Music Education faculty Dr. John Lychner and Dr. Gregory LeFils, Jr. were co-presenters of the session titled “Our Teaching Identity: The Importance Of Self-Awareness In Music Education” at the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA) Conference on January 12, 2024.   

They engaged the attendees in a rich discussion of how a strong sense of identity forms the foundation for a successful career as well as good mental and emotional health. They explored the three-part arc of our lives as Music Educators—Pre-Service, Transition, and Career—and how our individual and unique teaching identity is initially formed, develops, and is refined. With those attending, LeFils and Lychner described the primary aspects of each phase and provided insights into navigating through and between phases.  

Participants indicated sincere appreciation for the discussion and take-aways that they could use as they returned to their classrooms.