from the desk of the executive director Continued from page 11
me for listening to him made my day! Do the same! Even if your recommendation is rejected, thank your administrator for listening. That is a great seed to plant that just may grow into something the next time you have a recommendation!
Be Visible and Active
When I started teaching, a music educator mentor of mine, whom I respected greatly, told me, “Always remember, an ‘8 to 4 and out the door’ music educator will never be successful.” I suspect all music educators understand that notion all too well.
Nevertheless, as I think back, the teachers I would put on my “best of the best” list all had two things in common: they were visible and active. They worked tirelessly and long hours. They were on school committees and advised student groups. I saw them at just about every event or happening, both at school and in the com- munity. They had networks in the school and community as wide as the day is long. When they spoke, people listened.
Now I know educators probably have no room for anything more on their plates. This is especially true for the music educa- tor. You may already be stretched to your
limits. You may already be at just about everything you can both at school and in the community, and have a good network as a result. If not, I am suggesting you need to think about this. But if so, use your network to your advantage. Tell them your needs and why. Ask if they have any ideas on how they or others could help. Make sure you do not come across as negative or complaining, but rather, as championing for the needs of students and your class- room. If your conversation gets back to your administrator, you want to be sure it does so in a way that speaks well of you. Needs for students and your classroom that are widely supported in the school and community have a better chance of getting the approval of your administrator.
1005 Quinn Dr. • Waunakee, WI 53597 • 608-850-3566 •
www.wmeamusic.org
Creative Sparks in Music Education Award Call for Entrie As we navigate through our careers as educators, we don’t oen take the time to
stop and consider the amazing things we are accomplishing with students in the claroom and community.
Pause to think about all the wonderful curicular plans you have writen, the
speial projecs you have initiated and the collaborations you have forged with colleague, community, parents and busine leaders.
Look at yourself in the miror and think about that person looking back at
you. Here is a knowledgeable teacher wo has so much to share with the ret o us. Consider taking one or more o those projecs and claroom initiative and share the richne with us. Trough the Melvin F. Pontious Creative Sparks in Music Education Award nomination you will be sharing creative and powerful ideas with ohers in the feld o music education. Sure, there is also the strong posibility you will be awarded this honor. But even more important, you took time to reeamine your strengths and your contributions to the proeion. And we’re grateful!
Please take a moment to look at the Creative Sparks Award requirements, plan to
aply by June 1, 2016 for ne fall and then look in that miror again to pat yourself on the back. Wisconsin music educators, students and communitie thank you!
Go to: htp://
www.wmeamusic.org/creativeparksaward 12
Timothy J. Schaid, Ph.D., is executive director of WSMA – WMEA – WFSM at the Wisconsin Center for Music Education. Email:
schaidt@wsmamusic.org; Phone: 608-850-3566, ext. 1019
In sum, when you find time, take a step back and juxtapose the work you do in your school and community with these five tenets as suggested here. I am not saying these tenets will be a panacea to getting approval of your recommendations to address the needs of your curriculum and classroom. Rather, I am suggesting that these tenets are ways of being that may work to your advantage when trying to make improvements to the services you are providing students.
In closing, please know that I wish you and your students well during these last few weeks of school. As executive director of WSMA, WMEA and WFSM, I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to meet the needs of Wisconsin schools, music educators and the students they serve. Do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and ideas on how the associations and foundation might further develop the partnerships we have with you. Know I am just a telephone call or email away. Better yet, the next time you are in the Madison area, make a stop in Waunakee and visit with me personally at the Wisconsin Cen- ter for Music Education!
April 2016
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