TMEA 2010-12 Candidates for President-Elect

Dian Eddleman has been teaching school music in public and independent schools for more than twenty-five years and is presently Choral Director at the University School of Jackson. She holds a B.A. from Harding University with post-graduate work at the University of Memphis and the Juilliard School. She has held numerous key leadership roles on the regional and state level and is currently in her second term as TMEA State Choral Chair and President-Elect of the West Tennessee Vocal Music Education Association. She has served as Chair of the District Northwest Honor Choir and Solo-Ensemble for multiple years, as a member of the West Tennessee Vocal Music Education Association Board of Directors from 2004-2006 and from 2008-2010, and as TMEA All-State Ensemble Chair for many years. She is the TMEA Choral Commission Chair and has secured financial sponsorship for TMEA commissions both instrumental and choral. Eddleman has presented clinics on various aspects of early childhood music and secondary choral music and has served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor at many choral festivals. Her honors and memberships include being selected for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, as National Honor Roll Outstanding American Teachers, as Governor’s School for the Arts Outstanding Teacher, and for Who’s Who Among Professional Women. She was nominated for “Teacher of the Year” of the Jackson-Madison County Schools and a member of a number of professional organizations.

VISION FOR TMEA

As a member of TMEA, teachers have the opportunity to provide students with the best musical experiences possible through our regional associations. Eddleman feels we are nurturing a winning network of music educators and hopes to lead TMEA to:

1. strive for the pinnacle of success in teacher recruitment;
2. continue to explore and build our mentorship program;
3. continue to offer unprecedented state conferences while seeking a greater variety of professional development sessions;
4. strive to positively deal with the major issues facing TMEA in regard, particularly, to hotel and conference costs and to economically utilizing the TMEA resources in the very best possible ways.

Eddleman feels there is much to be accomplished and is dedicated to TMEA, passionate about music education, highly organized, and readily available to be a leader charged with staying ahead of changes in music education. Her promise is to work closely with our TMEA Board of Directors in meeting the challenges and changes in music education with uncompromising strength.

Jamila L. McWhirter is in her fifth year as assistant professor of choral music education at Middle Tennessee State University where she teaches courses in choral music education, supervises student teachers, and is faculty advisor for the MTSU CMENC chapter. She conducts the MTSU Women’s Chorale and is the founder of MTSU Bel Canto. She holds a B.M.E. from Southwest Baptist University, an M.A. from the University of Central Missouri, and a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. McWhirter is currently TMEA Higher Education Chair and proposed and organized Tennessee’s first All-Collegiate Choir and co-chaired Tennessee’s first All-Collegiate Band. She served as the TMEA CMENC State Advisor for two years and established and hosted the annual state-wide CMENC Fall Kick-Off for TMEA collegiate members. McWhirter is Tennessee State Chair of the Society of Music Teacher Education and is beginning her second term as Collegiate Chair for the Middle Tennessee Vocal Association. Her music education research has been published in the Journal of Research in Music Education and she has presented at national conferences for MENC, SMTE, and MTNA. She has been a clinician in states including Alabama, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, and Utah. During her 21 years of teaching, McWhirter has taught all levels of K-12 choral/general music and has served as a Fine Arts Department Chair for the Morgan County R-2 School District. She served as adjunct faculty for Missouri Baptist University, University of Central Missouri, Stephens College, and the University of Missouri, and is a member of a number of professional organizations.

VISION FOR TMEA

McWhirter’s vision for TMEA includes the continuation of high quality music experiences for students in the elementary grades through the collegiate level. She believes that as TMEA looks to the future regarding changes of venues and other issues concerning upcoming state conferences, that this will allow opportunities for growth in professional development sessions and the best use of TMEA resources. McWhirter would like to explore more ways in which members can receive the latest information, teaching strategies, and most current resources with greater ease and efficiency. She would like to see TMEA take a more active role in advocacy on the local and regional levels as music programs are faced with so many challenges. She would like to see the state mentorship program become a strong reality for beginning music educators and would like to continue to strengthen ties with community music making organizations to encourage life-long musicianship. McWhirter views TMEA as the voice of music education for all of Tennessee, regardless of region, musical discipline, or grade level.