The American Music Education Initiative (AMEI) of the National Music Foundation is designed to identify, recognize and support the creative educational accomplishments of teachers who use American music in the classroom. By celebrating the work of these teachers and sharing their award winning lessons on-line, we hope to encourage the teaching of American music in schools throughout the country.
 

THE LOIS BAILEY GLENN AWARDS

In 2004 the Foundation created the Lois Bailey Glenn Awards for Teaching Excellence. The Awards honor the memory of Lois Bailey Glenn, a dedicated elementary school teacher from Halifax, Virginia, whose career spanned more than thirty years. The Award will be presented to each teacher whose lesson plan is selected as Finalist, Semi-finalist or Honorable Mention.

Mrs.Glenn was the mother of NMF board member Barry M. Glenn. “My mother began teaching long ago, before computers and the internet. Her tools were discipline, hard work, compassion, understanding and love for every student,” he said. “She was an inspiration, not just to me, but to everyone she taught. I am thankful to have this opportunity to honor her memory and share her inspiration through the Lois Bailey Glenn Awards.”
 

HOW THE AMEI WORKS

We invite teachers everywhere to send us examples of their lessons that use American music. The lessons can be for any subject, in any grade K-12; they can use any type of American music.

The Lessons will be submitted to a distinguished panel of judges, who will review them and select a limited number of Finalists, Semi-finalists and Honorable Mention lessons. Teachers whose lessons are selected as Finalists will receive grants of one thousand dollars. Semi-finalist teachers will receive grants of five hundred dollars. All selected lessons are published on our web site, where they remain available at no charge for other teachers to use or adapt. The originating teachers retain full credit of authorship and ownership of the lessons.

The current cycle of the AMEI begins June 1, 2006. Completed applications must be received at the Foundation’s office (2457A South Hiawassee Road, #244, Orlando, Florida 32835) by Friday, December 29, 2006 to be considered. E-mail submissions are encouraged.

2005 WINNERS

The winning teachers in the 2005 American Music Education Initiative were announced in January of 2006. The grant winners and their lesson plans are:
 

Finalists:

• Dr. Meisha Adderley of Orangeburg, SC for Gullah Music
• Karen L. Donathen of Houston, TX for I Am America
• Craig S. O'Connell of Hamden, CT for Jazz in the Classroom – An Interdisciplinary Approach
   

Semi-finalists:

• Lesa Jacobson of Houston, TX for Discovering the American Musical
• Laura Blanchard of Knoxville, TN for The “Principles” of America
• Denese Odegaard of Fargo, ND for American Music Tells It All!
• Dr. Timothy Brown of Glendale, CO and Jennifer Fuhrmeister of Denver, CO for American Jingles and Advertising
• Judy Meyer Hays of Hoffman Estates, IL for Where the Wild Things Are