The CMA Foundation Announces the Return of its Mentor M.E. Program

THE CMA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF ITS MENTOR M.E. PROGRAM

The Six-Part Professional Development Series Designed for Early Career Music Educators Begins Tuesday, March 7 at 6 PM/CT

The CMA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association, has announced the return of its Mentor M.E. program. This year’s program, kicking off Tuesday, March 7 at 6:00 PM/CT, is comprised of a six-part webinar series aimed to equip music educators early in their careers with professional development resources, tools and tips necessary to be successful in the field.  

“Time and time again, as we connect with music teachers across our state, we hear about the need for support and tangible tools needed to help music educators, especially those new to the field, carry out their jobs effectively,” says Tiffany Kerns, CMA Foundation Executive Director. “Mentor M.E. was created to combat that. Our hope is that teachers will not only walk out of this program feeling equipped professionally, but also feeling supported personally by both the CMA Foundation and by their peers. I am thrilled for the program to be returning this year, and I am eager to learn from the incredible speakers we have on board throughout the next several months.” 

Designed to create a more confident, collaborative and sustainable teaching workforce, each hour-long webinar will feature 20 minutes of concentrated content from a guest presenter followed by 20 minutes of dialogue with moderator Franklin Willis, CMA Foundation Director, Community Impact, and 20 minutes of questions from participants. Each webinar in the six-part series is detailed below.  

FOSTERING CREATIVE MUSICIANS BY BUILDING STRONG STUDENT/TEACHER RELATIONSHIPS
Tuesday, March 7 at 6:00 PM/CT 

Presented by Lisa Odom, curriculum specialist and music educator with 33 years of experience creating professional development resources, this webinar will encourage participants to explore strategies that foster strong student-to-teacher relationships and that will encourage students to think creatively, build community and hone their musical skills. To register for part one, click HERE. 

WHAT FUTURE MUSIC EDUCATORS NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL
Tuesday, April 11 at 6:00 PM/CT 

Hosted by Jesse Cannon, Houston Independent School District Director of Vocal and Elementary Music, former music educator and 2022 CMA Music Teacher of Excellence, session two will explore the resources, support and tactics necessary for music educators to be successful in their classrooms. To register for part two, click HERE.  

BUILDING IDENTITY, BELONGING, AND AGENCY THROUGH SEL IN MUSIC EDUCATION 

Tuesday, May 9 at 6:00 PM/CT 

Presented by Dr. Scott Edgar, a leading researcher, best-selling author and sought-after clinician on the subject of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), session three is aimed at making SEL relevant for music teachers and learners at all levels. Building on an understanding of SEL, participants will learn strategies to intentionally embed SEL into all areas of practice, from identity development, to fostering a sense of belonging, to prioritizing student empowerment. To register for part thee, click HERE.  

WHAT I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN: REFLECTIONS OF A MUSIC EDUCATOR 

Tuesday, August 8 at 6:00 PM/CT 

Hosted by Dr. Loneka Battiste, Assistant Professor of Music Education at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, participants in this session will explore a variety of lessons learned through the years of music education. Drawing on 12 years of experience teaching children in school and community settings, Batiste will guide participants through an engaging and collaborative conversation around learning to trust oneself as an educator, embracing the power of one’s background, and the power of connecting with students. To register for part four, click HERE.  

KEEP ON GOING: ENJOY TEACHING NO MATTER WHAT 

Tuesday, September 12 at 6:00 PM/CT 

International speaker, saxophonist, author, and master development coach for elementary and middle school band directors as well as a self-management-strategist for educators, Mickey Smith Jr. hosts a webinar focused on the power of enjoying teaching. Throughout this session, participants will be encouraged and equipped with the tools to discover their “sound of significance” and “keep on going” with resilience. To register for part five, click HERE.  

HOW DO I MEET ALL THEIR NEEDS?: TEACHING STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE 21ST CENTURY 

Tuesday, October 10 at 6:00 PM/CT 

Classrooms are increasingly diverse, and often have many students with disabilities as part of classrooms and ensembles. While that move toward inclusion is positive, it sometimes leaves teachers wondering how to create meaningful and achievable goals for every student in every class. Hosted by Dr. Alice Hammel, music educator, author, and clinician, this session is designed to offer practical tools as teachers seek to meet the needs of every student in classes and ensembles. To register for part six, click HERE. 

Learn more about the CMA Foundation’s Mentor M.E. program and stay up to date on future webinar details by signing up for the CMA Foundation’s newsletter or on the CMA Foundation’s Instagram and Facebook pages.  

About the CMA Foundation   

Established in 2011 as the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA), the CMA Foundation is committed to improving and sustaining high-quality music education programs across the United States, working to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music. Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), invests various resources across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and community outreach organizations.