About our Mentoring Program

• Download a printable mentoring form (.pdf)
• Complete a mentoring form via the internet
• E-mail our mentoring coordinator

Every choral conductor in Pennsylvania can get involved in this program!

Statistics indicate that we will be facing the worst teacher shortage ever in the next eight years. Here are some of the facts

• At least 20% of all new hires leave teaching within three years. (Source: National Center for Education Statistics)
• In urban districts, close to 50% of newcomers flee the profession during their first five years of teaching. (Source: Darling-Hammond & Schlan, 1996)
• The average music educator now remains in the profession three years. (Source: Iowa Choral Directors Association)
• By the year 2008, our nation¹s schools will need more than two million new teachers to fill the spots of retiring professionals (the 'baby boomers') and to keep up with increasing student enrollment. (Source: Band & Orchestra Cover News -June 2001)
• Teachers ages 22-28 earned an average $7,894 less per year than other college-educated adults of the same age in 1998. (Source: Education Week Quality Counts 2000)

As choral educators, we all must be concerned that more and more schools are hiring non-degreed personnel to work with their choirs or are cutting back on music programs due to a lack of applicants to fill positions.

Recently, the ACDA-PA Board of Directors established the purposes for our association, one of which is of paramount importance to the future of choral music education:
to foster and promote the development of aspiring choral conductors.

As a result, we are launching a mentor program designed to help young choral specialists in establishing themselves confidently in the profession. If you want to be involved as a mentor or would like some assistance in your profession, please fill out the following form.

Don't delay - do it today! Complete a Mentoring Form Online!

Peggy Dettwiler