The Best Job in Florida Education!

Erin G. Elliott

Elementary Music Teacher Hillsborough County

For ten years, I taught ESE Inclusion (PreK-2nd Grade)- teaching life-skills/social-emotional skills along with daily lessons in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. It was exhausting. There was a lot of lesson planning, grading, data collection, and IEP meetings. But it was also a very rewarding career- I loved watching the lightbulb moment when kids learned to read, I loved teaching the heavy but important lessons from history,  and I especially loved having my own little class family to nurture and focus on every day for 180 days. Last school year, I made the switch to K-5 elementary music, and I do miss it in some ways. But I can confidently say I'm never going back! Here are some of my experiences in my first year as a music teacher that convince me that elementary music is the BEST JOB in Florida Education:

District Trainings and Professional Development- While I did take many trainings in ESE/Gen Ed, I don't believe I ever walked away with such a smile on my face as I do after spending hours making music with colleagues. I definitely didn't ever walk away with cool new musical tools like a kazoo or a brand-new pair of drumsticks! I can honestly say I have walked out of every music training with at least one new person to call friend- often including the instructor! I hold these people dear, and I know there are a just a quick message away from giving me advice or just chatting about life. 

PLCS- I have met some amazing people and gotten some really creative ideas from my Professional Learning Community. In Gen Ed it was honestly usually just a chance to gripe about the job and the students while we looked over data. In Music PLCs we are often doing hands-on learning: singing and playing instruments and dancing, all while learning new tips and tricks and lesson ideas. 

Mentor/Cohort- I had a mentor in gen ed but it was very much just focused on my specifically, correcting things I needed to fix. My mentor as a new music teacher was phenomenal (literal rock star and such a sweet and caring person!) and my cohort of other newbies were great! We came from diverse walks of life and various schools/backgrounds- but we all came together and shared these experiences with our mentor and with each other. We toured other music rooms for inspiration, gained lesson ideas, and encouraged each other as we started our first ensembles and geared up for our first concerts. Then we celebrated with each other after surviving our first year! I still stay in contact with them and some of us work together this year in various ways! 

FMEA/FEMEA- I had an absolute blast at my first conference last year! The people, the trainings, the booths, the performance, the get-togethers! It was so educational and fun!

Ensembles/Field Trip- I ran three ensembles last year- prep chorus, a modern rock band, and a show choir/musical theatre group. We had fantastic concerts, sang at a Relay for Life Event at Raymond James Stadium, performed in a musical at a local high school, and had a fabulous trip to the Florida Orchestra with our fourth graders! This year I'm starting a chime ensemble and I just can't wait to see all the amazing things all our ensembles accomplish this year!

HCEMEC/HCPS- Our music supervisor is such an amazing human! She is hard-working and caring and brings her teachers all the best! Our Hillsborough County Elementary Music Educators Counsil leadership team is a small group of extremely dedicated music teachers who work hard to build, support, and advocate for our music programs. I respect and admire them so much that I decided to join them! I am proudly serving on the leadership team this year!

Fine Arts Festival- Hillsborough County elementary music knows how to put on a show! I was blown away by the amazing performances by hundreds of elementary students across multiple different types of groups- chorus, orchestra, dance, bells, Orff, world drumming, and modern band! It was seamless and inspiring, thanks to all of the work of the HCPS teachers!

Banquet- At our end of year banquet for Elementary Music teachers, we dined, we enjoyed entertainment, we shmoozed and networked, and we celebrated all the individual and collective successes from the year. And there were prizes- I walked away with a guitar, and the Rising Star Award! 

Grants/Dalcroze/Modern Band Summit- I also walked away from the banquet with a grant to attend a weeklong Dalcroze workshop. And I received a scholarship to attend the Modern Band Summit with Music Will in beautiful Colorado! Both of these experiences were beyond comprehension- I walked away with new skills, knowledge, friends, memories, and inspiration!

Learning- I have been learning new instruments, trying new things, building my own musical skills, etc. I love getting ideas and inspiration from others through social media, trainings, and books. Professional research has never been so much fun!

Inspiration- I have been inspired this past year to get back to what I love- Music! I sang in a church choir, rocked out with others at Jam Room Music, Performed with a Florida rock band at the Modern Band Summit, and recently joined the Tampa Bay Symphonic Winds and Pride Band! I'm picking up a euphonium for the first time since 1999! I had forgotten how much I loved being in an ensemble!

Love- I truly feel valued and loved by colleagues, the leadership team, my admin, my supervisor, my specials team, and especially by my students! I was overwhelmed at first having hundreds of students. But now it feels so normal! All the more hugs and high fives!

I have learned so much in one year and have grown so much as a musician, teacher, and person- probably more in one year than my first ten combined! When I attend events and trainings, I always leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It feels much more like fun than like work! I get to be creative, work with others, and get to know more about myself and my colleagues. So I guess I still have my own school family. It has just grown to include 1,200 students, 220 elementary music educators, all my school colleagues, and everyone I have met through FEMEA/FMEA and Music Will! Whenever people ask me how I like the change, I tell them I love it! There is nothing like Elementary Music!