The New Adventure...

Every summer, many of us want to explore the world. We take a vacation, sight-see, travel, visit, or plan a road trip... some adventure. These adventures may take us to places of which we have dreamed, longed to return, or have never before visited. In these places, we may feel varying degrees of comfort about what we should do or say. In some, we are secure, yet in others, we are unsure of how we are supposed to act or ask questions. We feel a little out of place.

Picture yourself as an entering college student. You are starting a big adventure and are not sure where it will take you... now, fast forward four or five years to the beginning of your first music teaching position. You know the teaching theories and a lot about music, yet, you are unsure of teaching students...on your own. Maybe you are a bit scared because of the "last one in, first one out" syndrome when teaching positions are cut. Well, it does not have to be that way if you create a music program based on excellence. So, what should you do?

Irreplaceable... You!

Holly Taylor, Co-chair of the KMEA Mentoring Program, shares the following about an article she read about being "irreplaceable."

I recently read an article about making yourself irreplaceable. What an incredible idea in times of cuts and financial woes. In my large district this past June, the 5th Grade Strings Program was eliminated. I never thought I would see the day, after twenty years, that this cut would happen. What a loss to the elementary students and this community. The article about being "irreplaceable" helped me think of some things I would like to highlight.

First, provide a comprehensive music program. There are no shortcuts to excellence, as my own mentor teacher shared with me twenty years ago! As a new teacher, work hard to provide the very best music education program that is aligned with the state and national standards.

Second, become involved in school and district events. It is easy to become an island in your own room. As a first year teacher, make it a point to make connections at all kinds of school activities. Become acquainted with students and parents at many different school functions while you are building your program. Make it a priority to be "visible!" Take the time to be involved in organizations such as KMEA, KCDA, KBA, KMEK, KOC, etc. These excellent associations will help you grow and make professional connections in ways your job cannot!

Last, make your own opportunities. You play a major part in keeping music alive in Kansas! Make positive contacts with your principal, other colleagues, the janitor, and the secretary. All of them are crucial in running a school. Part of your job is to work well with them because they can provide incredible assistance to you through out your first year.

Where Do You Begin in August?

Begin as Holly suggests, by making connections! There is a great amount of information for new music teachers in Kansas in the New Music
Teacher Handbook. The Handbook, developed several years ago by Mike Quilling and Chris Richmond, is located at (http://www.ksmea.org/mentoring/handbook and is linked to the Kansas Music Educators Association website.

Before reading further, take a moment and go to the web page located at http://www.ksmea.org/mentoring/graduate.php. This web page is titled "Graduates & New Teachers," and is part of the KMEA website. On this page, you can quickly fill out a form to join the KMEA Music Mentoring Program. After you submit the form, you will be contacted by the Mentor Chair in your KMEA District to help you on the path to a successful career in music education in Kansas.

The Best Place for Resources

The New Music Teacher Handbook provides resources and links that are helpful to new and veteran music teachers. Music teachers will find topics and specific areas of interest. In the main body of the Handbook home page are links to your current State Mentoring Co-chairs, Kelly Knedler and Holly Taylor, as well as a link to your District Mentor Chair. At the bottom of the page there is also a link to the National Association for Music Education website (formerly MENC).

The opening paragraph of the New Music Teacher Handbook home page states that ". . . this handbook was developed specifically for the new music teacher in Kansas, although its use goes far beyond geography and experience and may be helpful to all music educators." In reality, this Handbook is an incredible resource guide for all music teachers by providing links to strategies, planning, ideas, and state organizations to contact during the course of the year. There is also a clever link called "KMEA 911." The KMEA 911 link is a quick help link, located at the bottom of the left sidebar, where a music teacher can describe a problem or ask a question; it is sent directly to an experienced KMEA member, who will then contact that teacher. The Handbook is there for all to use, please do not overlook it!

How Do You Contact Your District Mentor Chair?

One of the great points of the KMEA Mentoring Program is that we have a Mentor Chair for each of the six districts. If you are a music teacher new to Kansas, new to the music teaching profession, or a veteran Kansas music teacher in a new District, please contact your District Mentor Chair from the list below:

NORTHWEST
Jeff Jordan


NORTH CENTRAL
Kris Brenzikofer


NORTHEAST
Maggie McKain


SOUTHWEST
Erica Fleeman


SOUTH CENTRAL
Gretchen Bixler


SOUTHEAST
Mark Gard


Here is What's Coming Up!

New teachers should start preparing to attend several events this year.

First, check with your District Mentor Chair to see if your District hosts a New Teacher Workshop or seminar. If so, please attend. A few hours of listening to veteran teachers and strategizing in small groups could make a huge difference in the lives of your students -and yours!

Second, plan to attend the KMEA In-Service Workshop, February 23-25, 2012, in Wichita, Kansas. At the In-Service Workshop (ISW), KMEA will host many performance groups and seminars. There will be a New Teacher Luncheon - free to new teachers who register for the KMEA ISW. The KMEA Mentoring Program will also sponsor a seminar about surviving in the classroom called "In The Trenches." It is not too early to let your school district know you want to attend!

Finally, we encourage the KMEA Districts to publicize all mentoring events they will be hosting. If there are mentoring topics that need to be considered for the KMEA ISW, contact Kelly Knedler or Holly Taylor with any suggestions. We would love to hear from you! Please do not hesitate to let us know what we can do for you. Have a GREAT start to the school year and remember - you CAN be irreplaceable!