Welcome to the new school year! I hope that everyone has had the opportunity to rest up and re-charge for the semester ahead of us. I spent this summer touring and teaching in Costa Rica, attending and speaking at conferences such as the KCDA Convention, and have been quite busy working with KMEA. At the end of June, I attended the the NAfME Collegiate Advocacy Summit and National Assembly with the KMEA Executive Council. I participated in the divisional meeting as well as the national strategic planning meeting for 2017-2022 and was able to work with 70+ collegiates from over 26 states to advocate for music education and the reauthorization of ESEA- Senate Bill 1177- during NAfME's Hill Day. The new bill, Every Child Achieves Act, was passed by the Senate on Thursday, July 16. This is good news for future and current music educators!

Collegiate Advocacy Summit and National Assembly Take-aways

Attending the Collegiate Advocacy Summit and National Assembly caused me to gain a global perspective of NAfME, communication and leadership skills, and fostered political awareness and empowerment. I was afforded the opportunity to network with peers from over 26 states and was able to engage with students who are facing challenges I can relate to and who are celebrating successes similar to my own. I made connections with the collegiate leadership within my national district and now have dear friends residing from Kalamazoo, Michigan to Wenham, Massachusetts. We were able to appreciate the drive and passion we share for music education and use it as a framework for professional and personal relationships that will be invaluable to us. Attending the Summit alongside the National Assembly Conference has empowered me to be even more active in our Kansas MEA and with the Collegiate NAfME chapters that I was elected to preside over. I returned from these conferences with an excitement and passion for NAfME that I did not have before, as well as countless ideas and connections that I would have never been able to procure on my own. I am truly inspired by the people I've met and the things that I was able to do this summer with the KMEA.

KCOMTEPS Convention

I've been working alongside the KMEA Executive Council and Senseny Music President Lori Supinie to bring you another year of the KCOMTEPS Convention! Highlights of the 2015 Convention include guest speaker Jennifer Bailey, a Music Learning Theory Specialist, student panels, classroom technology info, diverse breakout sessions, plus discount shopping, free food, and a bonus session about KMEA's new mentoring program which will include Mentoring Co-Chair Holly Taylor and past KMEA President Ron Chronister. This event provides invaluable networking and professional development opportunities for Collegiate NAfME members and their advisors, which is why I highly recommend that you be in attendance! The KCOMTEPS Convention will be held September 27-28th in Wichita. Registration is $10 for students and $20 for each faculty member, and everyone must be a registered member of NAfME in order to participate. Faculty advisors, please watch your email for more information on registration. Registration will remain open on the KMEA website through September 19. A special thanks to those of you who took time out of your busy summers to attend the Collegiate NAfME June Board Meeting, and I look forward to seeing and meeting even more of you at KCOMTEPS. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, don't hesitate to contact me!