Society for Jazz Education
of
MENC: The National Association for Music Education

September 2008

FOREWORD

The Society for Jazz Education has been established to meet the concerns of the members of MENC: The National Association for Music Education whose primary interest is jazz education education, and who have indicated the need for a stronger voice within MENC. The ultimate goal of the Society is to have every student in America experience jazz in ways that will broaden and deepen their lives. Objectives for achieving this goal are:

• To provide the development of comprehensive jazz programs for all ages
• To bring the unique benefits of education in jazz into clear focus for the educational community and general public
• To provide leadership that speaks directly to the needs of the jazz educator
• To identify the commonalities that bind all special interest groups functioning within jazz education and to utilize the unique contributions of each
• To offer a strong national forum for ideas and approaches to jazz education at all levels of learning from K-12 through college/university and beyond
• To help in the planning and delivery of communications vehicles, such as possible electronic communications, print communications, and face-to-face meetings that facilitate the sharing of ideas and that encourage unity among music educators across the country. Through specialized print and electronic publications and conferences, jazz educators share research, experimental approaches, activities and programs.
• To engage teachers and education leaders at national, state, and community levels in the maintenance and improvement of support services for jazz education. This will involve work with MENC national, divisional, and state structures; with representatives of other organizations that serve or have served jazz educators in the past, and with the general education community.

As a part of MENC, SJE is a network of teachers whose primary activity is the dissemination of information.

PURPOSE OF THE SOCIETY FOR JAZZ EDUCATION

The Society for Jazz Education has been established to meet the professional needs of MENC members whose primary interest is jazz education and who have expressed a desire for a stronger voice within MENC. It is the purpose of the Society to improve the quality of teaching and research in jazz education at all levels.

GOALS OF THE SOCIETY

• To provide direction for the development of a comprehensive program of music education, including work with jazz, for all
• To bring the value of jazz education into clear focus for the educational community and general public
• To provide leadership that speaks directly to the needs of the jazz educator, providing individuals a greater sense of identity within the national, division, and state entities that make up MENC
• To identify the commonalities that bind all special interest groups functioning within jazz education, and to utilize the unique contributions of each
• To offer a strong national forum for many ideas and approaches to jazz education at all levels of learning

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOCIETY

MENC: The National Association for Music Education has provided for the establishment of the Society for Jazz Education through the following constitutional inclusions, consistent with Bylaw VII (Societies) and Bylaw VIII (Councils) of MENC.

Section 1. Personnel. Purpose. Meetings. The Society for Jazz Education shall be composed of all members of the Conference who have paid the dues stipulated for the Society by the National Executive Board, or of all members with established interests in jazz education if no such dues are stipulated by the National Executive Board. It shall be the purpose of the Society to encourage and improve the quality of teaching and research in the jazz education at all levels. The Society shall convene at the time and place of national conferences or other meetings as determined by the National Executive Board. A principal publication of the Society may be designated by the National Executive Board.

Section 2. Membership. All persons who are eligible for membership in MENC are eligible for membership in the Society. If the National Executive Board establishes additional dues for membership in the Society for Jazz Education, that membership may be acquired by making an additional payment at the time MENC membership is renewed. If no such dues are established, all MENC members who identify jazz as an area of interest shall be considered to be members of the Society.
If the National Executive Board establishes additional dues for membership in the Society for Jazz Education, student membership in the Society for Jazz education may be acquired by making an additional payment at the time MENC student membership is submitted. If no such dues are established, all MENC Collegiate members who identify jazz as an area of interest shall be considered to be members of the Society.

Section 3. Jazz Education Council. The Jazz Education Council shall consist of an Executive Committee, a representative from each federated state association, and, if appointed by the National Executive Board, an editor. The council shall convene at the time and place of national meetings when such convening is requested by the National Executive Board. The purpose of the Council shall be to advise the Executive Committee and assist the Society in achieving its goals. Each state representative on the Council shall be appointed by and serve at the discretion of the president of the federated state association.

The role of the Council is to:

• Stimulate local and state interest in jazz education
• Establish communication networks with regional and state education units and other agencies responsible for addressing jazz education
• Identify major issues in jazz education through membership input, special study groups and research
• Respond to identified concerns of jazz education content at in-service conferences, and assist as necessary in planning for that content
• Work with the Executive Committee to sponsor special symposia, workshops, and other professional meetings as appropriate and as approved by the National Executive Board
• Work through the Executive Committee to give advice on the production of publications and other media, including electronic publications, related to jazz education

Representatives of the state federated associations of MENC on the council also serve as chairs of the Society for Jazz Education in their respective states. The role of the state chair is to:

• Be an active member of the Society for Jazz Education
• Stimulate local and state interest in jazz education
• Act as liaison between the Jazz Education Council, the state MEA Executive Board, and the general membership
• Demonstrate professional excellence
• Disseminate information and articles about society activities to state journals, at conventions, and at other appropriate functions (e.g. state or regional websites)
• Plan and execute sessions for the state conference
• Encourage the development of a communication network within the state

Section 4. Editor and Editorial Committee. If a principal publication of the Society has been designated by the National Executive Board, an editor and editorial committee shall be selected. The duties of the editor shall be to oversee the peer-review process for selecting content for the Society publication and to give advice on the direction, format, and distribution of the publication.

The Editorial Review Committee members may or may not be a member of the Executive Committee. The role of the review committee member is to:

• Review and screen articles for use in society publications
• Assume responsibilities for publication projects as assigned by the editor
• Aid in identifying authors/topics for various publication projects

Selection. The Editor shall be elected by the National Executive Board from a slate of two nominees submitted by the Executive Committee of the Society for Jazz education. The term shall not exceed six years. The editor shall be eligible for reappointment. Members of the editorial committee shall be nominated by the Executive Committee of the Society for Jazz Education and shall be selected by the National Executive Board.

Section 5. The Executive Committee. The Executive Committee of the Jazz Education Council shall consist of one member from each of the six divisions and three members-at-large. The six members representing Divisions shall serve two-year terms and shall also serve as division jazz education chairpersons. The three members-at-large shall serve three-year terms and may represent special jazz education interest groups. Three division chairpersons and one member-at-large shall be elected each year. On or before May 1 of each year, the Executive Committee of the Jazz Education Council shall present to the National Executive Board two nominations for each forthcoming vacancy. The National Executive Board shall elect one member from each slate of nominees, said members to take office at the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year. Retiring members of the Executive Committee may not be re-elected until two years have elapsed since their last term of office, unless that election be as chairperson. In the event that an Executive Committee position becomes vacant, the Executive Committee shall submit two appropriate nominations to the National Executive Board. The National Executive Board shall elect a person from that slate of nominees to fill the remainder of the unexpired term. Any person who fills an unexpired term shall be eligible for immediate reelection. Each biennium, concurrent with the term of office of the National President of the Conference, the Executive Committee of the Jazz Education Council shall elect from its own membership a chairperson who shall be the chief executive officer of the Executive Committee and the Jazz Education Council. The Executive Committee shall also elect any other officers it deems necessary to the operation of the Committee, the Council, and the Society.

The role of the Executive Committee is to further the business of the Society. Specific responsibilities are to:

• Attend Executive Committee meetings convened at the time of MENC National Conference and/or other times as designated by the Chairperson or the MENC President.
• Work with the MENC President in 1) helping to plan jazz education content in for the National Conference, and 2) providing other services in the area of jazz education as may be delegated by the MENC National Executive Board
• Demonstrate professional excellence
• Give advice on the preparation and publication of magazines and other appropriate professional materials for publication,
• Maintain the Jazz Education Network on the MENC website
• Identify and provide a forum for emergent leadership and ideas in the jazz education field
• Recommend to the NEB any other officers it deems necessary to the running of the Committee, the Council, and the Society

Section 5.1. Chair. The role of the Executive Committee Chair is to coordinate and implement the business of the Society. Specific responsibilities are to:

• Work with staff to prepare and submit a yearly budget for SJE activities, should any such budget be necessary.
• Organize, call, and preside over Executive Committee Meetings
• Communicate information regarding the Society to other members of the Executive Committee on a quarterly basis
• Represent the interest of the Society to MENC and the broader community
• Serve as liaison between the SJE Executive Committee and the MENC National Executive Board
• Represent the Society as a member of the MENC National Assembly

Selection. The SJE Chairperson shall be elected by the Executive Committee from within the Committee membership. Any member of the Executive Committee is eligible for this position.

The Chair’s term of office shall coincide with the term of the MENC National President

Section 5.1.1. Chair-Elect. The role of the Chair-Elect is to assist the Chairperson in coordinating and implementing the business of the Society. Specific requirements are to:

• Organize, with the Chair, Executive Committee meetings
• Communicate information regarding the Society to other members of the Executive Committee on a quarterly basis as directed by the Chair

Section 5.1.2. Immediate Past Chair. The role of the immediate Past Chair is to provide insight to the Chairperson on the business of the Society. Specific requirements are to:

• Offer suggestions, to the Chair, on activities of the Society

Section 5.2. Division Representatives. The role of the Division SJE Representative is to:

• Represent states within the division at meetings of the Executive Committee
• Meet with state SJE Chairs at division meetings
• Demonstrate professional excellence
• Serve as requested on the Planning Committee for In-Service Conferences
• Serve as requested on editorial or other content committees for Society communications
• Carry out responsibilities assigned by the Chairperson

Selection. Current SJE Division Representative shall, in consultation with the MENC Division President, select two nominations for a new Representative. These names shall be submitted to the SJE Chairperson who shall forward them to the NEB for final selection.

Section 5.3. Members-at-Large. The role of the Members-at-Large is to represent the members of the Society from a national perspective. Specific responsibilities are to:

• Carry out charges as assigned by the Chairperson
• Serve as requested on editorial or other content committees for Society communications
• Offer suggestions to the chair regarding national initiatives to be taken by the Society.

Selection. Each member of the Executive Committee shall submit two nominations for members-at-large to the Chairperson. The compiled list shall be forwarded to all Committee members for ranking; the top two names shall be submitted to the NEB for a final appointment

Section 5.4. NEB Liaison. A member of the MENC National Executive Board will be appointed by the MENC President to serve as liaison between the Society and the Board. The role of the liaison is to:

• Provide a direct communication line between the Board and the Executive Committee
• Counsel and advise the Executive Committee as to the Society’s projects and undertakings