There are teachers who have a lot of experience, and a lot of things on their plates.
And then, there is Suellen Engelhard.
A 26-year veteran of the Sto-Rox School District, Engelhard has built quite a resume, and she doesn’t stand still.
“Every year it seems like my schedule is different,” laughed Engelhard. “They keep throwing new things at me, but that’s good because it keeps you fresh.”
A read of her class schedule for the 2022-23 school year reveals a teacher with a full slate. At the Junior/Senior High School: High School Concert Band, Middle School Concert Band, and Beginner Band. At the Upper Elementary School: Beginner Instrumental Music and Chorus. This will be the second year she is making the trip to the Upper Elementary. Her role as music and chorus teacher keeps her busy both inside and outside the classroom.
Engelhard, at right, picture with a student during distribution of underclassmen awards at Sto-Rox Jr./Sr. High School in May.
“Any performances we do are part of their class,” explained Engelhard. “In the past, the high school kids have gone to the Allegheny County Courthouse, and we’ve played there during the holidays. They have after-school performances for their families twice a year, and then the band also plays at graduation.”
The Kennedy Township native graduated from Montour High School and obtained a music degree and teaching certificate from Edinboro University before getting a master’s degree in elementary education form Duquesne University.
“I started playing clarinet in the fourth grade,” said Engelhard. “But I really didn’t think that was going to be my career.” That changed in high school.
“I had two amazing band directors in my high school career, Mr. Clem Rolin and Mr. Rusty Pontiere, who really were the driving forces for me. Their support, their love of music, and sharing that with their students. And I was like, ‘yeah, that’s what I want to do, too.’”
You’d be forgiven for thinking music is all Engelhard has time for. However, she’s also a Pennsylvania Teacher Ambassador for DonorsChoose. The non-profit group allows people to donate to public school teachers and their classroom projects. Engelhard has worked with them for 14 years. In that time, Sto-Rox teachers have received $112,000 for hundreds of projects.
Engelhard is a PA Teacher Ambassador for DonorsChoose.
“My role is to help new teachers or teachers who may have been teaching, but have never posted a project before, to guide them through the process,” she said. “I’ve been able to make connections with people, especially in music, that have never heard of it and have (now) had a lot of success with it.”
On August 9th, all donations will be given a 50% boost, courtesy of philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Engelhard knows that whether it’s something as small as a box of tissues or as big as a trombone, every cent matters.
RELATED: DonorsChoose 50% Boost Event Set For Tuesday, August 9th
“It’s a great way for the community to get involved,” said Engelhard. “Sometimes it’s not easy, especially for the older people, they can’t always get to the school to volunteer their time. Even a five-dollar donation is going to help a lot of kids in the school.”
As for teachers, her advice is simple: If you have a project that needs to be funded, make sure it’s up on the DonorsChoose website.
“You never know what company is going to come and flash-fund it,” she explained. “A couple years ago, when Google first moved to Pittsburgh, Google flash-funded every project in our district. So anybody who had a project up that day was flash-funded. It was crazy!”
Engelhard’s passion for changing young lives doesn’t end there. She’s also a mentoring facilitator for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh. In Sto-Rox, the three-year program serves students in seventh, eighth, and ninth grades.
“They’re students who maybe just need a little extra help in their life,” explained Engelhard. “Maybe it’s somebody who’s a little socially awkward. Maybe it’s somebody who has a whole bunch of brothers and sisters and they’re not getting a lot of attention at home.”
Those students are matched with a “big,” a role model of sorts, at Comcast. Relationships created through the program are invaluable. Take one case Engelhard witnessed, of a Sto-Rox student who is now a junior.
“When he was in (the program) as a seventh grader, he hardly spoke to anyone. He was a band kid, so I knew him, but he would barely speak.”
His mother agreed he would be a good match for the program. Over the next few years…
“He just blossomed,” gushed Engelhard. “Now he is one of the loudest in the band. He talks to everybody, he’s not afraid to tell you how he feels about something. And I really think it was his relationship with his ‘big’ that helped bring him out. He wasn’t afraid to be himself.”
Engelhard leads students in a performance at the sixth grade graduation ceremony at the Upper Elementary in May.
Engelhard has certainly made a home for herself in the Sto-Rox School District. It’s a workplace she shares with her husband Ben Engelhard, who teaches Spanish.
“I love it,” she laughed. “I love being able to go to work together, being involved with the same kids, and being able to help.”
She described how Mr. Engelhard pitched in while she led the marching band.
“I couldn't have done it without him. He was there every game with me. He did the announcing, he drove the instruments in the van,” she said. “We’re a great team.”
As for her many roles in the district, a common thread runs through all of them.
“Get them involved,” she urged parents.
With a teacher like Suellen Engelhard showing the way, it’s hard not to follow her lead.
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