the changes we’ve seen in the association over the past six years (implementation of the online registration system for district/state audition process, addition of a new Publications Editor, a new Professional Development Director, and a new Executive Director to name a few), I am pleased to have had a voice in the process–AND I am a little disappointed that I will no longer be “at the table” as the board continues to consider the future mission and work of the organization. IMEA continues to be in very capable hands in terms of both the office staff and the Board of Directors. Despite the challenges facing us, this is an exciting time to be an educator; we just have to work to be open to change and look for the ways that change allows us to do great things to promote student learning.


Over these past several years, I’ve had the great for fortune to know and work with many of you–thank you! I hope to have the opportunity to stay connected with many of you in the work and play of making music; just because I work in the main office as a principal doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how to raise a baton or offer musical insights or suggestions. I’m just a call or email away!


I look forward to collaborating with many of you at All-State this year! Best regards,


Mike Pressler Past President


Winter 2010 | www.ilmea.org 21


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