created an informed network of teacher-advocates who represent the true voice of music education. NJMEA’s support allows them to guide budget decisions, programs, and students in the ways that matter most to their specific districts. AN ADAPTABLE APPROACH TO PRESERVING PROGRAMS AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH The pandemic undeniably reshaped how professional organizations deliver resources. With so many organizations pivoting to online platforms, NJMEA also made sure to follow suit. “We used to meet monthly in the center of our state for our board, and now that’s changed to almost all virtual,” McDevitt says, explaining how the association held a completely online professional development conference during the height of COVID-19. However, the organization quickly recognized the intrinsic value of in-person connection, transitioning back to a physical conference the following year. Today, NJMEA embraces a balanced approach. While the state-level annual conference remains an in-person event, now back to pre-COVID attendance levels, its three regional divisions have become adept at providing online professional development. These regional initiatives offer monthly virtual sessions that often feature experts who might otherwise be geographically inaccessible. In fact, online or offline, NJMEA plays a vital role in supporting teachers’ ongoing professional development, despite the fact that certification in New Jersey is governed by state regulations. During an era when 100 hours of professional development over five years was required for certification maintenance, school districts often struggled to provide content-based professional development for music teachers, given the limited number of music educators within any single school. This is where NJMEA steps in, offering vital opportunities for these required hours. As McDevitt explains, the association acts more like a “districtbased checkpoint to ensure that teachers can seek out professional development opportunities, if it’s not provided in their district.” While providing access to programs is important, NJMEA understands that it’s equally important to defend against the revocation of access to the music programs that are already available. This is why one of NJMEA’s most critical roles involves advocating for the continued presence and vitality of music programs in schools, a perennial challenge given that budget cuts often target “extracurricular” arts like music. Performance-based music programs—such as marching bands, choirs, and orchestras—are often the most visible and outwardly celebrated aspects 223 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 06 NEW JERSEY MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
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