Supporting Beginning Music Teachers: The Development of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Mentorship Program

Abstract

In the fall of 2016, leadership in the Oklahoma Music Educators Association (OkMEA) recognized the need for a formal, music mentorship program for beginning educators. I provide a detailed description of how the mentorship co-chairs, president, immediate past president, and president-elect of OkMEA designed and implemented a statewide music teacher mentorship program. Interviews, documents, and participant survey responses highlighted the rationale for program creation as well as characteristics of program design, recruitment, and implementation that resulted in successes and challenges during the first year. Music teacher educators and music education leaders charged with designing MEA-sponsored mentorship programs in other states should carefully consider how they address participant recruitment, mentor preparation, communication with and among program participants, community-building among beginning teachers, and long-term funding needed for program sustainability.