A recent Slippery Rock University graduate is empowering students through music education in Butler County. Sophia Elliott, ’25, who graduated in December with a degree in music education, has been working as a long-term music substitute teacher in the Butler Area School District, a position that she was able to take while still completing her degree.
Elliott always wanted to be a teacher, realizing how much her music teachers impacted her throughout her life.
“I realized that I learned about more than music from them,” said Elliott, a native of Pittsburgh (North Allegheny HS). “You learned how to persevere and to handle highs and lows. I didn’t just learn about music; I was guided as a whole person.”
With the goal of helping students to develop holistically while developing quality music skills, Elliott chose SRU as a place to achieve lasting excellence. “I knew the Music Department had some really great professors who I really wanted to work with, and I also knew that this is a really great teaching college. So the reputation of nurturing great teachers attracted me,” Elliott said.
Elliott took methods classes on playing and teaching various instruments as well as taking advantage of early opportunities to be in the classroom with actual students, a unique offering of the SRU education program.
“I got experience with every grade while in undergrad,” Elliott said. “And I wasn’t just observing; I was co-teaching, assisting and teaching on my own too, all while getting specific direction after I was done. It was super beneficial.”
After her field experiences, Elliott moved onto her student teaching which included two placements — one traditional placement in Hampton Township School District, followed by a job opening at Butler Area School District that allowed her to officially enter the field while obtaining her degree.
During her student teaching experience, Elliott was selected as one of three winners of the Student Teacher of the Semester award at SRU.
“I was absolutely not expecting to win that!” Elliott said. “I recorded a lesson just as I would have in that classroom. I was afraid to have so many eyes on my teaching at first, but to do it and be validated was really nice.”
Elliott credits the mentorship of Kathleen Melago, a professor of curriculum, instruction, and educational leadership, for helping to prepare her to thrive in her field and to have the impact on students that she always wanted to have.
More information about music education at SRU can be found on the program webpage.
