Teacher Feature: Whitney Singkhek, Kohrville Elementary

Kohrville Elementary Music teacher Ms. Whitney Singkhek dances to the beat of her own drum of creativity through her teaching. 

Ms. Singkhek has been teaching at Kohrville for 13 years, dedicated to sharing her love of music with every student.

“I feel like I come alive in the classroom with my students; I try my best to use all my time with them effectively,” Ms. Singkhek said. “It is fast-paced, with various learning activities designed to connect students no matter their learning style. Students have the chance to move, sing, play instruments, create, and interact with each other every time we meet.”

One way Ms. Singkhek keeps her little learners engaged is by making learning fun, with many props and costumes that grasp their attention. As an educator who focuses on the creative side of learning, she feels it is essential to take the class’ mind out of the classroom and into the music. 

“When the littles enter my classroom, they are greeted by Scruffy, an old scraggly-looking puppet that was given to me at the start of my career. I use Scruffy to get their brains into a more creative, musically inclined way of thinking,” Ms. Singkhek said. “Using this character also allows for the kids to start singing without feelings of embarrassment or hesitation.”

Not only is Ms. Singkhek an active and fun music teacher, but she also helps students take control of the stage as the director of Kohrville’s choir and the school’s drama club that meets after school. 

“I love seeing our students’ personalities change on stage—I have seen kids that are quiet and shy in class, yet when on the stage, they become a multifaceted character who is now bursting at the seams with energy,” Ms. Singkhek said.

Ms. Singkhek realized her love for music when she started taking piano lessons at age six, and then at age 11, she picked up the cello. Soon enough, Ms. Singkhek would be part of the Arkansas Youth Symphony and her church’s orchestra. She went on to study music and earned a degree in cello performance from the University of Arkansas.

“While I loved playing and performing music, I was inspired by the amazing teachers who taught me what passion for music looked like,” Ms. Singkhek said. “So much so that I had a change of heart and also wanted to share that passion with others.”

Ms. Singkhek, you make learning all the more fun! Thank you for sharing your gift with every student.