Leah Kovack, the music teacher at Matoaca Elementary School, enjoys providing personal time to students because it tends to pay off in the end.
When one student couldn’t play “Hot Cross Buns” on a recorder, Kovack had one-on-one time with her during recess and the girl, now in the fifth grade, can play “Old MacDonald Had A Farm.”
“It’s wild, and a lot of times you think it’s not gonna happen, but if you’re investing the time and they are, then it does and it’s like magic,” Kovack said. “To watch her just a year later be able to play is pretty awesome.”
Kovack’s hard work and dedication to her students led to her being named the school’s Teacher of the Year.
“I love my job,” she said. “I love coming every morning … and so I think …. it kind of shows through and I love the kids,” Kovack said.
Kovack has been teaching for 18 years, including 12 at Matoaca and six in Pennsylvania. She didn’t start off as a music major despite her love for music, but she eventually realized she loved it more than the average person does.
After student teaching and falling in love with the students, Kovack said she thought about previous teachers she had and thought teaching would be something she could do.
“One of the greatest memories was music for me as a kid, so I wanted to be that person,” she said.
Music runs in her family. Kovack plays the trumpet at church. Her husband also plays trumpet, and their son plays trombone. Her grandfather was the leader of a band and a professional drummer.
Every year, Kovack participates in community events, like a Christmas tree lightning and caroling. She said she does not want to teach anywhere else, calling Matoaca a “nice, big family.”
Kovack said what she loves about teaching elementary school is that she gets students as kindergarteners and loves being able to see them grow to be fifth-graders.
“I feel like I really get to invest in them,” she said. “I get to watch how much better they get at the fundamentals of music, from, ‘OK, I can play a drum’ or ‘I can play a steady beat’ to fifth grade where they can read music.”
Kovack said she gets visits from former students all the time and has a drawer full of love notes from students. She said she loves teaching elementary students because they are honest and real and light up when she brings out the instruments.
“Their passion for things is inspiring even if you [don’t feel your best or] something’s going on in your own life; they take it right over with how they act and how excited they are,” she said.
