When William “Brady” Kellum earned his bachelor’s degree in music in 2020, he entered a workforce defined by uncertainty. The pandemic had upended daily life, and many of the professional opportunities he had pursued before graduation were postponed or canceled. He took a job at a local Dunkin’ while he considered his next steps.
“That experience taught me a lot about responsibility, patience, and working with people from all backgrounds — all things that translate into the classroom in ways I did not fully expect at the time,” Kellum said. While still working at Dunkin’, he saw a posting for a music teacher in a local school district and realized he could envision a future in education.
“I see myself as a patient and caring person, and I really enjoy sharing what I know with others,” Kellum said. “I was excited at the thought of helping students grow into talented musicians. Being able to guide that growth and watch their confidence build is what keeps me motivated.”
Kellum enrolled in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Rutgers–Camden’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The program, which meets New Jersey certification requirements, combines graduate coursework with a yearlong clinical experience in K–12 classrooms and offers specialties ranging from early childhood and elementary education to secondary subjects such as music, English, mathematics, science, art, Spanish, and theater.
The combination of coursework and clinical experience, along with the opportunity to concentrate in music, has helped Kellum refine his approach to engaging students effectively in the classroom.
“My education courses at Rutgers–Camden have taught me a lot about classroom management, student differences, and how to develop lessons that are clear and engaging,” Kellum said. “Most of all, I have learned that the single most crucial part of being a teacher is caring about the students and being there for them.”
Since December, Kellum has been student teaching at a regional South Jersey high school, where he has had meaningful opportunities to apply what he learned at Rutgers–Camden directly in the classroom.
“Working one-on-one with high school students has helped me learn how to connect and communicate information concisely and effectively,” Kellum said. “When I explain concepts, I think about how to break them down so they make sense, which I can then apply to future lessons for group instruction.”
As he prepares for his future as a professional music educator, Kellum remains grounded in his own love for music and the impact it had on him as a young student.
“My experiences singing in choir and a cappella in high school and college were some of the best times of my life,” Kellum said. “I want to help students find joy and community through music and inspire them to always try their best in everything they do, whether that is in music or in life.”