WPCC Alumna Equips Students with Technical Skills for Tomorrow’s Careers
A Western Piedmont Community College alumna is providing middle school students with the technical skills they need to succeed in 21st century careers. 
Elaine Killian grew up in eastern Burke County and graduated from East Burke High School in 1998, following a serious car accident her senior year that left her with two broken legs and a broken pelvis.
“By the fall of 1998, I was able to attend WPCC on crutches, deeply grateful for the opportunity to begin a new journey in college,” Killian said. “I decided to study accounting, because I have always enjoyed math and crunching numbers, and I knew the field would let me put those skills to good use. Completing my core classes there allowed for a seamless transition to Lenoir-Rhyne University.”
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from LRU in 2006 while doing accounting work for Merchants Distributors Inc. in Hickory, a wholesale grocery distributor.
“As my first full-time job, it was an excellent place to begin my career, made even better by the supportive mentors who guided me along the way,” Killian said. “Although the hours were long at times, the pay was above average for the area. I ultimately spent 15 years working for the company.”
She left MDI to embark on a new career.
“While I earned two promotions during my time there, many higher-salaried positions required broader experience,” Killian said. “I eventually felt stagnant on the corporate ladder. As a result, I decided to go back to school and pursue a career as a math and English language arts teacher.”
She earned a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education, Mathematics and English Language Arts from Appalachian State University in 2014. She described her student teaching experience at Hudson Middle School as “truly amazing.”
“My sixth-grade mentor, Merideth Weathers, was incredibly supportive and inspiring,” Killian said. “She gave me the freedom to fully experience what teaching is really like by allowing me to design lesson plans and build meaningful relationships with my students.”
Her first education position was as an eighth-grade English language arts teacher at Maiden Middle School. While she was there, she founded a sign language club, initiated a peer tutoring program, served as a cross-country coach and worked alongside teachers specializing in exceptional children to help students with disabilities.
“I learned many valuable lessons during my first year of teaching, and it was a challenging one,” Killian said. “I entered the classroom hoping to be ‘the cool teacher’ that students liked. However, I struggled with classroom management in a new school, with new students, new content and teaching a new age group. Over time, I learned that students thrive on routine, clear expectations and accountability. Having those structures in place not only improved classroom management, but also helped me build stronger relationships with my students.”
In 2018, she and her husband relocated to St. Augustine, Florida.
“After visiting friends who lived in St. Augustine, we fell in love with the area,” Killian said. “The beauty, top-rated schools and perfect weather made it an easy choice. We wanted our sons to experience life outside of North Carolina, so we took a leap of faith, bought a house sight-unseen, and relocated to what is now our dream home.”
She obtained Florida teaching certifications and worked for a few months as a middle school teacher at River City Science Academy in Jacksonville, Florida before being hired as an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Pacetti Bay Middle School in the Saint Johns County School District in St. Augustine.
“I found great joy in watching my students succeed academically and in building relationships that continue to this day,” Killian said. “Many of my first students are now married with children of their own. The most challenging parts of the job were grading and lesson planning, which often required me to work well beyond contract hours. Even when I was exhausted, I believed my students deserved my very best every single day.”
After ten years in the classroom, she transitioned into a “teacher on assignment” position at Pacetti Bay in 2023.
“In this role, I served as an academic advisor for students in need of remediation and acted as a point of contact for 504 (educational modification) evaluations and accommodations. I was also responsible for overseeing truancy to ensure our school remained compliant with Florida state statutes. This experience allowed me to advocate for students from a new perspective while growing professionally in many meaningful ways.”
The next academic year, she became an instructional coach specializing in career and technical education, her current position.
“This role provided me with the opportunity to initiate project-based learning in our technology classes,” Killian said. “During this time, our school was able to earn CAPE (Career and Professional Education Act of Florida) funding based on students successfully passing career and technical certification exams. The return on investment for the program was significant, allowing our school to earn over $190,000 in funding.
“I pushed into general education classrooms to support students with Microsoft tools, including creating presentations, pamphlets, budgets and introductory coding projects. In addition, I mentored new teachers by supporting them with classroom management, bell-to-bell instruction and the implementation of engaging instructional strategies.”
She also acts as the point of contact for the school’s media center, coordinates textbook adoption, participates in school leadership and safety teams and serves as a representative for meetings regarding gifted students.
She encouraged those starting out on their higher education journey to consider WPCC.
“The education you receive is top-notch and prepares you to either enter the workforce or transition seamlessly to a four-year college, all without accumulating excessive student loan debt,” Killian said. “The campus is easy to navigate, you’ll see familiar and friendly faces and the instructors and advisors are truly exceptional. You’ll graduate with not only a strong foundation for the future, but also a deep sense of gratitude and a wonderful overall experience.”
Published: 04/16/2026