I’m Your Biggest Fan
by Charlotte Skipper
Elementary school teachers don’t typically receive as much fan mail as say, your average celebrity, athlete, or social media influencer.
But to 11-year-old Jackson Backo, it was important for the team at Lake Mary Life Publishing to know just how much he liked Andrew Toth, the music teacher at Woodlands Elementary School. With that purpose in mind, Jackson – now a sixth grader at a local charter school – wrote us a sweet letter explaining exactly why his favorite teacher deserves special recognition.
“Mr. Toth is always patient and kind,” wrote Jackson in a note printed neatly in pencil on notebook paper. “He inspires me with music. It is so amazing what he can do.”
Andrew began his own musical journey at about the same age as many of his students – when he learned to play the trumpet in fifth grade. Even though Andrew wasn’t interested in the trumpet at first (he wanted to play the cooler trombone instead), his parents urged him to continue. He did, and Andrew eventually went on to attend the University of Central Florida, earning a degree in music performance.
Andrew’s initial dream was to be a professional musician and give private lessons to trumpet students on the side. However, he soon discovered that teaching music was his true passion. Since that epiphany, Andrew has spent 17 years as a music teacher in Seminole County Public Schools – the last seven of which have been at Woodlands Elementary.
Andrew’s devotion to his students extends well beyond regular school hours. There are music rehearsals before classes begin, as well as after-school concerts and student performances at special events such as Orlando Magic and Solar Bears games.
The School is Alive With the Sound of Music
Andrew doesn’t mind the long days that come with being a teacher, because he finds it so rewarding to see his students develop an adoration of music.
“I love sharing music with people,” he says. “I love it when kids get it, when that light shines. That’s what keeps me going.”
Under Mr. Toth’s tutelage, Jackson learned about the ukulele, recorder, drums, and instruments he had never heard of before. Jackson also enjoyed playing in the ukulele club and rehearsing with the ensemble group.
“He has made a huge difference in my life,” wrote Jackson in his heartfelt letter. “I had no music experience, and now I have learned so much.”
Music isn’t the only thing Andrew wants his students to learn, though. He incorporates as many academic subjects as possible into his classes, because music isn’t just about learning how to play an instrument.
“One of the reasons why teaching music is so important is because it uses all the subjects that these kids are studying, and puts it all together in one place,” says Andrew. “So when you’re talking about history and learning about instruments that Jackson wasn’t familiar with, that’s just part of what we do.”
Andrew is constantly striving to inspire at least one more person to love performing arts in the same way he does.
“I’m always trying to get better,” he says. “I’d just like to see my kids improve, and my teaching and my students improve so that the music program can also improve that way.”