FALL 2015 Quarterly news from Education Through Music Expanding Support for Teachers New Tuition Reimbursement Initiative Enhances Existing Professional Development Education Through Music is educators, including general music development and ongoing mentoring developing the talent of its teachers specialists and ensemble directors, services to reinforce its commitment through programs and resources that in preparation for the new school to providing the highest quality music deepen their knowledge and enhance year. Program highlights include instruction. Throughout the school their skills. ETM offers programs that workshops led by Liz Rose, Grammy year, ETM offers evening, full-day and support teachers’ professional de- Award-winning hit songwriter, and afternoon workshops that explore velopment ensuring their long-term Peter Boonshaft, professor of music success. at Hofstra University. “Attracting and retaining Every year, prior to the start of Music Teacher Academy school, ETM holds a professional the very best teachers Education Through Music hosted a development workshop as part of its is core to our mission two-week, intensive training program year-long Music Teacher Academy. of providing high-quality in August at the Children’s Lab School ETM’s Music Teacher Academy incor- (P.S. 343) in Queens for K-8 music porates targeted training, professional music education at our partner schools.” best teaching practices and innovative teaching strategies ensuring music is an indispensable part of its partner schools’ culture and identity. “At the heart of ETM’s partner school program are our music teach- ers. We are proud to offer valuable professional development training and mentoring services that ensure our teachers have the tools and resources to be successful educators,” says Kath- Students performed “Heart of the City” with Peter Cincotti. erine Damkohler, Executive Director of Education Through Music. “Our Music Teachers Erin Giacinto (left) and Gina Pemberton collaborate during the keyboard unit at the August Music Teacher Academy. Continued on page 2 Quality music education for all children 2 Education Through Music Newsletter FOUNDERS Eldon C. Mayer, Jr. Edmund R. Schroeder Support for Teachers ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Continued from front page Katherine Damkohler Executive Director Teacher Academy brings together the this school year. Participating teach- Rainah Berlowitz Director of Operations talents and expertise of our school ers will receive up to $5,000 tuition Katherine Canning reimbursement annually to further Director of Development & Program Evaluation and music professionals to collabo- Tim Lemberger rate on new and innovative methods their professional credentials. Full- Director of Marketing & Communications Susan Brecker to engage students in the classroom. time ETM teachers are eligible to Events Coordinator It is their pedagogy and dedication participate in the tuition assistance Geraldine Inoa Rachel Starr that makes ETM’s model a reality.” program. Development Associates Participants at ETM’s Music ETM encourages its music teach- Alicia Jensen Marketing & Communications Associate Teacher Academy are given instruc- ers to pursue graduate-level study Lina Li tion on implementing ETM’s compre- in music education to enhance their Bookkeeper Kristen Pappas hensive and sequential curriculum knowledge and skills, as well as Evaluation Manager that aligns with national, state and increasing their successful long- Melissa Radin Development Assistant local standards, including the NYC term employment at an ETM partner Laura Satkowski Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in school. ETM’s tuition assistance pro- Evaluation Associate Anna Yatskevich the Arts. ETM teachers are held to the gram is equivalent to a full semester’s Marketing & Communications Coordinator highest education standards and are tuition for those teachers enrolled PROGRAM STAFF measured against the New York City in a New York State graduate school Peter Pauliks Department of Education’s Measures program. Director of Programs Meryl Cullom of Student Learning assessment as The new tuition reimbursement Nicholas LaFleur well as ETM’s own benchmarks. program will provide another oppor- Jeffrey Lipton Assistant Program Directors ETM’s Music Teacher Academy is tunity for ETM teachers to develop Kali Barnett offered to ETM teachers and is also and maintain the highest standards in Steve Cooney Peter DiCarlo attended by New York City Depart- teaching music education. “Attracting Daniel Makula ment of Education teachers. Teachers and retaining the very best teachers Deidre Racoma David Wilson who have attended ETM professional is core to our mission of providing Music Teacher Mentors/Field Supervisors development programs report a high-quality music education at our Katie Masson Program Associate stronger sense of community among partner schools,” explains Katherine their music-teacher peers and greater Damkohler. “With teacher shortages BOARD OF DIRECTORS job satisfaction. Many teachers found and declining enrollment in teaching Michael R. Schaefer Chairman that their discourse with colleagues preparation programs, investing in Emily H. Susskind Robert A. Weisstuch during ETM trainings was one of the our teachers’ future is more important Vice-Chairs most valuable elements to the pro- than ever. Incentives like tuition reim- Katherine D. Elliott Treasurer fessional development program. bursement and our professional de- Edmund R. Schroeder “I really appreciate the time ETM velopment program are just some of Chairman Emeritus Aly Alibhai devotes to my professional develop- the ways ETM attracts and retains the Joshua Bell ment,” comments Khristine Raymond, top notch teachers who are at the core Richard Bernstein Rick Dobbis music teacher at PS 91 in the Bronx. of Education Through Music’s partner Howard Epstein “I love that I am a part of a network of school program.” Aidan Fitzmaurice Jennifer M. Goff dedicated music teachers who come Anyone interested in joining Victor J. Goldberg together throughout the school year Education Through Music as a music Karen M. Karlsrud Matt F. Knouff to collaborate and share ideas about teacher may visit http://etmonline. Andrew J. Malik music strategies.” org/about/employment to apply for a Joseph F. McDonald Lori A. Murphy position and to learn more about the Amie Patel New Tuition Assistance Program tuition assistance program. F. Morgan Rodd David E. Stiepleman Education Through Music is Manoj Susarla excited to introduce a new educa- Steven Williams tion incentive program for its teachers ADVISORY COMMITTEE returning to New York City classrooms The 5 Browns Misha Dichter Dante DiLoreto Marilyn Horne Jane Remer Gloria Reuben Harold Tanner Education Through Music Newsletter 3 ETM Welcomes Partner School Sponsored In Memory of Vinod Vemuri Two New A group of young professionals school and in life. Dave and a group Board Members is sponsoring a new ETM partner, PS of Vemuri’s friends decided to hold a ETM welcomes Howard Epstein 277 in the Bronx, in memory of their fundraiser this spring to sponsor one and F. Morgan Rodd, Jr. to the Educa- friend Vinod Vemuri who passed away of ETM’s partner schools in Vemuri’s tion Through Music Board of Direc- at age 25 on December 30, 2014. honor. tors. The funding goes toward running the It was important to Dave that the Howard Epstein is a long-time school’s music program for the 2015- funds raised were used to establish a friend of ETM. He is the Founder and 2016 academic school year. relationship with a school that Ve- Chairman of the Board of Kari-Out Puja Dave, a close friend of Ve- muri’s friends can help grow into a Company. Epstein discovered his muri, contacted Education Through thriving music program. The group passion for the piano well after his Music about sponsoring an ETM part- will visit PS 277 later this fall to wit- school years. “My life has been filled ner school to pay tribute to Vemuri. ness the impact of their generosity with good fortune and opportunity. Vemuri’s closest friends wanted to on the lives of the students at the Now it is time to give back.” celebrate something Vemuri cher- school. F. Morgan Rodd, Jr. is a venture ished most—music. Dave’s plan is to continue to capitalist and partner at Milestone “Education Through Music re- advocate for ETM while fostering the Venture Partners, a New York-based flects Vinod’s life, demonstrating the growth of the music program at PS fund. Rodd has a strong committ- value music can have on a child and 277, commemorating the life of her ment to supporting education, and how music can influence and drive dear friend. She shared, “Vinod lives he’s seen first-hand the impact of them,” said Dave. on through the people he touched music education programs with his Music played an instrumental role during his incredibly short time; he own son. in Vemuri’s development as a young will forever be missed.” man. As a child, music helped Vemuri Dave’s dedication to promoting focus his attention and encouraged one of Vemuri’s most important inter- his academic growth. Throughout his ests is an inspiration and an indicator In Memorium: life, Vemuri was a talented musician of the life-changing power of music and in college, a passionate member education. Thomas Sobol of a dance troupe. To learn more about sponsoring ETM friend, supporter and Advi- Many of Vemuri’s friends were an ETM partner school, contact ETM’s sory Committee member Thomas public school teachers who saw Development Department at 212- Sobol died September 3, 2015 at first-hand how indispensable arts 972-4788 or development@ the age of 83. Mr. Sobol was Scar- education can be in giving students etmonline.org. dale superintendent of schools and the motivation to succeed both in later, New York State commissioner of education. With his wife Harriet Sobol, he co-authored two books, Your Child in School K-2 and Your Child in School 3-5, and he published many articles. He also wrote My Life in School: A Memoir, in 2013, which was given to ETM principals and staff.