Her Story
About Melinda
I started teaching in 1994 and retired in 2023 after a fulfilling career in education. Now I work as a substitute teacher pretty much full-time, and I've also taken on teaching English classes to adults in the evening, which I absolutely love. My main area of expertise is working with elementary-aged students, but now I can say both kids - elementary and some a little bit older - and adults learning English. What I do a lot of is providing language supports for students so that as they are developing their language skills, they are learning the structure of language, learning vocabulary, learning how to listen and respond in ways that are appropriate for native English speakers. I'm really focusing on English language development, wherever they may be in that continuum of learning language. I've always taught in very diverse schools and populations, and I have a deep appreciation and love of people, who they are, what they had to bring to the table. Currently, I'm working with the Learning Source, teaching adults English, and I just can't say how much I really love that work and how much I value working with these people, and their excitement and eagerness to learn and challenge themselves. It's been so amazing and rewarding.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melinda
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think probably, first of all, my passion and my love for kids, for their families, for their backgrounds, where they came from. I've always taught in very diverse schools and populations, and so just an appreciation of and love of people, who they are, what they had to bring to the table. My passion for education. But then also just my own love of learning, and my desire to learn as much as I could, so that I could be the best that I could be for the students and families that were in front of me, and that I could really offer them the best that I could.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When I first finished teaching, I was really overwhelmed with the whole profession and the enormity of the task of what I was going to do, and didn't feel like I was really up to par, or qualified, or really capable of doing that. I was at the point where it's like, no, I'm not going to be a teacher, and I was looking at being a travel agent or something. But I remember this principal that I had been working with in the school really just sat me down and told me that, no, you are good enough, you can do this, and you are going to make a difference. It really was the best advice that I got, because teaching was truly my love and my passion. And if he wouldn't have said that to me, I don't know where I would be right now or what I would have done.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Colorado
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.