KMEA and KCOMTEP Merge

KCOMTEP (Kansas Conference of Music Teacher Education Professors) is a state organization, unique to Kansas, providing a structured framework for faculty discussion on topics relevent to music teacher education. Membership includes music teacher education professors from public and private colleges and university as well as representatives from Kansas community colleges. KCOMTEP meets regularly each fall.

KCOMTEP, organized 35+ years ago, was at the forefront in the development of the state music standards and, later, in working with KSDE to develop a unified and consistent approach to music teacher education program assessment at our various schools. Members continue to actively work toward improved course transfer and articulation among our programs and in collaboration with our state community colleges. Each fall the organization sponsors the annual workshop as a collaborative event with collegiate NAfME student members.

At the June 2012 KMEA Board Meeting, members approved the merger of KCOMTEP as a part of KMEA. The move is valuable for both groups. The arrangement will allow for the continuation of KCOMTEP's work under the more inclusive KMEA umbrella. KCOMTEP will continue as the annual fall conference for faculty and NAfME Collegiate members. KMEA financial and staff support will assist with this annual gathering.

The fall event will begin on Sunday, September 30 with the NAfME Collegiate members session conducted by Senseney Music. The faculty and collegiate members joint session is scheduled for Monday, October 1 at Wichita State University. Monday's conference sessions will focus on the Kansas State Board of Education Teaching in Kansas Commission and its work 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. The Commission has developed the statewide model Kansas Educator Evaluation Protocol (KEEP). KEEP was piloted in 34 schools (17 districts) in the 2011-2012 school year. Pilot 2 will begin in August 2012 with additional districts and schools.

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, will be presenting the conference sessions. Both are considered the experts in the KEEP process. They will lead interesting and extremely valuable sessions. The morning session will include both faculty and collegiate participants. The afternoon session will be for the collegiate members. Please consider joining us for this very current and important conference.
[Related article: Kansas Educator Evaluation Protocol (KEEP), by David Dennis]

If you have not received information regarding registration and attendance for the October 1 conference please contact me directly at .

Online registration for KCOMTEP 2012 will be posted on the the KMEA website very soon. Deadline for registration will be September 21.