We have been back at school for four weeks now (wow!). Have you had the chance to lift your head, to scan the halls, to introduce yourself to a new face, a new friend? Hopefully you have. But if not, that’s okay too (but also get out there!).

Fellow ECHO writer Shawn Bouwers and I have, collectively, become acquainted with several new faces: more specifically, our splendid student teachers.

Way back in the 400’s hall corner that is Mrs. Bixler’s and Mr. Maker’s cove, one finds a protégé that is Mr. Mark Michalko. While down in the music department you may have met maestros Miss Audrey Jobe and Miss Shelby Pocono.

Miss Pocono is studying Music Education and Clarinet Performance at Westminster College. During her high school career she was band section leader and then drum major—both experiences which sparked her “love for teaching students and helping them grow throughout the year.”

Miss Pocono is inspired by former Head of the Music Department at Westminster College Richard T. Grieg.

She said, “Dr. Grieg (who is now retired) created a welcoming environment and treated his students like adults. He also possessed a high level of knowledge much of which he passed on to his students.”

In addition to getting to know students, Miss Pocono looks forward to observing the musical development of students in the elementary (fourth and fifth grades) band as well as those in the high school band.

Miss Pocono herself plays the clarinet and sings.

If you want a way to kick off conversation with Miss Pocono, enquire about her favorite composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff. Or ask about her favorite modern artist: Noah Kahan.

Miss Jobe, also found in the music wing, is studying Music Education at Youngstown State University and is “excited to dive into student teaching!”

Getting in front of a group of students in a high school setting is something she first experienced recently, and she finds “having a similar sense of humor and cultural knowledge to students” helps her better engage and form student-instructor relationships.

In regards to what initially drew her to teaching Miss Jobe shared that “Upon taking private [music] students, I discovered how much I enjoy teaching music. I have also worked with a non-profit organization where I developed a love for teaching students of all ages.”

Miss Jobe’s main instrument is violin, but she also plays viola, piano, guitar and sings.

Her favorite composer is Florence Price and favorite classical piece is the Third movement of Debussy’s string quartet in G minor.

Miss Jobe is inspired by her mother, a resilient woman, and her biggest supporter. Miss Jobe said her mother “proves that no matter what happens to you that there is a tomorrow.”

Mr. Michalko (pronounced Mi-cal-ko) is currently working towards his teaching degree at Geneva College but has previously studied at Pitt where he received his actuary math degree.

When asked, “what do you think you have in common with today’s high school students?” Michalko had an admirable answer: “students today are both brave and both existing.”

He wanted to note though one difference between himself and today’s high school students: he’s not on “Tic Tac” (Tik Tok but, you know, “Tic Tac”.)

Mr. Michalko doesn’t draw inspiration from one person or thing but instead models admirable traits he observed in past teachers and role models. He enjoyed when teachers “made education entertainment” and he hopes to one day implement that practice into a classroom of his own through humor and fun activities.

Do you like college football? Mr. Michalko does! So introduce yourself, and enquire about Mr. Michalko’s college football algorithm. He would love to tell you why your rankings are wrong.