This week’s episode addresses the relationships we all have with administrators. As music educators, we have a responsibility to demonstrate the value of the arts and what music does for the greater school community. This can sometimes feel like an uphill battle when trying to gain admin support. What is it exactly that they want from us?
We all want our admin to love us, yet so many of the same questions keep coming up for music educators. Why aren’t they supportive when they know the importance of music education for our students? How can we bring up difficult conversations with them? How do we approach them without feeling super stressed out?
I spoke with Todd Nelsoney, Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA), on behalf of all music educators to help us better understand how to work with our administrators, and also, perhaps, help us feel more validated in the process.
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Topics Covered
- Stepping outside of your comfort zone
- How to show the value of the arts and what it does for the school community
- Dealing with a rigorous schedule
- Why do principals only focus on what we do wrong?
- Actions you can take to make your admin love you
Liked this podcast? Check out more Music Ed Mentor Podcasts.
An experienced K8 music educator, Elisa Janson Jones specializes in helping music educators build, manage, and grow thriving school music programs and have long and happy careers. She holds a bachelor of music from Brigham Young University and a master of business administration from Western Governors University. Elisa uses her vast and diverse skillset to help nonprofits, businesses, and music educators around the world. She serves as conductor of her local community band, a columnist for SBO Magazine, and maintains a private lesson studio. Elisa is a nationally-recognized speaker, the host and producer of the Music Ed Mentor Podcast, founder of the International Music Education Summit, and author of The Music Educator’s Guide to Thrive.