President-Elect Introduction - David Westawski

President-Elect Introduction

David Westawski West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South dlwestawski[at]gmail.com

Background in Music Education

The sense of belonging I felt in my high school music ensembles proved invaluable to me. I was a member of the chorus, auditioned vocal ensemble, concert band, marching band, and had major roles in three musicals. The ability to freely express myself through music was both liberating and exciting. The music room was my safe space in high school- the place where I was able to be myself without fear or judgement. My two teachers, Miss Manganiello and Miss Kellar, became mentors and heroes to me. They pushed me, nurtured me, and always made me exceed my own expectations. They taught me the importance of dedication, discipline, rigor, and hard work.

I soon realized that I wanted to spend my life creating the same memorable, lifechanging experiences for the next generation of musicians. I am fortunate to have spent the last 20 years working as a music teacher in New Jersey public schools. I began as an elementary general music and chorus teacher at Parkway Elementary School in Ewing, NJ and now work at the helm of a storied choral program at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South. During that time, I earned my master’s degree in music education from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and am currently in my second year of a doctoral program in educational leadership (Ed. d) at Rowan University. In order to continue my life-long learning, I have also taken advantage of as many professional development opportunities and conferences as my school and work schedule would allow.

I set high musical, behavioral, and personal standards for my students. My primary goal as a music educator is to develop the full potential of every student I meet. I do this by programming diverse, high-quality music that encourages my students to think critically about the selections and challenges them to always do their personal best. This is not always an easy task as my students can become very frustrated along the way. Sometimes they feel that they have hit a wall and can’t make the selection any better, any more refined, or that they don’t possess the self-discipline needed to be successful. My job is to help them see the big picture, guiding them over the final hurdles that stand in the way of true personal growth. By continually raising the bar, my students are able to experience music in a new and exciting way that creates an indescribable experience.

Contributions to Music Education in New Jersey

I have been an active member of the New Jersey Music Educators Association since I became a high school choir director in 2005. Since then, I have prepared and sent students to region and all-state choir auditions almost every year. My students have successfully auditioned into these groups including some top 10 finishers. I have had three students selected to participate in the All-Eastern mixed and treble choirs during my time at Robbinsville. It was a great pleasure to see “New Jersey” next to their names in that concert program. I have also diligently served my audition and rehearsal duties as a director and have chaperoned the allstate experience in Atlantic City. In 2011, after asking how I might become more involved in NJMEA, Kathy Spadafino asked me to take over the all-state transportation duties for the November Atlantic City Concert. I have served as the transportation director for 10 years now, adding the February rehearsals to those duties in 2020. It is a true labor of love that requires a great deal of organization, effective communication with multiple stakeholder groups, and excellent pre-planning expertise.

In 2015, I ran for president-elect of the Central Jersey Music Educators Association. I won the contested election and spent six years working on the executive board.

In 2019, I also became the treasurer of CJMEA after we couldn’t find a suitable candidate for the position. I chose to run for the position again in 2021 and won a second term as treasurer. I have made NJMEA a priority in my professional life and have thoroughly enjoyed my time working in the organization as we advance the visibility and necessity of music education in the state.

Requisite Skills

I believe that I possess several requisite skills that would help me in this role. I strive to be approachable and have a true “open door” policy for staff, students, and parents. I believe that listening to people- their concerns, complaints, criticisms, and praise- is a necessary and important component of my job. I work to deescalate the most difficult situations simply by listening, asking questions, and demonstrating that I care about others. I am passionate about education. Through my own doctoral work, I am becoming more knowledgeable about educational policy, the law as it applies to education, and how the wishes and desires of the parents and students I serve need to be a guiding force in every decision I make. It’s never about me. I deeply care about all the stakeholders in the school, especially those with whom I disagree. While I’m not one to second-guess my decisions, I frequently reflect on my personal progress and the overall progress of my work, always acknowledging errors when they were made. While I have a great deal of influence in my various roles, I never allow that to negatively affect my interactions with others. Since starting my job in WW-P in November of 2015, I have become a much better listener which has also made me more reflective and willing to admit my mistakes.

While serving as the President of the Central Jersey Music Educators Association, I quickly realized the importance of following our policies and relying on the assistance and advice from more senior members of the Executive Board. I learned that I didn’t need to have all the answers or respond to an email or problem immediately. Taking time to ask questions, speak with stakeholders, and do my due diligence through research and dialogue allowed me to make solid decisions for our organization.

In August of 2020, I began my doctoral work in educational leadership at Rowan University. In that short time, I have learned an incredible amount about myself and what it takes to be an effective leader. Rowan’s program is heavily focused on social justice and equity. Given that NJMEA has begun to address equity issues, as a Rowan doctoral student, I am in a unique position to take what I learn and apply it directly to my work with the organization.

Above all else, I fully realize that the role of NJMEA President is one of service to the organization and its many stakeholder groups. I believe that my education, prior experiences, and 20 years of public school teaching have prepared me to take on this role and to see it through.

David Westawski October 31, 2021

Editor's Note: In October 2021, President Lisa Vartanian informed the Executive Board that she was stepping down from her position for health reasons. Wayne Mallette, the President-Elect at the time, assumed the position of President. The Executive Board decided to hold a special election to fill his position. Nominations were solicited from the membership. For the nomination, individuals were required to submit a CV and a narrative describing their background, their contributions to music education in the state of New Jersey, and the skills that they possess that they believe are necessary for the position.

David Westawski was elected by the membership in November. This article was the narrative that he submitted for his nomination. The election was certified by the Executive Board in December. He will serve as President Elect from 2021 - 2023, President from 2023 - 2025, and Past President from 2025 - 2027.