continued...Past-President'sColumn

in Elementary Music Education Award and selected Denise Phillips of the Beaverton School District as the first recipient.

OMEA awarded the Oregon Outstanding Administrator to Robert Dunton, who is the Superintendent of Schools in the Corbett School District. Robert was recognized not only for his excellence as an administrator but also for his extraordinary involvement in the total school music education program.

The OMEA Oregon Outstanding Music Educator award went to Russ Christensen of Sprague High School. Russ earned this award because of his dedication, leadership, and commitment to music education, not only at Sprague, but in his district and state as well.

The highest honor that OMEA bestows is the John McManus Distinguished Teacher Award. This distinction was awarded to Sally McBride. Sally demonstrated excellence as a leader, teacher, and musician, while setting a standard for lifelong service to music education and educators.

Each of these individuals has distinguished themselves in our field. They have made their communities better places to live in by creating beauty through the people who live there. More importantly, they have created a legacy that will inspire all those who follow them. It is OMEA’s goal not only to recognize outstanding contributors but also to create a Hall of Fame display that features all awarded educators over the years. This

Hall of Fame display will be on display at our yearly conferences. It is important that our young educators see the names and faces of those who have, or are continuing to, run the race well.

The average music educator lasts only 5 years in the profession. Why is this? One reason might be that we are not doing a good job with the continuum from experienced teacher to the new teacher fresh out of college. Awarding our finest and prominently recognizing them in a Hall of Fame display certainly will not rectify this problem, but it is a start and, frankly, a really good thing to do.