A STRATEGIC PLAN

Alabama Music Educators Association 

Introduction 

This report presents the Alabama Music Educators Association’s Strategic Plan.  This Plan establishes the Association’s desired strategic purpose and defines specific directions and Action Plan Guidelines that AMEA should pursue in order to serve and represent its membership in the future.  This Plan supports and promotes the National Standards for Music as set forth by the MENC. 

In short, the Strategic Plan presented in this report provides a broad framework for the ongoing development and evolution of AMEA.  It is recognized that this Strategic Plan should be revised and upgraded periodically.  This type of assessment/evaluation will help to ensure issues and trends in AMEA’s strategic environment are recognized and addressed through existing or new initiatives built into the Plan’s provisions. 

Participants in AMEA Strategic Plan Process:  Suzanne Winter, Chairperson, Russell Logan, Shane Dickerson, Kathy Starrett, Carmelita Gandy 

AMEA Mission Statement: The Alabama Music Educators Association, a professional organization affiliated with MENC (The National Association for Music Education), promotes the advancement of music education through professional development, curricular support and advocacy.

 AMEA Goals and General Objectives: 

Goal A:     To serve as a principal voice for the advocacy of music education in Alabama. 

Objectives

A.1     Strengthen collaboration with other agencies as leaders of arts advocacy.

Action Plan

A.1.1   Strengthen working relationship with the Alabama Art Education Association (AAEA). Alabama Dance Coalition, Alabama Thespian Association and the Alabama Alliance for Arts Education for effective conduct of arts awareness in Alabama.

                                A.1.2   Forge partnerships and work with cultural institutions in the state to provide educational outreach programs that benefit music. 

A.2     Foster the dissemination of existing music education advocacy materials. 

Action Plan

A.2.1   Gather resource materials for use in advocacy. 

A.2.2   Inform teachers, supervisors and support groups about the availability of such materials. 

A.2.3   Work with music industry to identify and distribute advocacy information. 

A.2.4   Work with state public radio and television stations to broadcast advocacy spots produced by and other organizations. 

A.3     Promote awareness of music education activities in Alabama. 

Action Plan

A.3.1   Exploit All-State performances for public relations benefits. 

A.3.2   Develop local annual campaigns to raise public interest in school music through speakers, printed materials, posters, and Music in Our Schools Month activities. 

A.4     Develop a watchful eye for developments that might threaten the strength of music education programs. 

Action Plan

A.4.1   Monitor such threats to music education as proposed. 

A.4.2   Develop an effective approach for fact-finding and providing information for use in specific crisis situations. 

Goal B:     To encourage and support quality music instruction for students at all levels of education in Alabama. 

Objectives

B.1     Advocate scheduling elementary general music instruction in all elementary schools in the state. 

Action Plan

B.1.1   Conduct research and distribute results of the status of elementary school music instruction. 

B.1.2   Promote the importance of fine arts courses for a well rounded education. 

B.2     Encourage scheduling that offers opportunities for all students to participate in music classes at the secondary level including the general student. 

Action Plan

B.2.1   Continue to maintain a government relation agenda that promotes required arts credit for all high school students for graduation. 

B.2.2   Promote the importance of fine arts courses for a well rounded education 

B.3     Increase the opportunities for programs for young children’s musical development. 

B.3.1   Provide in-service opportunities for daycare providers and pre-school educators. 

Goal C:     To recruit and retain quality music educators for Alabama music programs. 

Objectives

C.1     Recruit new music educators to the profession. 

Action Plan

C.1.1   Encourage new Tri-M chapters at the secondary level. 

C.1.2   Encourage new CMENC chapters at all state colleges and universities. 

      C.2     Develop and provide guidelines for a mentoring program for teachers. 

Action Plan

C.2.1   Encourage a mentoring program at the district level. 

C.2.2   Include a general session topic on “Mentoring” at AMEA In-Service Conference 

C.2.3   Include a mentoring article in the “Ala Breve”. 

C.3      Increase communication with teacher training institutions to assure that pre-service teachers are well prepared to enter the profession. 

Action Plan

C.3.1   Host forums of music teachers and college/university faculty to re-examine appropriate pre-service activities. 

C.3.2   Facilitate exchange of information among music teachers, college/university faculties and students. 

C.3.3   Identify exemplary program models for strengthening working partnerships between teachers and teacher training schools. 

C.4      Provide assistance to teachers, schools, and school districts. 

Action Plan

C.4.1   Research school districts that have a designated arts supervisor. 

C.4.2   Identify exemplary music programs/teachers that could be of assistance to programs in need. 

Goal D:     To provide ongoing effectiveness of the organization. 

Objectives

D.1      The Board will perform continual review of all policies and procedures. 

Action Plan

D.1.1   Develop accurate job description for each AMEA position. 

D.1.2   Perform annual review of job descriptions. 

D.1.3   Review financial records annually 

     D.2      Annually review the Strategic Plan 

Action Plan

D.2.1   AMEA will review and revise the strategic plan annually. 

D.2.2   Publish the strategic plan in the “Ale Breve”. 

D.3      Develop strategies to build the membership base. 

Action Plan

D.3.1   Define the role of colleges/universities in increasing membership. 

D.3.2   Investigate ways in which other state music education association’s deal with membership. 

D.3.3   Conduct a study of membership, both by demographic and component organization.

D.3.4   Develop a recruitment plan from the results of this study. 

D.3.5   Implement recruitment plan. 

D.4      Broaden participation in AMEA leadership. 

Action Plan

D.4.1   Actively recruit young teachers for entry-level leadership positions within each component organization. 

D.4.2   Provide a framework for leadership training of officers. 

D.4.3   Provide job description for each office in the organization. 

D.5      Increase networking and communications among music educators. 

Action Plan

D.5.1   Promote use of AMEA website among the members. 

D.5.2   Establish and maintain an email “list serve” for each component organization within AMEA. 

D.5.3   Develop stronger partnerships among all AMEA component organizations. 

D.5.4   Provide presentations to college/university music education classes. 

D.5.5   Establish an on-line, interactive clearinghouse for events, concerts, festivals and clinics. 

Goal E:     To provide professional growth opportunities for the music educators of Alabama. 

Objectives

E.1      Provide quality opportunities for professional development. 

Action Plan

E.1.1    Sponsor the AMEA In-Service Conference. 

E.1.2    Promote/encourage conferences for component organizations. 

E.1.3    Develop and disseminate an assessment form to determine professional development needs of music educators. 

E.2      Provide expanded delivery systems for professional development. 

Action Plan

E.2.1    Publish interviews with exemplary music teachers. 

E.2.2    Organize links on the AMEA website to address curricular interest areas. 

E.3      Encourage AMEA members and leadership to participate in performances as a performer and as a listener. 

Action Plan

E.3.1    Provide opportunities for members, professional music groups, and professional artist to perform for the membership. 

E.4      Provide technical assistance with a focus on technology. 

Action Plan

E.4.1    Include technology focus sessions annually at the AMEA In-Service Conference. 

E.5      Maintain a quality program at the AMEA In-Service Conference. 

Action Plan

E.5.1    Conduct an annual review of the AMEA Conference. 

E.5.2    Solicit topics for sessions to be held at the AMEA In-Service Conference through component organizations. 

E.5.3    Research alternate sites and dates for maximum efficiency and opportunity for music educators to attend. 

E.5.4    Include sessions on topics of interest to student members. 

Goal F:     To provide lifelong learning in music. 

Objectives

F.1       Increase opportunities for adults to participate in music. 

Action Plan

F.1.1    Promote involvement through community music experiences, such as bands, orchestras and choirs or adult music lessons and small ensembles. 

F.2       Create opportunities that promote lifelong learning in music. 

Action Plan

F.2.1    Survey retired AMEA members on their needs in continuing their involvement in music education.