KMEA and KCOMTEP Merge

The KCOMTEP (Kansas Conference of Music Teacher Education Professors) annual conference convened on the Wichita State University campus on October 1, 2012. The day was focused on KEEP, the state of Kansas teacher evaluation model—Kansas Educator Evaluation Protocol. The day-long session was attended by music education college and university professors and NAfME collegiate members from across the state. KEEP was developed by the Kansas State Board of Education Teaching in Kansas Commission. It is the state's attempt to address Principle 3 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Principle 3 requires each state to develop and adopt guidelines for teacher and principal evaluation. These guidelines must include student growth as a factor within the evaluation process. KEEP was piloted in 34 schools (17 districts) in the 2011-2012 school year. Pilot 2 began in August 2012 with additional districts and schools.

The morning session was led by David Dennis, Chair of the Kansas State Board of Education and representative of state District 10, and Pamela Coleman, Director of Teacher Education and Licensure, Kansas State Department of Education. This session covered the overarching topic of KEEP, its organization and procedures. The afternoon session was led by Shawn Chastain, Executive Director of Fine Arts Department, USD 259-Wichita and Shawn Henderson, Middle and High School Principal, USD 355-Ellinwood. Both clinicians are music educators and have participated in the KEEP pilot project. They led the session with the collegiate members sharing information, experience, and positive points to be considered before and during the process.

Faculty members met in a separate session to discuss the merger of KCOMTEP with KMEA, to review the annual conference, and to plan for next year's session. The fall 2013 session will begin with the Sunday event sponsored by Senseney on September 29, followed by the Monday session on September 30, at Wichita State University. Several session topics were explored. The faculty members discussed the need and desire to include faculty from community colleges as well as those from the state and private colleges and universities. It was determined that this discussion would continue at an open session at the annual KMEA 2013 In-Service Workshop.

The session—SMTE Faculty Meet and Greet—is scheduled for Thursday, February 21, 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. in Hyatt Ballrooms A-C. The discussion is open to all interested music education teachers and the agenda is open for suggestions. Possible topics could include music teacher evaluation, music education advocacy, SMTE (Society for Music Teacher Education), and the state requirements for music teacher preparation programs. Please plan to attend. Refreshments will be served. See you at the ISW.