After hearing the high-pitched whine of a recorder, or the rhythmic clang of a xylophone, it’s impossible to not be immediately transported into the magic of an elementary school music room. The new Salisbury Elementary School teacher, Ms. Megan Speidel, is ready to take in the new school year.
Ms. Speidel discovered S.E.S. in search of a place of work close to home. Upon further exposure, she has found the Triton District to be a great, and welcoming community. Despite only meeting the students and faculty two weeks ago, she has found everyone to be extremely friendly and is excited to get to know her students and get down to business.
“I like students to be making music every class,” Speidel said. “The part of music that appeals the most to me is the performance aspect.”
According to the Pew Research Center, over 53 percent of current teachers wouldn’t advise young people to step into a career. There is a shortage of genuine
teachers, looking to connect with kids and help them become strong students. Speidel is certainly an exception to that shortage.
She values improvement, confidence, and making her students fall in love with the art of music. As the years progress, she looks forward to seeing each kid come out of their shell and guiding them into mature and successful young adults.
Speidel’s own high school experience, unfortunately, didn’t include the factors she hoped to provide to her students. However, every cloud has a silver lining. The half-hearted and low-quality faculty she was exposed to, in turn, inspired her to become a teacher.
“I got a lot of practice teaching my classmates in high school and I thought, this is something I want to do,” Speidel said.
Speidel has seen first-hand the outcomes of an apathetic educator. She hopes to right those people’s wrongs. She has been teaching for 13 years, all of which were out of a cart in the hallways of Gloucester Elementary.
The dedication to teaching has never left her soul, and the lack of experience in a classroom did not hold Speidel back. Hers is filled with colorful instruments and resources for each student.
The commitment does not stop there. Speidel is an advanced band member, dating back to the fourth grade. However, she has reverted to the basics for her younger children, teaching them how to differentiate their singing voices from their speaking ones.
While each class had only gotten to meet with Speidel twice before this interview was conducted, a few students reported that she’s very nice, and they’re excited for the remainder of the year.
Speidel has had Mrs. Deborah MacKinnon in her corner through the transition into the Triton community. MacKinnon is the band teacher for 5th and 6th grade at Salisbury Elementary, Newbury Elementary, and Pine Grove. She is also considered a mentor for Speidel.
“Ms. Speidel comes to us with a lot of experience, and she has a lot of great ideas,” said MacKinnon. “She has even taught me a few things already!”
MacKinnon’s interactions with Speidel have been limited, due to her bouncing around between the three schools. Nonetheless, she said Speidel is, “very passionate about teaching music and wants every student to have a positive experience in her classroom.”
With such positive feedback from both students and fellow faculty, it is obvious Speidel has a lot to bring to the table. She and her students will soon be working towards their upcoming recitals in the Winter and Spring.
“I am looking forward to working with her this year, and hearing her ensembles perform at our Winter and Spring concerts,” said MacKinnon.
