NEWSLETTER GEORGIA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
OCTOBER
2017
Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.
Conan O'Brien
Inspiring Truth for Teachers
AN INTRODUC TION by Dr. Bernadette Scruggs
Every fall, I waited for the new issue of the Georgia Music News to arrive. I was especially excited to read the section that told me where all the job movement had occurred over the summer. This was important to me because information I would most like to know, I find I am often last to hear. This new bi-monthly newsletter could be a handy device for an organization whose emails seem, as I have heard at least twice in the last two months, to be mainly about the deaths of our members. At your schools, you are the STAR teachers. Who recognizes you, however? After extraordinary work becomes the norm, no one at your school seems to notice all your successes. As most people find it immodest to share good news about themselves or their programs because they do not like to self-promote, how are the other remarkable people- read: GMEA members- around the state to find out about all of their colleagues’ accomplishments? This new GMEA publication can be the solution to a number of issues. Information about special events, director and school achievements, staffing changes and additions, and other noteworthy items will be published. The one drawback may be, however, that I can only include what is sent to me. Because people often do not share their own good news, may I encourage elementary school teachers to communicate about special projects undertaken by their peers? Middle school teachers, could you share some of the excellent news from your high school counterparts? After all, you started most of their students and, therefore, can follow their accomplishments with pride. High school teachers, could you take the time to recognize the achievements middle school feeder teachers/programs who are vital to your program’s well-being? Those of you who host events, you are welcome to provide a list of the winners for publication in the newsletter. Music Supervisors, take a few minutes to write and boast about your music community. This is your newsletter and it can be full of vital, interesting, and entertaining specifics. Everyone likes to see their name in print for the right reasons. Let’s all make the commitment to have that happen.
Dr. Bernadette Scruggs
GMEA Communications Liason
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THE CLASSIC CITY ATHENS, GEORGIA HOST CITY TO:
All-State Band All-State Chorus All-State Jazz Ensemble All-State Orchestra All-State Reading Chorus Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus Sixth Grade Statewide Honor Chorus GMEA In-Service Conference
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CITY
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JOB MOVE MENT The changing scene of Georgia's music educators!
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DISTRICT 1
DISTRICT 9
• Hank Carter, the former Band Director at Lee County HS in District 2 has changed positions to be the current Band Director at Screven County HS in District 1.
• Allison Arnold is a first-year teacher beginning her career as the Band Director for Towns County Schools in District 9.
DISTRICT 11
DISTRICT 2
• Trey English, former Band Director at Howard Middle School in Macon, is currently the junior high Band Director at The Academy for Classical Education also in located Macon.
• Previously from Marianna High School in Florida, Elaine Harlow is now the Choral Director at Early County High School, with additional responsibilities of 7th and 8th grade General Music.
DISTRICT 12
DISTRICT 4
• Ken Grebe is teaching General Music, K- 5, at Lewis Elementary School in Cobb County.
• Millie Turek is beginning her second year as the choral and musical theatre director at St. Pius X Catholic High School in Atlanta.
• Dr. Joseph Woodruff has been named Supervisor for General and Choral Music/Theater/Dance for Cobb County Schools.
DISTRICT 5
• Jessica Luhrs, formally the General Music Teacher at Evansdale Elementary in DeKalb County, has been named Director of Orchestras and Assistant Director of Bands at Riverwood High School in Fulton County.
DISTRICT 13
• Andy Edwards, the former band director at Peachtree Ridge High School has changed positions and is now teaching Music Technology at Peachtree Ridge. The new band director at Peachtree Ridge is Blake T. Unger, who relocated from Rock Canyon High School in Denver, Colorado.
DISTRICT 6
• Erin Barksdale, a 2017 Georgia State University graduate, is currently the Choir Director at Northgate High School in Newnan.
• Kim Maugans retired from Lanier Middle School in June and accepted a part-time job as assistant choral director at Dacula High School.
• Heidi Long, former Chorus Director at Luella Middle School in Henry County, is now the Music Teacher at Cotton Indian Elementary, also located in the Henry County School District. • Charles Patterson is in his first year teaching orchestra and music appreciation at Eagle's Landing Middle School in Henry County.
G N I G N CHAHOOLOWS! ? SCLET US KN
DISTRICT 7
• Ruthie Phillips has the position of Chorus Director at Central High School in Carroll County. • Jeremy Ragan, formerly chorus and orchestra teacher at Kendrick Middle School in Clayton County (District 6) is now teaching General Music at Dallas Elementary School in Paulding County.
ETTE
AD BERN
• Courtney Zhorela is entering her first year as Associate Director of Bands at Central High School and Central Middle School. She is an alumna of Kennesaw State University.
GMEA maintains a list of job postings on the website. To find them go to https://www.gmea.org/jobs/
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G
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STATE VARIETY Major events and news from around the state.
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• Savannah’s annual Invitational Choir Festival, “Savannah Sings” is approaching their fifth year. “Savannah Sings 2018” includes a Men’s Honor Choir with this year’s guest conductor, Ken Berg. You can find more detailed information on the choir festival website: http://savannahsings2018.weebly.com/
Rachael Smith, Howard Middle School, “Playing it Forward with ‘Mr. Anderson’s Apple Pie’ “ MacKenzie Hengler, Miller Middle School, “Inspiring Through Performance” Kadar Jones, Taylor Elementary School, “Experiences in Playing and Reading Music Through Orff Instruments”
• Cobb County’s Pope High School Orchestra, under the direction of Corie Benton, will participate in the annual ASTA National Orchestra Festival at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, GA on March 8, 2018.
Melissa Sullivan, Springdale Elementary School, “Orff Musical Instruments” Ginger Gilpin, Weaver Middle School, “Instrument Storage”
• The Peyton Anderson Foundation, located in Macon, Georgia, awarded over $500,000 of grants to teachers in Bibb County as part of their “Teach to Inspire” grant program. Several GMEA members were among the teachers who received grants. Congratulations to the following grant recipients and their proposals:
• Hollie Greenwood Shines at All-Ireland Event Our own Hollie Greenwood, a senior at RHS, competed at the All-Ireland World Music Championship in Ennis, Ireland on August 18th. She placed 3rd in the U18 Fiddle, and 3rd in the Fiddle Slow Aires competition. This is her second appearance at All-Ireland Fleadh, an annual event attended by talented musicians from all over the world. Hollie is a member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Roswell High School Chamber Orchestra. She will be performing at IrishFest Atlanta on November 3rd and 4th at the Doubletree by Hilton Perimeter Hotel in Dunwoody. Congratulations Hollie! RHS is very proud of you!
Patty Baser, Academy for Classical Education, “Taking a Stand for Orchestra Community Outreach Performances” Michael Scott, Central High School, “Technology for the Arts, and the Arts for All” Ryan Douglas, Heard Elementary School, “The Improvisation Blues”
Department of Human Services Commission for Hearing Impaired and Deaf Persons 7
Newsletter | October
https://www.gmea.org/gdhs Visit this link for an important message from the Chair of the Commission for Hearing Impaired and Deaf Persons.
fall 2017 // georgia music news
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HAVE QUESTIONS? NEED ADVICE?
ASK A VETERAN CLICK THE LINK
ON THE APPLICATIONS & FORMS PAGE
OPUS
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Newsletter | October
IMP ORTA N T Georgia Fine Arts Performance Standard Update The Georgia Department of Education has requested representatives from each congressional district to rewrite the Georgia Fine Arts Performance Standards.
We must have the whole state represented. It would be ideal to have two representatives from each congressional district volunteer to be on the committee.
The Fine Arts Standards are posted here: https://www.georgiastandards.org/Pages/ Fine-Arts-Standards-Survey.aspx
Here is the volunteer form: https://goo.gl/forms/l8Bgl5tEaOuL0tsp2 Please ask anyone who is interested to fill out this form and they will be contacted.
The congressional districts do not align with our GMEA Districts, so anyone who volunteers to work on the committee will need to know their Congressional District. Please take a look at this map for the congressional Districts: http://www.legis. ga.gov/Joint/reapportionment/Documents/ SEPT%202012/Congress12-packet.pdf
Thank you, Evelyn Champion, GMEA President
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KICK-START YOUR CAREER WITH
A NAfME MEMBERSHIP Congratulations! NAfME Collegiate members are eligible to receive up to a 50% DISCOUNT on dues when you become a full active member. This offer is only valid for one year after you graduate. Act now. Become a member and we’ll do everything in our power to make sure you get the career you want. For as long as you want it. From professional development to networking opportunities, advocacy tools to lesson plans and webinars. And when you join NAfME, you also become a member of your state’s music education association with even more resources at the local level. Deadline: Offer extends from June 30 of your graduation year until June 30 of the following year. Visit: bit.ly/NAfMEcollegiate Collegiate