Joni Elliott has never needed the spotlight. She prefers the quiet satisfaction of watching her students discover their own talents, of hearing a well-rehearsed performance come together, of seeing young artists gain confidence with each brushstroke. For 31 years, she has shaped the creative heartbeat of Jasper County Schools, offering a space for students to explore, express, and grow.

Her love for music began early. At just five years old, she started taking piano lessons, never imagining that those first notes would set the foundation for a lifetime of teaching. She didn’t stop at piano—she mastered the violin, brass instruments, and more. But teaching, she discovered, was where her true passion lay. What started with giving piano lessons blossomed into a career spanning both music and art, shaping generations of students along the way.

“I fell in love with teaching because it’s about more than just notes and colors,” Joni says. “It’s about helping kids find their place, their confidence, and their voice.”

Joni’s ties to Jasper County run deep. She still lives on the same land her great-grandparents once called home, a testament to her roots and her unwavering connection to the community. Though she briefly taught in Effingham, District 40, her heart led her back to Newton, where she has spent the majority of her career.

She has seen firsthand how a small-town community rallies around its schools, supporting music programs, art exhibitions, and the creative endeavors of its young people. “Music and art are safe spaces for students,” she explains. “Not every kid feels at home on the basketball court or in a science lab, but when they step into a music room or pick up a paintbrush, they find where they belong.”

Over the years, Joni has taught a bit of everything—even PE, a role she laughingly admits was not her strong suit. Her son once told her she wouldn’t make a great PE teacher, and she agrees, but that didn’t stop her from giving it her all. “Teaching is teaching,” she says. “And every student, no matter the subject, deserves someone who cares.”

Joni’s children have taken different paths—her son serves as a police sergeant in Olney, and her daughter is a stay-at-home mother—but both were raised with the same values she instills in her students: perseverance, creativity, and a deep appreciation for learning.

As she approaches retirement, Joni has no plans to step away from education entirely. She’ll continue substitute teaching, and when the community calls for a piano player or a helping hand with a performance, she’ll be there. She always has been.

“I don’t need to be the one in the front,” she says. “I just love knowing I helped someone else get there.”

For three decades, Joni Elliott has been the quiet force behind countless performances, recitals, and works of art. And though the bell may soon ring on her time as a full-time teacher, the echoes of her influence will continue to play on in every student she has ever taught.