The Hiring of Music Teachers by Supervisors of Music

The purpose of this study was to explore the processes by which K-12 music teachers are hired when the hiring process is led by a supervisor of music. As defined in this study, supervisors of music are school administrators with a specialization in music education. School districts employing persons in this role rely on them to establish and implement a departmental vision. It is with this vision that they lead the hiring of music teachers in their district. Extant research relating to those traits which school districts seek when hiringteachers is centered around school principals and their views on hiring teachers in general terms, without regard for specific content areas. A subset of school administrators with music teaching experience, “music supervisors,” have been previously un-represented in research relating to hiring music teachers. This descriptive, mixed-method study focused on music supervisors and their role in and preferences for hiring music teachers. A survey was administered to music supervisors throughout Long Island and the responses of 62 music supervisors were analyzed. These data were triangulated through follow-up interviews of six music supervisors represen