‘I love it, I love it’

IMEA Student Teacher of the Year Kaitlyn McCullough (Class of ’23) enjoys her first music job in Orion.

For some time, graduate 2023 Kaitlyn McCullough knew she wanted to go to Monmouth College. She just didn’t know what to do there.

“As a freshman, I was technically undecided,” McCullough said. “I remember telling my admissions counselor, ‘I don’t really know what I want to do.’ I knew I wanted to do music in some form, so I joined the choir.”

Membership in the college’s vocal ensemble also included singing in Austria and the Czech Republic during the group’s European tour during spring break 2020.

During this first year of study, the Presbyterian Scholarship recipient also found herself in a difficult academic situation, as she took two introductory courses – one on the Hebrew Bible with a former faculty member Dan Ottand the other on music theory with Professor Tim Pahel.

“By the end of my freshman year, music took over and I declared it my major,” McCullough said.

Your first teaching award

Three years later, McCullough was close to completing her music education degree and completing her teaching degree in the Monmouth-Roseville district. The experience went so well that she was named Student Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Music Education Association.

“As part of my teaching training, I looked at the internships at local schools – what they were doing at the elementary, middle and high school levels,” McCullough said. “While I was at the high school, the music director, Kevin Ferry, asked me, ‘Do you know where you’re going to be teaching as a student teacher?’ I told him I didn’t know, and he said, ‘You should be teaching with me as a student teacher.'”

“I really liked his kids (in Monmouth-Roseville) and got to help with their musical ‘Footloose.’.’ I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.” – Kaitlyn McCullough

“Kaitlyn had the freedom to gain a lot of hands-on experience, including working with the choirs and serving as musical director,” Pahel said.

“I really loved his children and was able to help with their musical, which was Unbound,” said McCullough. “I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”

Your first job

Ferry also told McCullough about an opening at Orion, a school district in M-R’s conference, and McCullough, who graduated with honors from Monmouth, got the job. She directs the choirs for grades 6-12 and is responsible for the music side of Orion’s spring theater production. She also directs Syncopation, Orion High School’s vocal jazz ensemble.

“I make wonderful connections with the children,” she said. “I was delighted with the recognition I received from IMEA, but there were so many other little moments with students that confirmed to me that I had chosen the right career. A lot of that is because I see in my students the same person I was at their age.”

Teachers have long enjoyed those “aha” moments when a student finally understands a key concept, and McCullough has experienced that too.

“There have been so many other little moments with students that have confirmed to me that I have chosen the right career. Much of this is because I see in my students the same person that I was at their age.” – Kaitlyn McCullough

“Maybe we had a difficult rehearsal and there’s a certain tension in the room,” she said. “It’s that student who comes to us and says they want to achieve even more. ‘I want to work harder. I want to take on a bigger role.'”

McCullough said she will advocate for Monmouth College as she works with students planning their next educational step. One way she will do that is by sending Pahel and some of his students to Orion to talk about how music can work in college.

“Dr. Pahel explained what Monmouth College is all about and that the choir is made up of students from all majors – that it’s not just a group for music students,” McCullough said. “One of the most important things he told them was, ‘You don’t necessarily have to study music, but you should always be involved in music.'”

Music Professor Justin Swearingerwho serves as the college’s director of instrumental activities, will soon make the 40-minute drive to Orion to attend a similar session.

Your first time on campus

McCullough said she first became acquainted with Monmouth in seventh grade when she attended the LUX Summer Institute for Theological Leadership, run by Ott’s wife, who Pastor Teri Ottwho was chaplain of Monmouth for over a decade.

“I fell in love with the campus and knew I wanted to go there,” said McCullough, who was too young to be a student at Greenview High School, which is north of Springfield and west of Lincoln.

She finally decided on a major in school that had been at the top of her list for five years.

“I love it. I love it,” McCullough said of her career choice. “It’s super rewarding. Good music is made here.”

***Courtesy of Barry McNamara, Monmouth College***