Tracy Ross, Advocacy Coach
ross@4j.lane.edu

Andie Andeen, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair

andeen_andie@salkeiz.k12.or.us

Jennifer Mohr Colett, Advocacy Committee Co-Chair
oregonmusicadvocacy@gmail.com

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OMEA Advocacy Coaches: An Introduction

Oregon Music Education Association offers free advocacy consultation & support for teachers, parents, and community members working to save their school music programs or proactively build their local music coalition.  Consultation is provided by a team of experienced Advocacy Coaches.  One does not need to be a member of OMEA to access our services.  No question is too big or small—please call on us for friendly advice on topics from A to Z: developing and promoting your program, scheduling, staffing, grassroots outreach, coalition-building and consensus-building, media relations, administrative strategies, and policy-development.   

Our team stands ready to listen closely to your needs and help you make your efforts as effective as possible. Please don't hesitate to reach out to individual coaches or to the group as a whole.  There is no time like the present to begin!  Let’s advocate for what we know all our students deserve and have a great time doing it together.

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Tracy Ross is the Assistant Principal at Sheldon High School in the Eugene 4J School District.  She has been teaching music in Oregon for 18 years with past positions as Music Coordinator for Eugene School District, Band Director for Sheldon High School (6A) and Meadowview School (5th-8th Band), as well as K-5 Music and 6-12 Band for Harrisburg School District.  Tracy served on the OMEA Board for 15 years as District 12 Chair, then OMEA Treasurer.

 

"As a career music educator in Oregon public schools and a former OMEA Executive Board member, I have extensive background with the music education landscape in this region and look forward to supporting you in achieving your advocacy goals.  My background in advocacy has developed over time in Eugene.  Years ago, Eugene was a leader in Oregon for the quality of their music programs but, due to accumulating cuts (including a major cut in 2010), general music, strings, and choir programs became patchy across the district and some schools ended up with no music at all.  I have made it my mission to rebuild the music program in Eugene.  When I became Music Coordinator in 2012, I documented a 5-year vision as requested by the secondary director and superintendent.  I then spent two years developing grassroots support with the music teachers, community, and parents in Eugene.  Last June, we presented to the school board and secured their support to move forward with our vision as funding becomes available.  Together, we have initiated the structure for music to re-invent itself in Eugene.  Some of the strategies we’ve been working with can be used in other districts, and I’d love to show you how!”

ross@4j.lane.edu

Dijana Ihas is Associate Professor of Music Education at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.  Prior to her position at Pacific, she taught general music, strings, and choir in elementary, middle and high schools in California, Arizona, and Oregon (including Salem-Keizer School District) for seven years. Hundreds of students of all ages (and their parents) have entrusted Dijana with their music education, and she applies the same great care and dedication to her work with future music teachers at the university.

"My approach to advocacy for music education in schools is based on providing audiences with insights in the “whole-child” educational theory of Johan Pestalozzi and the Humanistic Theory of Abraham Maslow.  Both of these theories hold rich and powerful justifications for why music is good for people.  I also talk about the music education philosophies of Bennett Reimer and David Elliott because they provide a grounding in why arts and music are not only good for people, but are necessary if people are to experience life as more than just existing for basic biological needs.  My advocacy sessions are infused with narrative and video clips of performances of the Sarajevo String Quartet during the Bosnian War (1992-1995) as a vivid and emotionally powerful example of what the aforementioned theories are advocating for.  Recent educational policies such as Goals 2000: Educate America Act and Obama’s Race to the Top are affecting music and arts programs in American schools, but I believe we can use them to our advantage.  I am passionate about the motto Music for Every Child, Every Child for Music, and would like to do my part to make this motto a reality."

dihas@pacificu.edu

DeLee Brown holds a degree in Vocal Music Education from the University of Arizona and a graduate degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University.  DeLee has been a music educator for over 23 years, beginning in Georgia and Arizona.  She currently teaches general music and choir at Kalapuya Elementary School where she also serves as the instructional coach for the school.  DeLee organizes the curriculum and professional development for Elementary General Music teachers in the Salem-Keizer School District.  She is the Co-Artistic Director of the Willamette Girlchoir located in Salem, OR, and is actively involved in the OMEA, currently serving as the Elementary co-chair of District IV.
DeLee joined the OMEA Advocacy Committee in 2015.  In 2017, DeLee co-presented a session at the OMEA State Conference entitled Practical Tools for Music Advocacy, which included an update on the Every Student Succeeds Act, information about the NAfME Opportunity to Learn Standards, and tips for how to talk with administrators about making improvements to school music programs.  Fellow advocates will find great value in her understanding of policy and school leadership / administration, as well as her perspective from teaching and successfully advocating in a variety of situations.
   
brown_delee@salkeiz.k12.or.us

Carolyn Talarr co-founded Beaverton Friends of Music (BFoM) with a group of parents, students, teachers, and community members in 2012 as her daughter was then attending Southridge High School.  Carolyn studied piano seriously through her teens, and music has remained a big part of her life.  She has multiple graduate degrees, professional experience and publications in dramaturgy, community organizing, and education research.  Her strategic thinking, writing prowess, negotiating skills, and sheer passion and energy for the work of music education advocacy have been essential to BFoM's landmark successes since its inception. In recent years, she has extended advocacy coaching to parents in other districts in the Portland Metro area. She became an Honorary Sustaining Member of OMEA by appointment in 2015 and is now an active member.  Carolyn currently works as the Community Programs Coordinator for Portland Youth Philharmonic; in this capacity she has built relationships with band and orchestra directors in the region, and PYP’s advocacy objectives have developed significantly because of her work. Taking her experience on the road at a national level last year, Carolyn co-presented a session called "Partnering for Successful Advocacy" at NAfME National Conference in November, 2017.

owlsgarden@frontier.com

Andie Andeen works for the Salem-Keizer school district, where she has worked with students across the K-12 spectrum. This year she is serving as Program Assistant for the music program.

 
"During my first year with Salem-Keizer (2002-2003) I became involved in a successful campaign to protect our elementary instrumental program from proposed budgets cuts. This included notes to community members, participation in rallies, and taking an active part in school board meetings. More recently I advocated on behalf of our K-12 music program during a looming district-wide Reduction in Force. Having chosen Salem-Keizer twice – once after college and again following graduate school in Ohio – I am proud to be part of a district that values music education and to work with colleagues who understand grassroots support requires consistent performance quality and community education. It is not enough to simply assert that every child deserves access to a strong and rigorous music education; each community member (parent, administrator, pre-service teacher, etc.) deserves to understand why such access is a human right."
 
andeen_andie@salkeiz.k12.or.edu
 

Jennifer Mohr Colett has taught music in Oregon for 18 years, including nine years in the Beaverton School District, where she currently teaches general music at Fir Grove Elementary.  A co-founder of the Beaverton Friends of Music advocacy coalition, Jennifer also serves as Advocacy Chair for the OMEA and Oregon’s delegate to the NAfME Advocacy Leadership Force.