The first day of school for Coal City Community Unit School District 1 is set for Wednesday, Aug. 13, and Coal City Middle School welcomes three new teachers.
Matthew Felbein is the new middle and high school choir director. He will also instruct sixth grade music this year and oversee the high school’s Footnotes show choir.
Matthew recently graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he earned a bachelors in music education. When seeking a position, Matthew was interested in Coal City due to its amazing fine arts reputation, and the fact he had family that lived in the community.
His path into education was paved by his own music educator and “how exciting it
was to help young musicians find the joy and excitement of making music together.”
In his first year teaching, Matthew’s goals are to create a space where students feel welcome and excited to make music; make connections with students that allow them to grow and do their best, and find ways to use music to give back to the community.
“I want students to not only feel comfortable and confident making music with others, but also to find ways they can apply the ideas we learn outside of the classroom in both musical and non-musical ways,” he said.
In addition to teaching and performing music, Matthew enjoys composing and writing music and had a piece that was performed at Carneige Hall in New York City.
Some of his other interests are biking, hiking, crocheting and musical theatre.
Karen Koca began her career as a military pilot in the US Army and it was through her work as a flight instructor that she discovered an interest in education. This school year she begins her 10th year in public education as a seventh grade science teacher at Coal City Middle School.
In her first year at CCMS, Koca is looking to get to know the students and staff and teach her students that science is not only fun and cool, but everywhere.
The success of her students, she said, is measured by their ability to explain the topic of discussion and how it can be used.
It was the “amazing academics” that drew Koca to seek a position with the Coal City School District. She previously taught at Manteno Middle School and Reed-Custer Middle and Elementary Schools.
During her 27 years in the military, Koca was a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter pilot and maintenance test pilot. As was her husband who she met during their service.
The couple now resides locally and have two college age children. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and shopping.
Nicholas Peters has been a paraprofessional—classroom aide—in the school district for three years and this school year he joins the staff as a sixth grade special education teacher at the Coal City Middle School where he will head the BD/ED program.
“Growing up seeing paraprofessionals work with students with disabilities inspired me to work in a school district that offered special education services. After undergrad working outside of the school system, I knew I wanted to be back,” Nick said.
A Coaler grad, Peters earned his degree from Illinois State University and completed his training through Teacher Ready with the University of West Florida.
“I am so excited to have the opportunity to teach in the district,” Nick said.
With starting a new program at the middle school, Nick's goals revolve around making sure students and support staff feel prepared everyday. Additionally, he wants to become acclimated to teaching in the district as opposed to his work as an aide.
As a teacher, Nick said he wants to ensure his students know they are safe in his classroom, have the appropriate amount of support they need and have every opportunity to push past their self expectations. . “Even though they may have large feelings and possible trauma, they always have a safe place in my room.
At 6 feet, 8 inches tall, Nick is by far the tallest teacher in his building and quite possibly the school district.
He enjoys sports and will be coaching the eighth grade basketball team this school year. He also coaches for the Special Olympics.
In his free time he enjoys being outside—mostly on the water.