Presenting Our Candidate For NJMEA President-Elect

NJMEA Election - APRIL 2017 - ONLINE!

It is that time again when we look to the future of NJMEA and elect our next President to begin serving July 1, 2017 for a two-year term as President Elect, a two-year term as President and a two-year term as Past President. We only had one person apply for nomination. The ballot gives you the opportunity to vote for this candidate or provide a write-in. The NJMEA Presidential Election will take place through an ONLINE BALLOT. Each NJMEA active member will receive the link to the ballot in a TEMPO Express email. Please click on the link, put in your email address and NAfME ID number. Then select your Region and vote for your candidate. The President Elect selection committee has asked our candidate to answer questions that were posed to him. Hopefully his answers will give you some insight to how he feels about issues and NJMEA’s role and not just his name and biography. Here are his responses.

Patrick O’Keefe currently serves as the director of instrumental music at Smithville School in Galloway Township. Patrick graduated with a Bachelor of Music in music education from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford with an instrumental emphasis. He continued his education by completing coursework with Boston University, and most recently with the completion of his Orff levels at Villanova University through University of the Arts. While in Connecticut, he performed as soloist, chamber musician, and principal tubist in multiple regional and collegiate ensembles. On tuba, Patrick has studied, performed and presented with Joanna Ross Hersey and Scott Mendoker. Patrick currently teaches grades 4 - 6 band, where students at Smithville are divided into two concert bands, as well as having the opportunity to perform in Jazz or Percussion Ensemble. He was named Teacher of the Year in the 2014 - 2015 school year. During his tenure, Patrick created an Orff program for students prior to joining band, and as a result now runs five Orff ensembles and has integrated the program into the general music curriculum for third grade. Patrick is a member of the American Orff Schulwerk Association and currently serves as president of South Jersey Band and Orchestra Directors Association.

While serving as president of SJBODA and on the board of NJMEA, Patrick worked on a committee to rewrite and revise the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards. Previous service to the region includes directing and managing different ensembles, including piloting and coaching the first Tuba Euphonium Quartet as part of the Chamber Program in 2016. Patrick first presented at the NJMEA Conference in 2015. He has also worked with the Shawnee High School Marching Band, from Medford, in various capacities for the last 8 years, as well as currently serving as private applied music instructor for music majors and minors at Stockton University in Galloway.

While educators face challenges of varying degrees everyday, music educators seem to find themselves constantly in a place where advocacy and job validation is not far from their minds. The need for advocacy is not something new, and certainly not something that is yet to be recognized; however, continued changes in politics bring continued change to education policy. Changes like this can impact our education professionals in many ways as we know, with everything from budgeting to scheduling. The thought of these added pressures can be intimidating, especially for those members of our organization who are finding themselves just starting their careers, or beginning a new job. Advocacy needs are not something that seem to be going away, and as a result NJMEA will need to be as diligent as ever in efforts to support and provide its members with a strong and reliable support system.

NJMEA has done and continues to do great work advocating for us at the state level. This is important. Empowering our members by providing them with a full tool box of resources and knowledge is just as important. The standards should be high for our teachers, and a teacher that excels with their students is one that can be defended. I believe diversity is an important piece to this puzzle. Certain programs in our profession can be seen as only serving those that find themselves in a higher socioeconomic bracket, able to receive training outside of school or afford the trips and special programs. Helping our membership become successful for all students is vital, and something as simple as more conference offerings dedicated to serving those underrepresented groups in our student bodies is moving us in the right direction. We should continue to seek out those members of our organization that are finding success in this area and use them to help those in similar situations. There are those of us that work regularly with NJMEA and realize its offerings, but we all know colleagues that do not. By continuing to encourage involvement in all facets of our festivals, conferences and educational opportunities, we are making our organization stronger and most importantly, our students more successful.

IT’S A NEW ERA IN EDUCATION

What does that mean for you as a music educator?

Music advocates have begun the hard work of ensuring the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is properly implemented across the country. With music included as part of a wellrounded education, now more than ever, your voice and expertise as a music educator is critical. NAfME is here to help you make a strong case for music education under ESSA.

“Everything ESSA”

Visit bit.ly/NCLBends for all the resources you need to understand ESSA and take action to ensure implementation includes music at the state level. NAfME’s Toolkits include: • ESSA in Plain English: What It Means for You: Learn more about this historical law and see our detailed FAQ that features questions asked by music educators just like you. • ESSA Implementation Toolkit: This thorough resource links your program with admissible provisions in ESSA so you can make your case for your program where you work. • NAfME Field Guide to State Lobbying: This document explains the ins and outs of what you can do to lobby at the state level. Webinars

At bit.ly/NCLBends, you can receive recognition for professional development valued at one contact hour for watching these webinars: • ESSA Passage and Next Steps • Title IV, Opportunities to Learn, and You! • Federal Funding Facts Grassroots Action Center

Right now, you can make your voice heard on Capitol Hill. At bit.ly/NAfMEgrassroots, you can: • Support music education in federal education policy • Be involved with the legislative process • Engage your members of Congress via ready-to-send letters on ESSA funding