THE NEW JERSEY MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION a federated state association of NATIONAL ASSOCIATION for MUSIC EDUCATION News From Our Division Chairs
Check your district policy about retirement notification. I found a little known clause in our contract that waived the cap on sick day buy-back if notification of retirement was given before a set date in November of the school year of planned retirement. Since I have 30 years of great attendance I’m making sure that I am thanked appropriately when I depart! Each district is different with its policies. You won’t know if you don’t ask! Start cleaning out your room as soon as you can. I have found it very cathartic filling up trash cans. I have also
been reminded of some wonderful things that have happened over the last 30 years, as well as some less than wonder- ful things that have happened over the last 30 years.
It’s all a part of the process and it has helped me deal with this
over a much longer period than if I had waited until the last minute. It’s also not fair to leave your trash for someone else to clean! I didn’t want to announce my retirement until I was ready (which I thought would be after I retired). I didn’t really
have the choice. Our local reporter that covers Board of Education meetings saw it on the agenda and decided to put it into print. I was not happy at first, but have since come to embrace the announcement, which I really feel without burden. Everyone knows and most are happy for me. I’m just getting tired of being called “short-timer”! My decision has actually improved my teaching. I decided that I was not going to shortchange my last class of stu-
dents. They deserve the same level of instruction that their brothers and sisters (and in many cases parents) received. No article can truly prepare you for the ups and downs that you will experience after you make your decision. Let them happen. Remember – you have been in education in some form or another for at least 50 years.
It’s going to
be a big adjustment. Stay tuned for some more thoughts as the light grows brighter!
Administration & Advocacy Dennis Argul
Elizabeth Public Schools
argulde@epsnj.org
Administration “Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing oth-
ers.” – Jack Welch, former GE chairman and CEO On February 2, 2018, the New Jersey Music Administrators met once again at the Rutgers Club and were treated to an informative presentation entitled “Quantifying Creativity: Assessment and Data in the Arts” which was present- ed by Robert Hamm, Supervisor of Performing and Media Arts for the East Windsor Schools. Hamm shared his data collection strategies he implemented in his district which were used to track students from their musical beginnings of their music education, through their grade 12 experiences. Hamm also used the data to corroborate the successes of the students in music with their successes in their other academic areas and social-emotional connections to the school. A question and answer session concluded the informational session.
continued on page 10 TEMPO 8 MARCH 2018
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