Dr. Janna Ryon is the new chorus and piano teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Dr. Ryon is from Tennessee; she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Ohio. She also has a Master’s in music from Yale University and a doctorate from the University of Maryland.

Dr. Ryon is well-known by students for her unique way of interacting with them and making them feel “like a big family.” Before becoming a teacher she “would have never known in a million years” that her passion would guide her to a classroom. But there, something made Dr. Ryon realized that it would be “cool to teach music,” so she stayed where everything she learned and studied for would be useful for others. Senior Chizara Odoemene shares how Dr. Ryon, besides helping her with her vocals for singing, has also helped her come out of her comfort zone.

“During my freshman year, I wasn’t really talking to a lot of people,” shares Odoemene. However, as the new school year began, she joined Dr. Ryon’s chorus class where she started to interact with other students more and even with the teacher. This made Odoemene “come out as a person and express.” She describes Dr. Ryon as being “not like other teachers,” because she is “very understanding” and always “helping out people with whatever they need.”

But, besides having a “fun and enjoyable” class as sophomore Takiyah McDonald describes it, she also likes Dr. Ryon’s class for always having “something new to learn.” Whether you’re interested in learning “an instrument or singing, it’s a good class to be in” McDonald comments. Also, senior Lorna Lomgtagne encourages and “commits everybody to take this class,” considering that her experience has also been outstanding thanks to Dr. Ryon’s welcoming atmosphere since the first day. “I love how she’s so patient and lets me express myself in class,” shares Lomgtagne.

Dr. Ryon also aims to help students develop the necessary skills to succeed in music, regardless of their prior experience. “It’s my job as a teacher to get students to the point of reading music and not feel left out.” She believes everyone was born with the capacity to “read music and sing to the best of their ability,” and not make someone feel “like they weren’t given the opportunities as anybody else.”

Dr. Ryon also emphasizes the close-knit community of music teachers in Prince George’s County and the support she received from colleagues like Mrs. Ford, Mr. Jackson, and Kevin Hawk.

Dr. Ryon  has enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere and strong connections she has found at Roosevelt.