President’s Message

Armalyn De La O

CMEA President

Armalyn De La O, CMEA President

The challenges facing all of us, including the economic and personal impact of the ongoing pandemic, devastating fires, social unrest, has made the opening of the 2020 – 2021 school year unlike any other. Throughout this summer, the CMEA Executive Board has been reflective and proactive in relationship to these challenges to the present and future of music education. The work at the CMEA Board of Directors meeting in August reminded me of John F. Kennedy’s words about times of crisis: “the Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word ‘crisis.’ One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger—but recognize the opportunity.” It is an honor to work side-by-side with the leadership of CMEA as we move forward in addressing urgent needs, while building upon the opportunities for the future of music education in the state of California.

In the July President’s message, I shared that the CMEA leadership would begin to examine our practices identifying and articulating the injustices and inequities within California’s music education system. We began the important first steps in crafting CMEA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access (DEIA) Initiative at the August meeting by considering the following questions: 1. What will move CMEA, as an organization, into action that will lead to systemic change? 2. What do we believe are barriers at this time? 3. What does DEIA mean in the organizational context of CMEA? 4. Identify CMEA specific inclusive leadership behaviors.

CMEA’s Board of Directors worked in breakout groups facilitated by Executive Board Members and utilized recommendations of the Cook-Ross study commissioned by NAfME in our conversations. When we returned from the breakout sessions, many thoughts, responses, and questions surfaced in the discussion. The following is a sample of the initial input from the Board of Directors gathered during the session regarding CMEA leadership behaviors, as well as general barriers to DEIA:

General Barriers – Beginning Responses:

Membership cost concerns; lack of funding support from schools/districts; not connecting to the needs of the profession; CMEA is not diverse because music educators in CA are not very diverse; and, we do not have many people of color in CMEA

DEIA Ideas – Beginning Thinking:

Diversity: How we are educating (pedagogy). What does a culturally relevant pedagogy look like in music teaching/ learning? Equity: Intentionality – making sure viewpoints are at the table and considered (even if not at the table). Inclusion: Need to feel like ALL are invited without having to have an invitation. Access: Which members of our population do we exclude as a result of the pedagogy, the curriculum we offer?

Leadership Behaviors – Beginning Thoughts and Questions:

• We need to see people of color invited to serve on

CMEA boards. • Leaders have to model a sense of community. • Ageism - Does age define board member readiness? • Create protocols to follow and review all processes to ensure everything we do supports DEIA. • Go beyond immediate leadership groups. What is the state protocol for identifying and choosing leaders?

The work at the August meeting is the beginning of a CMEA DEIA Initiative. The proposed timeline below outlines the 2020 – 2021 activities related to moving this

initiative forward. The next steps in CMEA’s DEIA Initiative include establishment of a CMEA DEIA representative on the Council of Representatives and a sub-committee to identify guidelines for the development of a CMEA DEIA Action Plan. In September, an invite will go out to CMEA’s membership asking for those interested in serving as the Representative or as a member of the Sub Committee to submit a Letter of Interest.

I thank and applaud the Board of Directors, the Executive Board, and CMEA’s Executive Administrator for their energy and commitment to being part of the process to end systemic racism. Through this work and our actions, we move forward the CMEA vision that in California music education IS for ALL.

CMEA Past Presidents

2018-2020 2016-2018 2014-2016 2012-2014 2010-2012 2008-2010 2006-2008 2004-2006 2002-2004 2000-2002 1998-2000 1996-1998 1994-1996 1992-1994 1990-1992 1988-1990 1986-1988 1984-1986 1982-1984 1980-1982 1978-1980 1976-1978 1974-1976 1972-1974 1970-1972 1968-1970 1966-1968 1964-1966 1962-1964 1960-1962 1957-1960 1955-1957 1953-1955 1951-1953 1949-1951 1947-1949 4

John Burn, Cupertino Scott Hedgecock, Fullerton Michael D. Stone, Bakersfield Russ Sperling, San Diego Norman Dea, Walnut Creek Jeff Jenkins, Chula Vista Cheryl Yee Glass, Danville Rob Klevan, Pacific Grove Sam Gronseth, Paradise George DeGraffenreid, Fresno Dennis L. Johnson, Salinas Jay D. Zorn, La Crescenta Don Doyle, Pasadena Bill Adam, Roseville Carolynn Lindeman, Greenbrae L. Leroy Roach, Walnut Creek John L. Larrieu, Portola Vivian M. Hofstetter, Bakersfield David S. Goedecke, Stockton Charles L. Freebern, San Diego Henry Avila, Monterey Mary C. Reed, Elk Grove Marlow Earle, Lakewood Louis Nash, La Crescenta Anthony L. Campagna, Foster City Judd Chew, Sacramento Kenneth D. Owens Keith D. Snyder, Davis Gibson Walters, San Jose Douglas Kidd Joseph W. Landon, Fullerton Harold Youngberg, Oakland Fred Ohlendorf, Long Beach George F. Barr Elwyn Schwartz Clarence Heagy, Fresno

CMEA Hall of Fame Award Recipients Honoring Lifetime Achievement in Music Education 2020 - Stepehn Luchs 2019 - Judi Scharnber, Jeri Webb 2018 - Dr. Lawrence Stoffel, Dean Hickman 2017 - Dr. Edward Harris, Michael Corrigan, James Mazzaferro 2016 - Dr. Robert Halseth, Rosemarie Krovoza, Rick Meyer 2015 - Dale Anderson, Ann Marie Haney, Dr. Thomas Lee 2014 - Jon Christian 2013 - Orrin Cross 2012 - Gayane Korkmazian, 2012; Gerald E. Anderson, 2012; 2011 - David Whitwell 2010 - Nicholas Angiulo, Vincent Gomez 2009 - Kem F. Martinez, Carl W. Schafer, Robert W. Lutt 2008 - Duane Weston 2007 - John Larrieu, Mary Val Marsh, Barbara Cory, Bill Ingram 2006 - Carolynn Lindeman, Joe Foster, Paul Shaghoian 2005 - Frances Benedict, L. Leroy Roach, Silvester McElroy, Jerry Kirkpatrick 2004 - Robert Greenwood, Arthur Huff, Lyle Stubson, Lois Vidt 2003 - John Farr, Thomas Eagan 2002 - Larry Johnson, Mary Louise Reilly 2001 - William Hill, Helynn Manning, Wesley “Colonel” Moore 2000 - Vivian Hoffstetter, F. John Pylman 1999 - Lawrence Sutherland 1998 - Chuck Schroeder 1997 - Dean Semple 1996 - Burl Walter Jr. 1994 - Jerry Moore 1992 - Mike Pappone 1991 - David Goedecke 1987 - Marlowe Earle 1985 - Arthur Dougherty 1983 - William Burke 1981 - Aubrey Penman 1979 - Steve Connolly 1977 - Howard Swan 1975 - Russell Howland CMEA Magazine