Ms. Erin Ellington is a lecturer of music education in the Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, teaching undergraduate-level courses and supervising practicum students and student teachers. Her previous experience includes 18 years as a pK-8 music educator in diverse urban and rural settings across North Carolina, Illinois, and Indiana.
Erin holds certifications in Orff Schulwerk Levels I-III, World Music Drumming Level I, and Music Together instruction. She was nominated by her peers and named the 2020 Mabel School Teacher of the Year and the 2020 Watauga County Schools Teacher of the Year. She was also named the 2021 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Northwest Region Teacher of the Year.
Erin leads local, regional, state, and national professional development, including conference presentations at AIM (Accelerate Innovate Motivate), the North Carolina Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education. She has presented for the North Carolina State Board of Education and Appalachian State University's Reich College of Education as the keynote speaker for their 2023 Beginning Teacher Summit.
Ms. Ellington completed her Master of Music in Education at The University of North Carolina Greensboro and her Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Ball State University. Erin's teaching philosophy centers on a process-oriented pedagogical approach engaging students in active learning experiences that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Erin is passionate about teacher leadership, arts integration, and equity in arts education.