ESP: Tell us all about you and your family, .
Chelsea: I work full-time as the Orchestra Director at Bailey Middle School in Escambia County. I also play violin for wedding ceremonies across the Gulf Coast. My husband Micah and I have been married for 14 years. He has been a full-time Gulf Shores Fire Department firefighter-paramedic for 10 years.
Our oldest daughter, Scout, is in the 7th grade. She plays on her middle school volleyball team, is a peer helper, and loves to spend her time with the family dogs or riding the 4-wheeler. Tanner, our son, is in the 4th grade. He plays travel baseball and soccer. You will likely find him riding his dirt bike, searching for treasure with his metal detector, or hitting the baseball with his dad. Our youngest, Tilly Joy, is in the 2nd grade. She loves all animals and babies. You will likely find her playing with her baby dolls or swimming for hours at a time!
I am truly obsessed with my husband and my children. I will be forever grateful for every moment I have with them.
ESP: We love that you are a Middle School Orchestra Director. What is the most rewarding part of this position?
Chelsea: One of the most rewarding parts of this position is having students come find me after they have moved to high school. It is so good to see their faces and hear about their success. They often say, “I miss you so much,” and my instant tears seem to tell me that I miss them too. Having a genuine relationship with these students is what makes teaching sustainable.
ESP: Would you share your educational and professional background? How did your past experiences influence your career path as an orchestra director?
Chelsea: I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Music K-12 with a concentration on instrumental music. I have played the violin for 28 years and the viola for 21 years. My career started in 2011 with a general music class and then switched to part-time work as an Orchestra director.
I took a break from teaching to lean into motherhood. During this time, I taught private lessons, substituted for Baldwin County, played for wedding ceremonies/Christmas gigs, worked as a baker, and served as a birth doula. Each of these jobs allowed me to be with my children and help provide financially for my family. I returned to being an orchestra director in 2023.
Each job I have held over the past 15 years has led me to love people and understand what a blessing and honor that is.
I have watched a young couple promise forever to each other. I have watched widowers find love again and celebrate with their close family and friends. I have watched the bravest women meet their baby for the first time. I have seen the way a new dad sees his life change in an instant. I have seen students struggle with abuse and broken homes. I have helped students change the trajectory of their lives by learning a unique skill that can help them earn money. I have been a part of the most special day for many people.
Loving and serving people is always an honor that I do not take for granted. This is what I do before I drive home to be a mom. The most unrivaled job of all.
ESP: How do you keep your students engaged and motivated during lessons?
Chelsea: Movement. I do not want my students sitting still. They need to be working on instruments at all times. There is always something to work on or a skill to be tackled.
ESP: What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given about music?
Chelsea: The best advice I’ve been given about music is to not give up and to be confident. Fake it till you make it, as they say!
ESP: What does being a mom mean to you? How do you foster meaningful moments with your children?
Chelsea: Being a mom means I have work to do. I don’t mean the chores that come with a household, but the type of work that makes you nervous and question if you did it right. Patience, accountability, routines, boundaries, truth, following through, and being “the bad guy” sometimes.
Fostering meaningful moments with my children is a mindset. A rainy day is an uninterrupted time together. A day at the pool is a reminder that my children are here and healthy. A whole weekend at the baseball park means my son is thriving. A tough conversation with my middle schooler means she is developing her own thoughts and independence. Tears from my 7-year-old mean she has big feelings that she is willing to share with me. These things are just a moment in time, but add up to a big, beautiful life. The blessing of the mundane is not lost on me.
Rapid Fire Questions:
- Favorite Song? Neverland – Jan A.P. Kaczmarek
- Most productive time of your day? When the coffee hits! Probably afternoon.
- Cats or dogs? Dogs!
- Favorite meal? My dad’s chicken and dumplings.
- Describe yourself in one word. Loyal.
Chelsea Smith has been married to the love of her life, Micah, for 14 years, and together they have three children — Scout, Tanner, and Tilly Joy. This family loves to spend time together, and you will usually find them outside. On her days off, you can usually find her in her kitchen making fresh sourdough bread.
