Final President’s Message

Need a recipe for disbelief?  Take two years, add the blink of an eye, and you may end up with an IMTA State Presidency that is almost over.
The opportunity to serve a group of educators like ours has meant many things to me.  Today, in reflection, I am simply humbled by the opportunities afforded me in this role.
Have you ever stopped to think about the quality individuals our profession attracts?  I’m sure we can all name a few childhood teachers who had lasting impacts on our lives, but I’m even more blown away when I consider how many truly extraordinary colleagues I know with ties to IMTA/MTNA.
The teachers I’ve had the privilege of knowing here in Indiana (and beyond) are driven, charismatic, wildly-talented human beings, who, no matter what struggles life has thrown at them, have the remarkable ability to get things done.  We persevere, we inspire, and – most of the time – we even manage to tell a few jokes and keep smiles on our faces. 🙂
This year, I’ve had the pleasure of working with four of these determined individuals on our 2017 State Conference Planning Committee.  At any given moment, you could never imagine how many emails are flying between myself, our Conference Co-Chairs (Phoenix Park-Kim and Daniel Lin), Conference Liaison (D.J. Smith), and President-Elect (Amy Chaplin).  The variety of real-life obligations and outside distractions facing each individual on this committee is so overwhelming, it’s nearly comical. However, true to form, we’re making it happen in a BIG way.
With that, I am excited to tell you we are in the final stages of planning the 2017 IMTA State Conference, to be held September 29^th-30^th at Indiana Wesleyan University.
The Conference Committee is ecstatic to reveal the fruits of our labor to you!  The conference schedule is bursting with innovative session topics, and I hope you’ve taken note of Kevin Olson as the featured pedagogy clinician, as well as former Van Cliburn medalist, Aviram Reichert, as our featured artist.  I am also looking forward to introducing members of the IWU Percussion Ensemble to IMTA, as they will be debuting an original composition by our 2017 Commissioned Composer, Dr. Marc Wooldridge.
Please do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the company of your fellow teachers on the beautiful campus of Indiana Wesleyan University.  The program promises something for everyone (including the ridiculous amount of tears I will shed when I “pass the gavel” of the IMTA Presidency to the very-competent Amy Chaplin!).
Please accept my most sincere thanks for the support I’ve received in this role.
Cheers to the beginning of another fall semester!
 
Christina Whitlock, IMTA President