Advocacy Beyond the Pandemic: Getting the Job Done at the National, State, and Local Levels
Clinic Synopsis:
The pandemic has left us looking for innovative ways to advocate for our music programs and the need for solutions has never been greater! Information will be shared about effective strategies at the federal, state, and local levels to increase awareness and support for music education. Participants will complete an "advocacy inventory", discuss issues surrounding a path forward for ALL students, and create a grassroots advocacy plan to bring awareness and action to their most pressing issues.
Scott Sheehan
- Biographical Information
A nationally recognized advocate and leader for the advancement of music education, Scott Sheehan is the Director of Bands and Music Department Chairperson at the Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School in Hollidaysburg, PA where he directs the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band and teaches AP Music Theory, Fundamentals of Guitar, and Rock, Rap, and Revolution!. In addition to his duties at Hollidaysburg, Scott is the NAfME National President-Elect (2020-2022), is an Educational Clinician for Conn-Selmer, and was a finalist for the 2019 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. He is also a consultant for strategic planning and association development for music education programs across the country.
As the President of the NAfME Eastern Division (2015-2017), Scott served on the National Executive Band and Executive Committee. He is currently the Program Chair for the NAfME All-National Honors Ensembles. As an active member of the PMEA, Scott has served as State President and coordinates the PMEA Leadership Academy and the Model Curriculum Framework project.
Scott is a member of Phi Beta Mu, the International Bandmasters Fraternity, and served as a liaison to the NAfME National Band Council. He is an active guest conductor and clinician throughout the country and performs with the Hollidaysburg Community Band and with the Altoona Brass Collective. Scott holds a B.S. Degree in Music Education and a B.M. Degree in Music Marketing from Clarion University, and holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the Pennsylvania State University.
Amanda Karhuse - Biographical Information
Amanda Karhuse is the assistant executive director for advocacy and public policy at NAfME where she works with policymakers and other national organizations to promote music as an integral and core component of a well-rounded education. In this role, she coordinates all federal and state policy and advocacy efforts for NAfME, which includes lobbying, coalition-building activities, and strengthening the capacity of music education advocates.
Prior to her tenure at NAfME, Amanda was the director of policy and advocacy for the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) where she advocated for issues of national significance to school leaders and led a research initiative on principal turnover and retention. She also represented NASSP as the president of the National Coalition for Technology in
Education and Training and as chair of Advocates for Literacy.
Amanda worked for four years on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant for former Congresswoman Karen L. Thurman of Florida and for the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute before embarking on her career in education policy. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, VA, and a master’s degree from the Elliott
School of International Affairs at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. Amanda was a proud member of the Yorktown High School marching band in Arlington, VA, and she now resides in Leesburg, VA, with her husband, an avid guitarist, and her son who plays piano and sings in the all-county chorus.
Johnathan Hamiel - Biographical Information
Mr. Hamiel serves as the Arts Coordinator at Chapel-Hill Carrboro City Schools. He is also the President of North Carolina Music Education Association where he oversees student activities, membership, and IVFME (Inclusive Vision for Music Education). Mr. Hamiel serves on the NAfME’s Professional Development and Equity Committees.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Hamiel taught in the public school in Winston-Salem, NC where he was the Director of Bands at R.J. Reynolds High School. During his time here at RJR, he consistently had students audition and make prestigious honor bands at county, state, and national levels. He was also the Director of Bands at Eastern Guilford High School in Gibsonville, North Carolina. He began his teaching career at Downtown Middle School where he taught band, chorus and music appreciation. In 2008, Mr. Hamiel received “Teacher of the Year” for his work and dedication at DMS.
After leaving DMS, Mr. Hamiel extended his career at Parkland Magnet IB High School. While at Parkland, he transformed the PHS Band program from a program of 35 students and 2 ensembles to a program of over 100 students and 5 ensembles. Under the baton of Mr. Johnathan Hamiel, the band program at PHS won countless awards and received “superior” and “excellent” ratings throughout the southeast United States. The Parkland band was also featured on ABC’s Good Morning America in the segment “You’re Hired”. During this tenure at Parkland, Mr. Hamiel won the “Teacher of the Year” award and the “Band Director of the Year” with the Forsyth County Band Director Association.
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