NAfME North Central Division Update


Indiana The Indiana Music Educators Association (imeamusic.org) budget is in the black this year and funds are being directed toward more professional development for state music teachers. Leaders are also planning more advocacy work with connections to the state SMTE, state superintendent and arts coordinator. This year they plan to make visits to the State House. The state professional music education conference is happening on January 12-14, 2017 in Fort Wayne.


Illinois


Illinois continues to work on its social media and communication strengths to reach members. Audition software is be- ing revamped and leadership is starting online training for volunteers and mentors to reach outlying areas. Diversity and equity are strong topics of concern. The Illinois State Standards have been adopted based on the National Standards with an eye on implementation in 2018-19. The IMEA (ilmea.org) is running its annual conference from January 25-18, 2017 in Peoria.


Michigan


Teachers in Michigan are setting up regional choral events for elementary students. The most important focus in the MMEA (mmeamichigan.org) this year will continue to be the Advocacy Day. In looking at equity and diversity, state music education leaders are looking at certification and legislation, as well as di- viding the state into “pods” to cover more ground in their work. They are working on music education requirements for all children. The professional music educa- tion conference will take place on January 19-21, 2017.


Minnesota


Minnesota music educators are also very concerned about equity and diversity. There are concerns with school representa- tion being equitable across the state. Data is being collected and listening sessions are being organized. All-state scholarships are offered to students from unrepresented districts and changes are being considered in these programs to address data loss is- sues. The MMEA (mmea.org) will hold its annual Midwinter Clinic on February 16-18, 2017 in Minneapolis.


Nebraska


The NMEA (nmeanebraska.org) confer- ence was held on November 16-18, 2016 in Lincoln. Over the course of the last year, Nebraska music education leadership has been moving to online auditions for the state music groups. A new administrative assistant has been hired and the organiza- tion has run a Higher Ed Summit, as well as supporting a middle level barbershop chorus for a second year. On March 1, 2017 there will be a strong presence at the Capitol for MIOSM.


North Dakota


NDMEA (ndmea.org) is finding its mem- bership up 13 percent this year. The orga- nization has had a great response to email and other contacts to teachers. The state DPI has now placed a music education rubric on its website. Work will now begin on state standards. There is a two-year cycle for legislation and ESSA discussion in on the horizon. NDMEA is also work- ing on an advocacy day at the state level. The state professional conference will take place on March 23-25, 2017.


Ohio


The OMEA (omea-ohio.org) state profes- sional development conference will be held on February 1-4, 2017 in Cleveland. This year saw the first all-state children’s choir, increased leadership positions and increased membership. Leaders are being trained through a retreat at The Ohio State University. Initiatives are being directed through an alliance of arts group in the state. There is discussion about ESSA implementation in Ohio.


Wisconsin School Musician South Dakota


SDMEA (sdmea.net) is looking at a year of new ventures. There is now an all-state middle school jazz band and in 2017 an all-state honor orchestra will be insti- tuted. A high school virtual choir will be added to the middle school virtual choir. Leadership is opening the door for ESSA discussion with the state Department of Education by inviting these education experts to a SDMEA Board meeting to educate them on the latest national legisla- tion. The annual conference was held on October 26-29, 2016 in Sioux Falls.


Wisconsin


The Wisconsin State Music Conference was held on October 26–29, 2016 in Madison. WMEA (http://www.wmeamu- sic.org) has been focusing on advocacy through the Wisconsin Advocates for Music Education (WAME) as part of the larger organization. Plans are being made to visit the Capitol in February and con- ference sessions/discussion are directed at ESSA, State Standard development and attention to diversity issues. A K-16 Education Summit was held in August to discuss DPI guidelines on certification and the state teacher shortage.


As we move forward in 2017 I urge all NAfME members to consider how they advocate for students every day through an attention to our vocabulary (click here in online version for vocabulary list to consider), continue to consider our com- munication with those around us and study the current work on legislation, standards and education as a whole. We are the experts and we can make change. We can bring exciting initiatives into the schools as we work to keep the historic strengths that are such a powerful part of our profession.


Please reach me with your thoughts and hopes for music education in the North Central states at northcentralpresident@ gmail.com.


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