Education Plan

I.  Experienced Adjudicators:

Adjudicators from another judges association who wish to join MJA must provide the Education Director, Caption Chairperson, or E-Board member with two references, preferably written, to verify their training and status as a working judge. These individuals may be asked for a sample tape, or be asked to field trial in their caption of expertise before being listed on MJA’s roster of judges. These new members to MJA will be offered, mentorship by the Caption Chairperson, or person (s) selected from our judges roster. They will assist the new member as they become familiar with the local circuits and their processes. The new member will also be required to follow all rules and regulations set forth in the MJA by-laws, in order to maintain membership and be listed on the active judge roster.

II. New Adjudicators:

Any person who is in good standing with MJA wishing to fulfill the responsibilities of an adjudicator will be provided the opportunity to do so. They must complete the application process, with a letter of recommendation, listing all affiliations, and stating their intent to become an adjudicator. Under the direction of the Education Director, and/ or Caption Chairperson, a new member will be provided with a plan to begin their process of becoming a working judge, appropriate to their experience level. They will be provided with all educational materials given to the working judges. They will have an opportunity to listen and learn from active judges working in the caption of their choice. When available they may sample audio tapes from adjudicators within the same caption. They may attend all clinics, education sessions, and participate in a cohort of training judges to discuss expectations, concerns and issues. All new adjudicators must complete WGI Education Series 100 in Winter-Guard and Percussion. Music judges will also be required to the same when the series becomes available to them, before beginning the field trial process. When appropriate they will be given the opportunity to begin the field trial process, under the supervision of the Caption Chairperson. The progress of each new member will be reported to the Education Director by the Caption Chairperson on a regular basis during the training process.

III. The process for completing field trials to become certified in a caption will be as follows:

1. The Caption Chairperson will direct the new judge as to what their responsibilities entail for each field trial. 
2. The first field trial may only involve the new judge to watch and take notes, and listen at critique, to become comfortable with the process. This will depend on the new judges experience level.
3. When appropriate the Caption Chairperson will instruct the trialing judge to make sample files. It is recommended that the new judge review his/her files, to prepare for a discussion with the  Caption Chairperson regarding the content of those files.
4. The Caption Chairperson will direct the trial judge as to what he/she is needed to do next for every field trial. The Caption Chairperson will add to the responsibilities required, at each subsequent trial at a rate which is comfortable to and in agreement with the experience level of the trial judge.
5. The trial judge will do as many field trials as determined necessary by the Caption Chairperson, to become an active member of MJA’s judges roster.
6. Feedback will be given to the trial judge after every field trial in a timely manner either by the Caption Chairperson or judge the CC decides would be of benefit to the trial judge. This feedback will be given in a timely manner.
7. The Caption Chairperson will keep the trial judge and the Education Director informed as to the progress of the trial judge, at regular intervals throughout the process.
8. Once the trial judge has satisfactorily completed the process the Education Director will inform the E-Board and the judges name will be placed on MJA’s active judge roster.

IV. Experienced adjudicators second caption certification:

1. Judges certified in a single caption may request certification in another caption by contacting Education Director/Caption Chairperson.
2. The Caption Chairperson/Education Director/a Mentor will be responsible for evaluating Files provided by the judge in the proposed second caption.
3. The chosen person will provide the judge with feedback on file commentary and number management in a timely manner. They will also provide any information, instruction that may be required to successfully add a second caption.
4. Two acceptable field trial must be completed and approved by the Education Director.

V. Requirements to remain active on roster:

1. Be a member in good standing in MJA
2. Must attend a minimum of one (1) clinic or educational session within the caption(s) certified yearly.
3. Must abide by the governing rules of MJA bylaws and meet all requirements for training required by the education plan.
4. Must have actively judged in each caption that they are certified, every two years.