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September 27,2006 FOCUS ON ISSUES & DECISION MAKING: The Music Administrator, Part 2 of 2 In Part one of this series, we looked at the various titles and levels of authority given to Music Administrators. In this article, we’ll cover an extensive, though not exhaustive, list of responsibilities that could or should fall under the authority of that position. 1) Centralized supervision of music faculty and staff by musically qualified personnel, including: Search, interview and employment of new staff in cooperation with principals Coordination, assignment and scheduling of current staff, including itinerant teachers Evaluation of staff by professionally trained music personnel: Professional growth, and/or termination Coordination of the mentor program Providing for professional growth Communication with and between music faculty Allocation, coordination, and assignment of qualified substitute teachers Music program advocacy Providing administrative assistance for teachers, thereby relieving job stress and building morale 2) Centralized supervision of curriculum, including: Development and implementation Maintenance of curricular excellence Providing advocacy for equal opportunity in music for all students in all schools Oversight of program assessment (student achievement) 3) Maintenance of a coordinated district music calendar 4) Oversight of district "honors" music performance programs, including: Honors concerts Field trips Festival 5) Centralized budget development and control (accountability) 6) Centralized development, maintenance and control of music teaching resources, including: Audio and visual resources, and technology Miscellaneous teaching materials Central music library 7) Coordinated, informed purchase, control and assignment of music and music instruments, including: Inventory control Assignment to schools Preventive maintenance and repair Piano tuning and repair 8) Music leadership for community relations, including: Parent/teacher communications Public relations Annual reports to the administration and board on the state of the music program, its financial viability and profiles of student participation (recruitment, enrollment, retention, attrition) Documentation of religious music in the school music program Multicultural issues in music If you don't have a centralized position or individual assigned to these tasks, many of these duties are probably being done. But, you cannot ensure any kind of consistent quality experience in music for your children without someone – the Music Administrator in your district – being charged with the official responsibility for these issues and tasks. Until next time, John Benham |
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Scott Brady |
