Meet the NJMEA President-Elect Candidate Yale Snyder

Yale Snyder received a Master of Music degree in Percussion from the University of Minnesota and a B.S in Music Education from Hofstra University. He is currently pursuing a Post-Masters in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University. Mr. Snyder teaches in the Monroe Township School District where he is a band director and the District Percussion Specialist. In Monroe Township, Mr. Snyder has developed a comprehensive percussion program from grades 4-12. He teaches percussion lessons in 3 elementary schools, directs the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade percussion ensembles at the middle school, and co-directs the two high school percussion groups, including the MTHS Honors Percussion Ensemble of which he was a co-curriculum writer. Under his direction, the district’s percussion ensembles have achieved state and national recognition including being accepted to perform at the NAfME All-Eastern Conference on 3 separate occasions. He is the current President of CJMEA, a position held since August 2021. (Complete bio will be available with ballot)

What do you see as some challenges music education in New Jerseywill face during your term as president? How should NJMEA respond to these challenges?

Now that we are on the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic that had such an impact on our schools, educators, students, we will continue to face some challenges that will have an impact on music education in the state. Over the past few years, we have seen a high number of teacher turnover. Many of those educators have retired during and right after the pandemic, or simply left the teaching profession all together. This is a trend that we all hope will not continue, but the reality remains that we must be prepared for the possibility. In speaking to so many music educators in NJ through my position as CJMEA President, I have found that many teachers are feeling burnout and the pressure of the constant changes that they face each year. It is very important that current music educators as well as the next generation coming into the profession feel supported in what they do as well as continue to have the passion that made them want to make this their career path.

Along those same lines, it is becoming increasingly clear that the retention of students is a concern of many educators possibly more now than ever. Many programs took a big hit in 2020/2021 and are now feeling the effects post-pandemic. As we are in 2023, Quite a few teachers are in the rebuilding phase and looking 3 years down the line to hopefully have the numbers that they did back in 2019. On top of this, it is becoming challenging for students in some cases to be able to remain as a music student within their school programs due to graduation requirements, scheduling, and a growing list of choices by the year that students have in terms of electives during school, as well as activities outside of the school day that could prevent them from being part of a school music program that may meet after school. It is the upmost importance that we give students every reason to remain a music student and find creative ways to make that happen within our own programs despite hurdles in terms of scheduling.

Lastly, while this is not a new challenge that will face us as educators, but as there are towns in the state that are consolidating each year, and the topic of equity amongst our students is of prominent importance. We must constantly be reevaluating our programs and teaching techniques to ensure success and inclusion of all students. We as music educators have the honor and privilege of working with all different types of learners in our classrooms and ensembles. It is our responsibility to never stop being students ourselves and continue to have the same passion and love of learning that made us want to do this from day one! Always having that passion will help us motivate all students no matter where they are to be the very best they can be.

While many in the state are part of NJMEA through our annual February Conference which is a wonderful learning experience and a great way to connect with colleagues, I would like to see the organization be looked at as so much more throughout the year. NJMEA will need to continue to be an advocate for music education and all students throughout the whole state. If I am elected, I want to really expand the organization’s advocacy profile on both the state and national level which I hope could help many educators and programs that may be experiencing challenges. I would like to see our mentorship program that was started last year continue and expand. For the many new teachers entering the profession, this could be an amazing resource to have a teacher outside of their district with years of experience that they can go to for help, learn from, bounce ideas off, and most importantly, to know that they have someone in their corner that is always there for them. To go a step further, I would like to see this program be offered in a more specialized manner where teachers of many levels could have someone to go to in an area that they feel they would like to improve upon and feel more comfortable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CJMEA offered online professional development workshops in each division for its educators bringing in speakers from all over the country on zoom. We have kept this going this year through our brand new Diversity and Inclusion Division and it has been very successful. I want to see something similar developed at the state level where we could bring in guest clinicians online to talk about topics such as recruitment, retention, and help solve many of the scheduling challenges talked about above. I am very excited about the many possibilities that await us in the future. If I have the honor of serving in the role of NJMEA President-Elect, I will look forward to speaking and collaborating with our many great educators in the state and hear their concerns both within their own programs as well as bigger topics effecting all of us in the profession. It will be a true privilege to work with each of you throughout my time in NJMEA.

Anthony Guerere NJMEA President

1983 - 1985

1993 - 1995

Guerere, Anthony, - 85, of Hammonton, NJ passed away Saturday, December 17, 2022 at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Phila. PA. He was born in Winslow, NJ. He began guitar lessons at the age of 6 and piano at 8. In 1946, he became a member of Hap Branders String Band and then later in 1949 he appeared on the Steel Pier on the Tony Grant show. In 1950, he won 1st place among young composers in a national music competition sponsored by the American Guild. In high school, he represented Hammonton High School at Boys State, was president of the National Honor Society and Student Director of the High School Band. That year, he wrote both words and music for the class song. He served in the National Guard from 1960 –1968. He received his BS and MA degrees in music education from the College of NJ and became certified as a supervisor and principal from Rowan University. He was the band director at Hammonton High School from 1959 to 1987, and eventually became a supervisor and administrator until his retirement in 1998. He became adjunct professor of Music at The College of New Jersey andRowan University, where he con- ducted the Atlantic Brass Band. Mr. Guerere also conducted the All South Jersey Symphonic Band as well as the All State Brass Ensemble and received the Otto Helbig Conducting Award from the College of New Jersey. He was president of the South Jersey Band and Orchestra Directors Association and the New Jersey Music Educators Association where he received the distinguished service award and honorary life membership. He received the Governor's Award in the Arts for Distinguished Leadership in Music Education. In 2008, Anthony was named Artist of the Year by the Arts and Cultural Committee of the Hammonton Chamber of Commerce, and conducted the Ocean City Pops Orchestra in a Gala concert. He touched so many lives and will be greatly missed. Anthony is predeceased by his parents Anthony and Minnie Guerere. He is survived by his wife Rose Rita (nee Errera), Son Anthony Guerere and his wife Marizel, Daughters Lynne Lucca and her husband Rusty, and Joanne Pullia and her husband P.J. Loving grandfather of A.J. and Gina Guerere, Michelle McMaster (Charlie), Christy Lucca and Gabrielle, Danielle and Paul Pullia.