Beaver Area High School is losing an incredible teacher and role model in Mrs. Susan Metelsky.

Mrs. Metelsky is most notably Beaver Area’s Choirs Director, but she also teaches guitar, drumming, and directs the spring musical. She has been an inspiration to students and faculty alike in her years of teaching at the high school with her leadership, kindness, and passion for the arts.

The music wing will be forever indebted to her service as a teacher, leader, and role model. It will be a difficult goodbye to say, but Beaver Area High School wants to extend its absolute appreciation and well wishes to Mrs. Metelsky as she embarks on her next journey.

Continue reading to learn more about Mrs. Metelsky and her future endeavors . . .

When did you start working at Beaver Area?

I started working at Beaver in the Fall of 2003.

What did you do before work at Beaver Area?

I taught six years at Western Beaver, five years at Saint John’s in Monaca, and two years at a private school [the Hill School] in Virginia. I also took a few years off to have my son while we lived in San Francisco.

What are your plans after retirement?

The big plans are going to be getting a 38 to 44 foot troller which is basically a baby yacht. It’s not a sailboat; we’re too old to sail! But instead of being snow birds and getting a place down South where it’s warm because my husband hates the cold, we’re going to be snow fish on a boat!

What will you do to relax and take time for yourself?

We will do a lot of active things. Obviously boating because we have a small boat, too. Boating, fishing, camping! I never grew up camping; my parents never did that, so I never thought I liked it. But during COVID, that’s the only place we could go, and I love it because it forces me to relax. We will also do some kayaking, bicycle riding, lots of reading, and just living.

What is a favorite memory that you have during your time at Beaver Area?

The thing that’s glaring at me in the face right now is this past musical [Newsies] because it was fantastic. There have been other times where I’ve had this awesome feeling: when Nate Lampone sang the “Tin Man Song” as well as when Becca Sherman sang “Gimme Gimme” from Thoroughly Modern Millie. There are those times that I just remember being awesome!

What is the biggest piece of advice that you can offer for students and staff?

Make sure you enjoy what you’re doing. Just always bring the joy into what you’re doing!

What is the most important thing you’ve learned from being a teacher at Beaver Area?

To try to bring joy because it’s not always joyful. I always try to be joyful in what I’m doing.

What is something that you will miss about being a teacher at Beaver Area?

The interactions with students who really get the big picture and what music does.

What is something you won’t miss?

Smelling vapes all the time.

How are you going to keep your passion for music in your life beyond teaching?

That’s where I’m stuck; that’s what I don’t know. My husband retired from working at a mill. He was Mr. Fix-It for 40 years, and now he’s home fixing things! It hasn’t changed for him. It’s going to really be different for me; it’s going to be hard, and I haven’t figured that one out yet. I might want to go and do a choir in Pittsburgh or something like that. I have great guitars at home to noodle with by myself. I am also teaching a small ukulele class so that will help as well, but that is where I’m stuck right now.

Well, whatever you decide, good luck with everything the future has to offer you, Mrs. Metelsky—Beaver Area will miss you!