The mission of the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association is to unite and support music educators in order to provide a high quality, comprehensive music education for all children.

To realize the mission of FEMEA, I will lead the Executive Board in working collaboratively with members to ensure that FEMEA supports the membership as we transition to the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards in Music.  FEMEA will offer exemplary professional development opportunities that meet the diverse needs of our members and their students.  We will also bring professional development to our colleagues teaching in rural, underserved areas of the state by offering training in various Florida locales. 

In addition, it is vital that the FEMEA Executive Board leads our membership in advocating for elementary music education and encourages others to do so too.  As Florida continues to face unforeseen economic crises, we must persistently demonstrate the value of whole child education.  FEMEA will serve as a liaison between our membership and Florida legislators, administrators, community members, and parents as we illustrate the value of elementary music education, not just through improved test scores, graduation rates and college acceptance data, but also through the proven ability to foster empathetic and creative human beings who view the world from a holistic level.

To accomplish the aforementioned goals, it is essential that we work to complete the mission of FEMEA.  While the mission of FEMEA is a compelling and valid statement, I believe it is unfinished.  I would like to see a slight addition to the current language (proposed new language in bold).

The mission of the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association is to unite and support music educators in order to provide a high quality, comprehensive music education for all children taught by Florida certified K-12 music educators for at least 45 minutes per week.

As FEMEA President, I envision an Executive Board that will

• support FEMEA members as they transition to teaching and assessing students through the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for music.
• advocate for elementary music education as an integral component of whole child education.
• utilize electronic surveys, the FEMEA web site, and personal communication to better understand the professional development needs of our membership and provide high quality, valid training that will meet the diverse needs of our membership.
• lobby for state legislation that would solidify a legislative mandate calling for all Florida elementary-aged children in public schools to receive 45 minutes of formal music instruction taught by certified music educators each week.