Many music educators report feeling un(der)prepared to create change toward more diverse, equitable, and inclusive music education. We surveyed DEI leaders from music education professional organizations in the US (N = 74) to find out what, if any, formal education and out-of-school experiences prepared participants (n = 62) to lead. Many of these leaders still do not feel prepared, and those who do often were not prepared through their college program. We then completed interviews with selected informants (n = 18) to learn more about these formative experiences and elicit suggestions for music educator preparation. In this presentation, we focus on implications and suggestions for practicing teachers who want to create more equitable and just spaces.