Angie Myer

About me

Angie Myer has twenty years experience as a teacher and administrator in public schools and higher education. She is currently serving as a Content Accreditation Specialist and Curriculum Consultant for the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA). In this position she works with massage and aesthetics schools in the accreditation process, providing guidance, reviewing self study reports, and preparing analyses for the Commission. Prior to holding this position, Angie worked as Director of Operations at the International School of Professional Bodywork and Dean of Education at Mueller College of Holistic Studies where she was integral in their COMTA accreditation.

Angie holds a Masters degree in Curriculum & Instruction and specializes in competency-based curriculum design. She is also a certified Holistic Health Practitioner and has worked as a massage therapist in private practice, clinical, and resort spa settings. Prior to her work in the holistic health industry, Angie was Associate Professor of Teacher Education at the Community College of Denver after teaching elementary school.

Activity

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Student Recruitment

Teri, It is hard for long-time, dedicated educators to be faced with so much market-driven educational decision making. But this is oh so common these days (as previous posts indicate). Unfortunately, there is little advice I have to offer for this reality, except to get them to focus on looking at the VALUE of their money (aid) and the "you get what you pay for" mentality. The assistance on outcomes at the beginning, however, can be positive. It can be helpful that so many of today's students are thinking about their futures beyond school, instead of the day of graduation.… >>>

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Research Literacy

Teri, Welcome to the forum and thank you for your post! I am glad to see how you are integrating this competency. I think your last two sentences are the most exciting for me! I love the emphasis on teaching more than just grading. I have always thought of assessment as, not an end, but just another teaching tool. And with something like this, it's very important to guide students to see the nuances in research quality. In addition, I absolutely love the required use of research to back up discussion--oh, how I wish that was a part of every… >>>

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

SSR Challenges & Successes

Lea, Thank you for the follow-up information. What you describe is a pretty normal struggle/opportunity the first time through accreditation, so just know that you are on the right track. You're right about coordinating schedules and the amount of work, but getting it all in place will make everything else that comes later easier. Good luck to you and your staff and let us know how we can support you. Best, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

SSR Challenges & Successes

Lea, I wish your comment was unique, but it is a common one we hear, and I wish I had a solution. A group-effort mentality really helps, so all staff are sharing a little bit of it. Regular meetings to come together and discuss progress helps people stay on deadline. It is great that you are involving your faculty, but you are also smart to provide a little more guidance/structure for them. I think templates and a centralized curriculum person is essential, particularly when moving into the world of accreditation. It will not work for faculty to be entirely in… >>>

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Faculty Professional Development

Hi Lea, Welcome to the forum and thank you for your post. You are right that we need to bottle "that thing" so that it can be replicated by multiple instructors. I certainly can't discount the art and gift of quality teaching, but I do believe it can be learned by all. To address your first question, I think the biggest way to ensure proper recruitment is to really look for TEACHERS not just PRACTITIONERS. Prior teaching experience is an important consideration, but cannot guarantee it was done well. If possible get written recommendations or ask to see prior evaluations.… >>>

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Curriculum Organization

Timothy, Thank you for your participation. If I can ask, what information are you prompted to take back to your school? Let me know if there are any clarifications of information that you would like from myself or the COMTA staff. Best, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Faculty Professional Development

Hello Timothy, Welcome to the forum and thank you for your input. You bring up an important but oft-overlooked part of orientation, especially with a school with a long-standing loyalty such as yours: training new faculty and staff to the CULTURE of the school, in addition to the logistics of instruction and technique. Bringing someone in from the outside is a great time to review the unspoken culture and "rules" of an institution and be sure those are included in orientation and in-service training materials. Thank you for also bringing up additional resources for training. Best, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Student Recruitment

Thea, That must be very frustrating, and a difficult obstacle to overcome (short of offering shuttle service). The financial aid question is, of course, one of the blessing/curse aspects of participating in federal aid. And as tempting as it is to want every warm body, if there are indications that the person will not complete or get placed, it must be handled well during the admissions process. Good luck to you! Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Distance Education Communication

Richard, Thank you for your reply. I would like to add, however, that for qualify distance education courses, the instructor should ALWAYS be available. "Regular, timely, and effective contact" is what differentiates distance education from independent learning, and this is very important for schools to remember. Best, Angie Myer

Angie Myer

Discussion Comment

Research Literacy

Richard, From what you describe, it sounds like your program does incorporate research literacy. It is not necessary to have a separate class or unit; it can be integrated. Perhaps just add an additional lesson on the value of research to the profession and how to evaluate quality vs inadequate sources for resources. The Massage Therapy Foundation is a great resource to help with this as they have a lot of curriculum materials for teachers as well. Thanks for sharing. Best, Angie Myer

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